Ignore the spoilsports. Ignore the malicious movements of cynicism in the Hindi film industry where everything and everyone is reduced to trivia. Why is everyone pointing fingers at Neha Dhupia for her bold and aggressive self-projection in Sheesha? Isn?t she very clear about what she?s doing in the film? Has she ever tried to project herself as a coy Sati Savitri like Preeti Jhangiani who suddenly wants to shed all her inhibitions to be Britney Spears in some z-grader called Chaahat Ek Nasha...? Please! Let?s go easy on the sleaze. And let?s not get holier-than-thou about those who dare to venture into the skin-thing without looking vulgar

After a long long time a Hindi film has raised our hopes skyhigh. Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Black have done it. Now we cannot afford to swing back into the morass. Lamentably cinema per se has become a casualty of flamboyant frivolity. Most of us journos waste precious space in print and on websites discussing the most mundane matters. Does anyone really care if Aamir Khan gets a haircut? And yet so much has been said, seen and written about Aamir chopping off his hair (and after his film was over anyway). Yup, quite the ?mane? event, right up there along with Tsunami! Honestly, we need to grow up and stop being a star-struck nation.

Right now the most feted and honoured star in Mumbai is Rani Mukherjee. Everyone thinks she?s tops. Akshay Kumar, who flew off to Dubai on Saturday to shoot for Vikram Bhatt?s Deewane Huey Paagal, just can?t stop raving about Rani and Black. ?After the film was over I sat in numbed silence for nearly half an hour. How does Sanjay do things on screen that others can?t even think about? I can?t stop thinking about the images in Black. It?s one of the best films I?ve seen. As for Rani, I always knew she had it in her. She?s among the best we have.?