Stone age

If you have lived in India, you would know what survival is all about. So it’s not surprising, really, that the Assam-born, award-winning British actress, Julie Christie, has just been named an ambassador for Survival International, a global movement that seeks to support tribal people all over the world. Christie, who got married in India recently, is a vocal supporter of the Kalahari Bushmen who were pushed out of their land to make way for diamond mining. And now, according to Survival International, she will be its first ambassador ever, taking up the cause of indigenous communities. And meanwhile, we are told that Christie — sometimes described as an uncut diamond — continues her fight with diamond merchants.

Pink is the colour

Hrithik Roshan wants a daughter. Roshan and his wife Sussanne are expecting their second child in May and the actor says that he wants a sister for his son, Hrehaan. When asked if he wanted another son, he said, “No,” adding, “I want a girl this time.” But though he doesn’t want to talk about this personal aspect of his life, he does mention that he and his wife are very excited about the second child. He gushed, “I thought my excitement level would be lower the second time around, but it’s as high.” When it comes to memorable projects, there is nothing, clearly, as creative as making babies.

Hindi rules

After spending decades producing, directing and even acting in various Hollywood movies that range from soft porn to the critically acclaimed, Jagmohan Mundhra is set to bid goodbye to English films. “I am moving my entire production house to Mumbai and will start producing and directing films in Hindi from now on,” he says.

Saif and sound

It never rains but it pours. It was going to be a triple treat for Calcutta on January 25, with Saif Ali Khan, Parikrama and Strings rocking the city just like they had wooed Mumbai and Bangalore. The city was bracing itself up for the rock concert when the rain gods chose to mar all the fun. The chilly winds and gloomy sky forced the organisers to cancel the event and arrange for a press conference at a city hotel. With the news of the conference spreading like wild fire, fans of Saif rushed to catch a glimpse of their hero. After a long wait, when the fans were almost ready to give up, Bebo and Saif walked into Someplace Else at The Park, hand in hand. And then Saif gave a power-packed performance of AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. Thankfully, it wasn’t called Whole Lotta Rosa. In the times of Bebo, it would be cruel to recall his former Italian girlfriend.

Hey Ram!

For nearly two decades, photography enthusiasts in Delhi were starved of his brilliant work in the black-and-white medium. But even as they were about to give up hope, master photographer Ram Rahman has returned with a bang. And this time, he has brought along with him about 200 wonderful documentary frames shot through his career spanning 30 years, which now hog exhibition space at the Lalit Kala Academy in the capital. Running through two weeks beginning February 2, the exhibition comprises images which were made as notations and observations of changing times and trends through the three decades. Ram’s works are a repository of socio-cultural information — zooming in on ordinary men (wrestlers in their undies lined up like beauties in a pageant) and the crème-de-la-crème (cultural czar Rajeev Sethi dancing in a baraat). There is also a candid shot of a young Naveen Patnaik at a do, getting his palms read by a woman. This is Ram at his best — quirky and mischievous. That is why, when you think of black-and-white, you think of Ram Rahman.