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MISSION: HOSPITALITY
Anil Kapoor’s party for his Mission: Impossible 4 co-star Tom Cruise at the Taj Mahal Hotel & Towers was definitely the biggest shindig in Mumbai last week. Anil’s wife Sunita personally looked into the menu and decor for the evening. “The banquet hall at the Taj was decorated in black, white and silver. The hall looked beautiful and elegant,” says a guest.
The ever gracious hosts, Sunita and Anil, personally welcomed the eclectic mix of Mumbai’s rich, famous and uber talented. “Comparatively, it was a very small party. Anil had invited only about 75 people like Mukesh (Ambani), Aamir (Khan), Farhan (Akhtar) and Tabu. Everyone was chilling and conversation was flowing freely. Everyone got to spend quite a bit of time with Tom. He was very courteous and attentive,” says another guest.
Apart from Aamir, who Tom had heard of because of the Oscar buzz around Lagaan years ago, Tabu was another guest Tom spent a lot of time with. “Tom told Tabu that he envied the fact that she had got to work with director Ang Lee, who was someone he admired,” says a source close to Tabu.
Sunita and Anil also ensured that Tom would have a memorable gastronomical experience. “The menu for the party included Kheema Pao, Southern Style Fish Curry and Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani.” No wonder Tom can’t wait to visit India again!
TO SRI WITH LOVE
Anil’s sister-in-law Sridevi, meanwhile, has been hard at work on her comeback film English Vinglish. Shot on-location in Pune and New York, the film follows a middle-class housewife who is mocked by everyone, including her family, because she can’t speak English.
English Vinglish marks the directorial debut of Gauri Shinde, who is married to Balki (Cheeni Kum and Paa). “Gauri wanted Sri to look like a proper housewife — no make-up and wearing crumpled sarees. Most other actresses would think twice about looking shabby on screen but not Sri. It’s so refreshing,” says an assistant director.
It’s not surprising that everyone on the sets of the film has fallen in love with the actress. “It’s very tough not to get overawed because Sri is so beautiful and all of us have grown up being huge fans. But what is endearing about Sri is that she is so committed to her work,” adds the source from the set.
BRIEF ENCOUNTERS
Not everyone, though, enjoys the same levels of popularity with their crew members. There’s a certain two-film-old actor who arrived with a bang in Bollywood and even bigger bang on his sets. He’s been rubbing people the wrong way with his penchant for walking around in his tighty-whiteys.
Whether he is shopping in a high-street store, lounging at home or getting his make-up done on the sets, this young star thinks nothing of walking around in his briefs. “It’s very disconcerting to suddenly come across an almost naked man pacing his room, reading his script. No one likes going to his make-up room to tell him that the shot is ready,” complains a production assistant.
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