Mogambo moment

As a hero, he often displays almost superhuman powers and can make the nastiest villain quake in fear. So what will Salman Khan be like when he dons the mantle of a super villain? Yes, if the rumour mills are to be believed, the bad boy of Bollywood is finally set to play a baddie. And not just any ol’ baddie, but the iconic — and er, the much lampooned — Mogambo in the sequel to the 1980s blockbuster Mr India. There is also talk now that Shekhar Kapur, who directed the original, will make the sequel as well. But it’s yet to be decided who’ll play the role of Mogambo’s bête noire, Mr India. Well, as long as it isn’t an Aamir Khan or a Shah Rukh, Salman Khan can always exclaim, “Mogambo khush hua!”

 

Cross border

Bollywood actors are known to promote their films in novel ways. Akshay Kumar was the latest to tread that path. Earlier this week he spoke to his fans across the border through a video conference to plug his upcoming movie Khiladi 786 and took several questions from them too. “I have been working on having the film’s premiere in Pakistan, for which I will try to come here,” said Kumar, whose film will hit the theatres next month. And the former host of Masterchef India didn’t forget to talk about Lahore’s fantastic cuisine. “Some 10 years ago, I had gone there. I cannot forget the Lahori food,” he enthused. Now if only we could make food and cinema the keystones of the CBMs between India and Pakistan!

 

Lit meet

It’s that time of the year when book lovers from across the country start making their travel plans for Jaipur. The DSC Jaipur Literature Festival will be held between January 24 and 28, 2013. One of the highlights of the festival will be a session called Remembering Sunil Da (in pic), which will pay tribute to the late writer Sunil Gangopadhyay. As usual there will be an array of celebrity literati on display. Attendees include Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame, historian Frank Dikkoter and Man Booker-prize winning novelist Howard Jacobson. And since it’s a litfest, expect the usual controversies and author spats to keep everyone entertained.

 

Clowning Kalki

Guess what Kalki Koechlin is up to these days? The girl with the gamine looks is in Dubai to play the role of a clown in a humorous stage adaptation of Hamlet. In interviews to the Dubai media, Koechlin admits that Hamlet is definitely not her favourite Shakespeare play as she prefers comedies such as As You Like It and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But the bold actress, who loves to experiment with both cinema and theatre, isn't complaining as she thinks “clowning” too is a challenge. Titled Hamlet – The Clown Prince, the play is directed by actor-director Rajat Kapoor and is being staged at the city’s lavish Mall of the Emirates. Happy clowning around, Kalki.

 

Culture tome

What’s the difference between Rashid Khan and Sanjeev Kapoor (left)? The noted Hindustani classical vocalist thinks music is the food of love, while the celebrity chef believes food is the music of love. So what’s common between them? The fact that they appear in Best of India, a coffee table book series from across the world showcasing various aspects of a country. The Indian version celebrates the nation’s cultural heritage with Khan and Kapoor — and a host of other luminaries such as filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, dancer Prathibha Prahlad and fashion designer Prasad Bidapa. Published by Global Village Publications India & Raintree Media Pvt. Ltd, the book is a “comprehensive and compelling study of the great Indian success story,” says editor-in-chief Sandhya Mendonca. Wah, Ustad — that’s a lip-smacking tale.