It’s the season of electoral campaigns, landmark birthdays and blockbuster thrillers.
In the Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris confrontation, there’s a minor filmland sub-text. On the Democrat’s campaign trail is her firm Indian supporter, Preeta Sinha. Chacha Shatrughan has been proudly tweeting about his older brother Lakhan Sinha’s daughter and her proximity to Kamala. An unexpected result is that Indians who’ve seen Preeta’s pictures remark, “She looks just like Sonakshi.” Exactly. Hopefully, the more people see Preeta, the more easily they’ll accept that Sonakshi’s much-discussed resemblance to Reena Roy has no biological connection with Shatru’s former girlfriend. When she was a kid, everybody at Ramayan would call her chhoti Amma because she resembled her granny. Strangely, ever since her marriage to Zaheer Iqbal, the curiosity over her uncanny likeness to Reena has regained momentum. Sonakshi deflects the gossip well and shrugs it off as a compliment that she’s compared to a self-made actress who did well for herself in the 80s.
There’s a different kind of buzz going around about Hrithik Roshan. Is Krrish 4 going to take off? The update is that the star and his father are ready with their script. In fact, there are two versions waiting to be filmed. The only vital factor that needs a final signature is the studio that will back such a spectacular, inter-galactic superhero adventure. One more definite piece of information is that dad Rakesh Roshan will not direct this installment of Krrish. All set to celebrate his 75th birthday on September 6, RR has put his days as director behind him. His creative involvement and his control over the franchise will always be there. But no more stress as he takes off every Friday to his beautiful farm named Aum. RR’s close friends are welcome to spend the weekend with him where he makes sure that mealtimes are party times — everybody eats together. No meals served to anybody in their rooms and no TV too.
Some of this bliss will feature in The Roshans. After the hagiographical documentaries on Yash Chopra, SS Rajamouli and Salim-Javed, the 4-part series on three generations of Roshans is ready for public viewing. It will cover music director Roshan and his timeless compositions like Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat (Barsaat Ki Raat, 1960) and Jo vada kiya woh nibhana padega (Taj Mahal, 1963). The series will move to son Rajesh Roshan whose musical inheritance was showcased in chartbusters over three decades, including Julie (1975), Yaarana (1981) and Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai (2000). The Roshans will be unique as the only family which has been successful in music, filmmaking and acting. RR’s career as actor and as a blockbuster director will feature prominently, followed by Hrithik’s superstardom. The inside news is while there will be plenty of Hrithik’s sensational introduction as a hero, the series will leave room for a separate show on him in the years to come. Makes sense as the rise and stardom of Hrithik Roshan will make an absorbing story of its own.
In this season of thrillers, here’s a teaser. A 35+ actor from a film family who has ended his relationship with a sensuous 50-year-old divorcee, has moved on to the other end of the age spectrum. The whisper is that he’s seeing a social media influencer and fashion designer several years younger than him. She ended a long relationship with a senior actor’s son (who’s also aspiring to be an actor) just last year. Her own wealthy Page 3 parents had one of the most high-decibel divorces a few years ago, with black magic and art theft charges figuring in their court battles.
Between the 35+ actor and his famous parivar, his former 50-year-old girlfriend and the film family she was married into, the social media influencer and her former boyfriend, there’s enough drama in their lives for a full season of OTT shows.
