'Zeenat Aman looks like a Goan ayah'

Dharmendra - posing peacefullyAt least five people asked me who I was, what I wanted and if I had an appointment. Finally I was conducted to his very own haven. Dharmendra lay on a sofa surrounded by a dozen or so of hischamchas (believe me there is no other word). He waved me into a chair.Now, what would you like to talk about ? He waggled a finger under my nose. "I am a good man," he continued without waiting for my reply, "I just want to do my films and be left alone in peace." He languidly extended his hand for a cigarette, which was promptly supplied by someone standing close at hand, took a puff and gave it back.He turned his head and gave me one of his chocolaty, syrupy smiles that sends so many hearts a-thumping. "Dharmendraji", said another someone, "If you smile like that you will continue to be a silver jubilee star till the age of 60." Dharmendra nodded, signalled for the cigarette again, puffed, gave it back and nodded sagely."I'm a good man," he said. "I don't trouble anyone. I'm polite to everyone.""Yes of course, don't you know? Dharmendraji will never say a rude thing. A remark like that will never cross his lips."I tried to inject a hint of seriousness into the conversation. "What do you think are the sort of films that are going to be produced in the near future and how prominently do you feel you will feature in them?""Of course he will feature prominently. Dharmendraji is one of our most sought after stars today. Cinema can never do without him. Already he has been signed up with all our leading actresses." This from the first someone."Hrishikesh Mukerji described you as a first rate comedian. With the recent ban on sex and violence, do you think straight comedy will stand a better chance?" I persisted. Dharmendra asked for his cigarette again, puffed, "I am a good man," he said, and returned the cigarette."He is doing all types of roles." The second someone had taken over again. "He will do comedy also if comedy comes into style"."Say I am a polite man, that I have no airs and graces, say I am a good man." Well, I said it, didn't I?Manoj Kumar identifies himself with Bharat. "Now I'm going to make a new film called Naya Bharat" he says. In each of his films he has played Bharat with truly patriotic fervour. Little wonder then that he gets telegrams on Independence day wishing him "Many Happy Returns of the Day." Now that's called living a role!Shoma Anand - stolen goodsShoma Anand the "Barood Girl" was the discovery of not Director Pramod Chakraverty - but of a publicist called Deep Sagar. Deep Sagar fervently believes in "Bobby" luck and named her Neelu Bobby. She promptly latched onto Pramod Chakraverty when he felt she had potential and ditched Deep Sagar. The outraged publicist alleged that P.C. had "stolen" his discovery. Shoma she had become and so she remained. The "Bobby" luck obviously didn't rub off. But some people never learn from experience, do they? Deep Sagar is now promoting a new girl: her name is Neelu Bobby. Better luck this time.The maestro & the bosomsMaking faces, rolling his eyes, gesticulating wildly is all a part of Raj Kapoor. You can almost say that the gestures are the man. He quirks an eyebrow, says something outrageous, disappears for awhile and then reappears with a remark totally unconnected to the first. But on one subject he has been very consistent - that Zeenat is a volcano of talent. Rushes from the film were shown to a few people and the reactions were truly mixed. Shashi Kapoor was shown glaring self-consciously out of a window (hamming his way through as usual), looking at Zeenat Aman's bosom as she rings the temple bells."Bah", said one journalist, "Zeenat Aman looks like a Goan ayah.""Wow", said another, "Ms. Aman's anatomy positively swings, and how!"Raj himself described Satyam Shimm Sundaram as "the story of a man in love with a voice." But beyond that the usually loquacious Mr Kapoor declined to comment. "I wish he'd go on a bit more," grumbled one scribe, "when Raj Kapoor talks, I write my humour column."A few days later he did talk. "The man in love discovers that the owner of the voice is a very ugly woman." The film, he said was inspired by Lata Mangeshkar. The lady in question flew into a rage and refused to sing the remaining songs for the film. Now Raj Kapoor says, "I think Lata Mangeshkar is a beautiful woman." See what happens when Raj Kapoor talks? He puts his foot into it of course!Have you heard about the "moving inferno"? Well, there is one now. It's the Hindi version of The Towering Inferno-in 70 mm with stereophonic sound et al. A train catches fire and according to the producers, "the train is the hero and the fire is the villain". The cast includes Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Jeetendra, Neetu Singh, Zeenat Aman and Vidya Sinha. BR's son, Ravi Chopra who will be directing the film has now gone to Los Angeles to get "those very technicians" who did the special effects for the original version. Height of plagiarism, what?Published By: AtMigration Published On: Apr 11, 2015 14:51 IST--- ENDS ---

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'Zeenat Aman looks like a Goan ayah'

Shoma Anand the "Barood Girl" was the discovery of not Director Pramod Chakraverty - but of a publicist called Deep Sagar.

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