Mahesh Babu is too sharp and ingenious not to catch the scent but he’s not that easily excitable unless it is a script like Pokiri. You cannot mistake his attention for interest, it’s not the same thing for him. He’s disarmingly honest too and can make you feel very comfortable. His wife Namrata is not exactly cool and soft like her name implies, she can get really wild. But she’s like the blow hot blow cold type. Our newspaper published her not so flattering picture and before that we did ask her for her latest one’s, she didn’t relent. Mahesh won’t like it she said and that we could use any one on the net. She wasn’t amused at all and my god! What temper, Ms Namrata Shirodkar Ghatamaneni, that’s how she wanted us to address and we forgot but she didn’t. Interestingly, Mahesh flashed that million dollar smile and remarked, “Infact she looked the best in that picture” and i was stumped.

Who says D Suresh doesn’t crack jokes. All you need is a rapport with him and the moment he gets comfy, the serious business minded look goes for a toss. He hardly smiles and when he does it’s no half hearted attempt. He’s warm, pleasant and a very courteous man. I have conveniently forgotten to repay him for buying me a soft drink on the flight. Coming to his comments on the film loving public in hyderabad he says, “Don’t ask why people watch a Shahrukh Khan film even though it’s a flop. It’s just like why we watch cricket despite we losing consistently and why women love to go shopping always. It’s all about passion.”

I was watching Corporate with this MCP and couldn’t believe my ears when he said, “Look Bipasha Basu is talking business. I’m imagining Jayaprada in Bipasha’s place.” Or i could have been wrong. He might have felt that women don’t fit into the surreptitious world of business, politics and the media. So what’s new then? Ethics. Or the lack of them.

The movie’s message is that it’s fine to be devious but don’t get caught. I just wish the ending was different and more idealistic and the only jarring note was Lillete Dubey, who played a socialite cum glorified pimp who just gets on your nerves. But that’s being Bhandarkar and he is here to stay. There is no baseless skin show, snow capped mountains or over the top action sequences; we finally have a director who believes in his story and characters. Madhur, we need more of you!

Aishwarya Rai looks so ethereal even in a simple mangalagiri saree and after Rain Coat this is one of her best films. I’m late catching up with the film but must say she impresses not in parts but in entirety. I only wished the visuals should have been captured better, didn’t know if it was Kolkotta or San Francisco. This film must have been a disaster at the box office but Aishwarya again is the only spice in the spiceless fare. The director couldn’t find a better waistband so they got Ash to join two silver anklets to tie it around her oh so flat tummy.

I am basically a very content person, no big desires or qwaish in life. But on occasions like when i am at some exhibition …interiors, paintings and when i got to Shilparamam i just look upto the sky and ask god to send me the magic lamp or fill up my bag with lotza money…so i can buy atleast half the stuff put up for sale. Last year i happened to be at one such collection and i saw one nice looking lady inaugurating the event. She came in with dark glasses obviously, her hair left over her shoulders and with one dainty looking bag. She must be having dozens of credit cards in it and i glanced at the objects she was keenly noticing.

I realised that she was one of our hero’s wife. She was softly telling her escort to pack this, that, this, there, that and this and send it to her home. The escort was very religiously writing down the number of items ordered and was visibly pleased about the “bonni”, the first auspicious purchase. Later there was an inaudible commotion. The actor’s wife was refusing to pay and expected everything to be sent home free. When that was refused she wanted an item worth 25 thousand. The poor lady called her organisors in Mumbai to find out if she can give it mufth mein but they gave her strict instructions to ignore her demand. I got to know that she was already given a nice gift for opening the exhibition. Kya karen, i pitied the poor little star. I thanked my stars that i wasn’t rich and neither was i mentally impoverished.

There is excitement in his voice as Murugadoss says “revenue is superb, have you seen Stalin? Anyway i wish him a very happy birthday and ask him about his next project. “I’m on a long holiday and Gazini in hindi will begin only in october as Aamir Khan is doing a film with Mani Ratnam.” Meanwhile Murugadoss is playing with his son who’s just a few months old. He promises to meet this week and yes, arrange tickets for Stalin.

I have always marvelled at the beautiful skin the actresses were blessed with. Soundarya’s was amazing. Her mother told me that Soundarya would apply coconut oil to her face every morning and massage it for quite a while. Charmme does nothing that is probably genetic but gulps lot of juice and next i read that Renu Desai is glowing. She is looking peach and picture purr..fect. Are you pregnant i quizzed. “No..not so early. maybe next year” And about her skin she gushes, “you are the third person to compliment me on this.” In Bhadri, Renu looked skinny but now she is just right. You are sure to give others a run for their money. But will Pawan kalyan allow you to act? “Kalyan never says no. I just need to lose some weight but as of now something interesting is happening, will let you know soon”. For those who came in late Renu runs a designer store in an upmarket area.

Ask this actress and remember the spelling please, what she does in her free time and she says, “When i’m not shooting and i’m at home you will find me in oiled hair, in my torn cotton nightie watching Tom and Jerry while my mother fusses over me sometimes eat this and eat that and sometimes she scolds me for keeping my room untidy.” That’s Charmme for you sweet with the trademark frankness. While her waist is slimming, her circle of admirers keep expanding proportionately.

Shafi has all the time in the world to eat garma garam cabbage pakodein while it’s pouring cats and dogs. Vikram is on long leave recuperating from the most happening fever “chicken gunya”. ‘Bheema’ has been postponed indefinitely and Shafi is practising Pranayama and other postures. “Main hamesha savera yoga practise karta hun kyonki mujhe shooting ke baad shaam pe phursat nahin milta”. And here hamein hamesha phursat milthi hai magar mood saath nahin detha!

Sharwanand and me..both of us like the way Vidya Balan says…”Good Morning Mumbai!” in Lage Raho Munnabhai. So whenever I get a call from him or he calls me it has become customary to greet each other with “Good Morning Hyderabad!” in a song song kind of way. Well, he provided some dope this afternoon. He says Navdeep called him at 12 in the night and he was already late with his story sessions, nevertheless Sharwanand made it to Durgam Cheruvu.
Booze, smoke, hangover?
“No, no nothing of that sort obviously to see the girls. ”
Then how was it meeting up Navdeep?
“It was like Chiranjeevi meeting Balakrishna”
Now who is Chiranjeevi? You?
“Now it’s getting very difficult to speak to you Ma’am ” he says and gets on another topic.