A fortnight ago, I'd dropped in to meet the Khers. Not the Kashmiri ones as in Anupam Kher but the Maharashtrians who reside in an artistically done-up bungalow in Nashik.

This is the Kher family that has its slim, light-eyed daughter Saiyami making her acting debut opposite Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan in Mirzya next month.

From the quiet of the lovely Nashik house where Saiyami nursed a cold and curled up under a shawl to wearing a gown and facing the pop of a hundred flashbulbs at the Marriott in starry Juhu, it was a study in contrast. But that's precisely how the visual changed at the music launch of Mirzya . Before the much-delayed function could take off, there was a gathering backstage that was dotted with legends.

"It's family," beamed Shabana Azmi as Javed Akhtar and she joined the gathering for a quick cup of tea. While Shankar Mahadevan and others readied themselves to go up and do their numbers, the backroom had Gulzar (who has written the screenplay and lyrics of Mirzya ) and Javed meet fleetingly for a few seconds. One doesn't have to repeat that Shabana's brother, cinematographer Baba Azmi's wife,Tanvi Kher Azmi, is Saiyami's bua (aunt). That's why Mirzya attracted the whole starry clan which got doubly glamorous once Harshvardhan's side of celebrity relatives trooped in. With the exception of cousin Arjun Kapoor, who was out of town on a shoot, all the other members of this branch of Kapoors turned up in their formal best with sister Sonam coming in last, minutes after Sridevi (chachi to Harshvardhan) arrived with Boney.

Father Anil Kapoor, who was asked to come in a suit, looked as slim as today's heroes and to think that the man, born in 1956, will turn 60 this December. "Anil, are you competing with Harsh?" asked a friend. "No, with Harsh's son," replied Anil.

Looking at this calorie-conscious family of five that Anil heads, one of their close family friends who likes her wholesome parathas , wisecracked, "One must never go to Anil and Sunita Kapoor's house for dinner. All you'll get is a salad leaf. When a soup arrives, you think, ah, here's something substantial at last. But you'll get a thin, clear soup. Nobody in this family eats!"

Family secrets of the other Kapoors will come tumbling out early next year when Rishi Kapoor's official biography is released. A woman journalist from a Mumbai daily has been handpicked by Rishi to write it and from what one hears, the outspoken senior actor has spilled the beans on quite a few filmmakers. When Rishi releases his book, the Kapoors will naturally be in full attendance.

Meanwhile, single girl Asha Parekh's biography is ready with its publishers. The well-spoken glamour girl of the 60s told her story to veteran journalist Khalid Mohammed. She's a favourite with actors from Amitabh Bachchan to Aamir Khan, so a starry book release is assured.

And Karan Johar's The Unsuitable Boy which should have come out in the first half of the year, has been pushed to November-December. "After my film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil," said Karan who doesn't want to mix the release of his film with that of the book. He wants solo attention on both, one after the other. And since everybody wants to know whether he has come out into the open about his personal inclinations, his book will fetch as much attention as his film.

Meanwhile, let's get used to what's in store. In the months to come, book launches will look like premiere nights, celebrity biographies will dominate book shelves and lit fests will be more about film stars than about authors or books. Amen.

By the way, the Kapoors and Azmis are not the only celebs who go out on a limb for their families. Salman Khan, the exemplary son, has done it again. He's currently filming Tubelight , his next film with Bajrangi Bhaijan director Kabir Khan. After his schedule in Ladakh, he has Kulu-Manali as his next location. And guess what Salman has laid out for mother Salma? He will be playing host to all her friends on this outdoor shoot. Salma will be taking her gang of card-playing female friends to Kulu-Manali in an all-expenses paid trip to watch Salman shoot and have a spot of rest and relaxation.

Bharathi S. Pradhan is a senior journalist an author