Anil Kapoor In Hollywood, Hrithik Roshan Mobbed By Fans: Bollywood Flash Back

Bollywood in 2003 (June 1 – 7)

Baby Steps In Hollywood: Anil Kapoor met Kevin Costner and Goldie Hawn in New York over dinner. The agenda was to discuss an international project starring the three of them. Of course, the project never materialised. Now with Slumdog Millionaire & Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, he sure has come a long way.

Rest In Peace: Music director Anil Biswas passed away on 31st May in New Delhi, of a chest ailment. He was 89 years old. It was Anil Biswas who introduced Mukesh (in Pehli Nazar in 1945) and Talat Mahmood (in Arzoo in 1949). Mukesh’s first song was Dil jalta hai to jalne de while Talat sang Ae dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal. During his 30-year film career, Biswas composed hit music for a number of films including Aurat, Watan, Hum Tum Aur Woh, Roti, Kismat, Jwar Bhata, Milan, Anokha Pyar, Jeet and Aaram. Naushad had paid tribute to Anil Biswas by acknowledging him as his guru in music.

Pandemonium: Plans to launch the merchandise of Sooraj Barjatya’s Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon on 3^rd June at a retail store in Bombay went awry as the arrangements to control the crowds were found lacking. Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor were present to sign autographs for fans but the surging crowds got so unruly that the two stars could do nothing but leave without obliging their fans. The merchandise was launched much later, after the crowds were brought under control.

Ghost & Fire: A major fire tragedy, which reminded of the Uphaar cinema fire tragedy of 1997 in Delhi, was averted in Bangalore on 4th June after a fire broke out during the screening of Bhoot at Abhinay cinema at 5.15 p.m. Five fire engines were rushed to the spot to control the fire and they managed to douse the flames before they could cause grave damage. Six people were injured but no life was lost.

Bollywood in 1998 (May 31 – June 6)

Falling: Mahesh Bhatt’s Dushman, directed by Tanuja Chandra, faced a steep decline in collections in its first week. The film, starring Sanjay Dutt and Kajol, had taken a reasonably good start but the crowds dwindled from mid-week itself.

Stop Order: The Bombay high court prohibited further dealings in the audio rights of K.C. Bokadia’s Lal Baadshah. The order was passed by the court in a motion filed by Vijay Chokhani of Pearl Video Films from whom Bokadia had borrowed Rs. 10 lakh and had agreed to hand over the audio rights of ‘Lal Baadshah’ as security against the loan. Later, K.C. Bokadia sold the audio rights of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer to Pen Audio in violation of the agreement with Chokhani.

All Work & No Play: Mithun Chakraborty’s reckless signing had started to take its toll on the producers and distributors of his starrers. With four Mithun films – Ustadon Ke Ustad, Gudia, Hitler and Mard – having bombed at the box-office, the latest release of the actor, Hatyara, on 5th June, bore the brunt. The distributors of ‘Hatyara’ for Overseas and East Punjab took their deliveries at reduced prices. The C.I. distributor had, a few days before the release, pleaded inability to take delivery and so producer Mahendra Dhariwal had to change his distributor. The new price he got for C.I. was, of course, lower than the original price.

Cleared: Mahesh Bhatt’s Jannat may have clicked in May 2008, but exactly 10 years ago – on 5^th June 1998 – it was his Ghulam which was okayed by the CBFC. The censors gave the Aamir Khan starrer an ‘A’ certificate, with cuts.

Bollywood in 1993 (May 30 – June 5)

Charity Begins In Bollywood: Movie, the film glossy, held an auction of the personal effects of actors and actresses of Bollywood, in aid of Cheshire Home. There were 20 items on auction. Sanjay Dutt’s pair of jeans were bought by chief guest Ayesha Shroff (wife of Jackie Shroff) for Rs. 2,500. Juhi Chawla’s pillow went for Rs. 1,000 whereas Pooja Bedi’s bikini of Lootere fetched Rs. 1,600. Madhuri Dixit’s Dhak dhak outfit of Beta went for Rs. 2,500 and a costume which Sreedevi wore in Gumraah was sold for Rs. 2, 700. Jackie’s suede boots (Rs.2,400), Amitabh Bachchan’s coat from Toofan (Rs. 2,200), Govinda’s Hum costume (Rs. 1,800) and Shammi Kapoor’s chess set (Rs. 1,700) were some of the other items sold at the auction.

Ruk-ruk-ruk: One of Tabu’s earliest films, Vijaypath, was shot from June 5 in Bombay in various studios and bungalows. Tabu’s co-stars in the film were Ajay Devgan, Danny Denzongpa and Gulshan Grover. The film was directed by Farough Siddiqui for producer Dhirubhai Shah. Its music, comprising some hit songs, was scored by Anu Malik.