Keeping us on our toes

And in this corner Rani Mukerji Photo: AFP

There was cause for concern. Rani Mukerji’s pragmatic studio engagement could have fixed the sassy actress in a passive bahu mould. But our Rani is mould-resistant. While she’s refused to revisit gothic-chic in Guddu Dhanoa’s sequel to Bichhoo, she will be shaking that ass to three item numbers in the upcoming Aiyya. She may even be kicking some ass in a Mary Kom biopic soon. Whoever she goes head-to-head with for that role, it’s a knockout round we want ringside seats to, if just to witness the modifications it will take to turn Mukerji into a Manipuri boxer.

Tiger

The Shroffs Burn Bright

With the distinct lack of rugged, old-school panache on the silver screen these days, we are pleased that Dhoom 3 heralds the return of Jackie Shroff. He plays Aamir Khan’s mentor in the film, who in turn has taken on the helm of mentor for Jackie’s son, Tiger. As Khan’s personal trainer, Tiger has done enough heavy lifting to convince Aamir he can carry off a lead role. And Aamir’s putting his weight behind Tiger, offering marketing expertise to launch him. But the Shroffs just moved in between SRK and Salman Khan in Bandra — will they get benchpressed between heavyweights?

Planet Chopra

Call us conspiracy theorists, but we see a pattern. Every time Yash Raj Films puts an actress in the spotlight, rumours link her to the Chopra sons. Either separating work and pleasure is a defunct philosophy or they like to keep things in-house. Since the rumour mills have hitched Aditya to Rani’s yoke, the Chopra cosmos centres on the second son, Uday. While the gossip about him and Tanisha Mukherjee faded like a shooting star, Uday is now tweeting about him and Parineeti Chopra being “just good friends”. Counting Daya Prochu, his alter ego on twitter, that’s exactly two people on this planet who care.

‘Am I blue, rugged, torn..?’
Shah Rukh Khan
(In a moment of startling honesty, comparing himself to his favourite denims)

Family Sagacity

Unlike the fragile Bollywood brotherhoods, the Khans at Galaxy Apartments know there is strength in numbers as well as biceps. When Salman Khan decided to don a superhero avatar in the upcoming Sher Khan, dad Salim Khan pitched in with script review so his son isn’t as forgettable as a certain blue-eyed bot. And brother Sohail is timing the release so there are no conflicts with Arbaaz bhai’s Dabangg 2. It looks like the family that stays together stays on top.