Mehra's jinxed Ashoka?

About an year and half ago Prakash Mehra had launched a mega-historical teleserial Ashoka. There was no news of the serial after that.

Now the buzz is that Mehra is planning to sell his project to a major production house. When asked, Mehra said, “I had planned this expensive serial for Doordarshan. I made three episodes of which two have already been submitted to DD. Since I was making this serial for a primetime slot, there was no paucity of sponsors. But I was tired of their bureaucratic attitude. I got fed up of shuttling between Bombay and Delhi. So, I just took a break and waited for the new ministry to settle down. Now that the Prasar Bharati Bill is in force, I think I won’t have to wait for more than a month or so. I am open to either reviving the serial or handing it over, on certain terms and conditions.”

Mehra has shot three episodes of Ashoka, Bindusar and Chanakya. He plans to shoot the fourth episode on Chandragupt. Prakash Mehra admits that he has been approached by a big company and the negotiations are on. “They want me to make the next couple of episodes for the sake of continuity. In any case, the seven writers who are associated with my serial won’t like to work if I am totally out of picture! Luckily, all my artistes Kanwar Singh, Pallavi Joshi, Mukesh Khanna still look the same and the continuitywon't be effected,” he said.

However, the subject of Ashoka seems to be jinxed. Earlier, OP Ralhan had launched a big-budget feature film (with foreign collaboration) Ashoka The Great with a lot of fan fare. The film never went beyond screen testing of hundreds of hopefuls and several paintings by Ralhan. It is another thing that the project didn’t go beyond Ralhan building his Ashoka House next to the UAE Embassy at Cuff Parade.



Mukul replaces Sharad

While on Prakash Mehra, he has replaced Sharad Kapoor and Pooja Batra with Mukul Dev and Suman Ranganathan in his Rekha-Naseer-Arshad starrer Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai.

“First Pooja Batra told me that she had no dates, then she complained about her fee. I am a very straight-forward person and cannot put up with any star-tantrums. So, I signed Suman Ranganathan. As regards Sharad Kapoor, well he was my assistant once. I am not interested to know what went wrong between him and my director Harry Baweja. I replaced him with Mukul Dev. Both Mukul and Suman are hassle-free artistes. Incidentally, I have already planned my next project with Arshad and Mukul, as I am really happy with them,” says Mehra.




Salman in teleserial



Nazim, son of veteran comedian Johnny Walker, is making a comedy serial entitled Lage Raho and has managed a coup of sorts by roping in his bum-chum Salman Khan, to act in four of the six episodes which have already been shot. How did he convince Salman to come on the small screen? “Would you believe it, the offer came from Salman himself. I couldn’t think of asking him to act in my serial. On the first day of shooting Salman called up and asked me, ‘How dare you shoot without me?’,” a visibly excited Nazim revealed.

Apparently the serial is based on film personalities, on how they take their screen images seriously and carry their roles from reel life to real life.

Interestingly, Nazim insists that he be called Nazim Bhai, “I like the Bhai-giri in this line!”


Taran’s distant dream

Trade Guide editor Taran Adarsh’s maiden novel, A Distant Dream, has been inspired by the life and times of three top heroines of the sixties. He has already sold the satellite rights for filming his work to STAR Plus. The serial is expected to go on the air by January 1998.

The Adarsh family has been associated with the film industry for a long time and the serial is bound to have many interesting anecdotes. In fact, one of the leading ladies of 60s has already crossed her fingers hoping she won’t be one of the three!

Taran however is not divulging any names, but it won’t be very difficult to guess once the airing starts. Or would it be? After all, there are bound to be common heroes and relationships, similar incidents and happenings in the lives of actresses.


'Guests' for a song

If rumours are to be believed China Gate had been planned as a songless movie. But presenter Bharat Bhai Shah insisted that seven songs be included and picturised on some of the top heroes of the day like Govinda and Shah Rukh Khan, perhaps in guest appearance. But Bharat Bhai denies it, saying, “How can I insist on such a thing?” Nevertheless informs that Jatin-Lalit recorded five songs “just two months ago.” And, interestingly, they are scheduled to be picturised after the shooting is almost complete. “Its not an afterthought,” Bharat Bhai hastens to add, “the scenes leading to these songs have already been shot.” Its a done thing these days for stars to participate in song sequences in guest appearance. Raveena did Shaher ki ladki in Rakshak and Mamta did Koi jaaye to le aaye in Ghatak, and seem to have become trend setters.




Mamta turns producer?

After repeatedly denying the "rumours", Mamta has announced her plans to produce a film to launch her sister Mithila. If reports are to be believed Mamta Productions would like to hire the services of, yes, Raj Kumar Santoshi! Apparently, Bharat Bhai is the man who brought about the patch-up.

Incidentally, Mamta is even going to record a song for China Gate!


Rahul Roy to direct

Sometime ago, there used to be a long queue in front of Rahul Roy’s place. He had started a real-estate finance company, after he realised that his career as an actor had reached a dead end. However, the scenario has changed. Producer Sudhakar Bokade has signed Rahul to direct a film for him with Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff and Suman Ranganathan in the lead. Bokade believes that as a rule actors make good directors. “Take the example of Raj Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Rakesh Roshan,” he rattles off and adds, “I think even Rishi Kapoor would make a good director.”

And also Aamir?

Actors turning directors is a very old phenomenon. Next in line is Aamir Khan. But then in Aamir’s case it is bound to be a planned affair! Having completed Indra Kumar’s Ishq, Aamir intends to do one more film with his favourite (Dil) director before moving behind the camera.

Incidentally, like Raj Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor, Aamir too had started off as an assistant director to his uncle Nasir Hussain. Rishi had assisted dad Raj Kapoor on Mera Naam Joker.

Sushama Shelly