“It challenges and questions society’s perceptions of faith, superstition, science and reasoning,” Akshay Kumar says of this week’s release, Bhool Bhulaiyaa (The Maze), a bolly-horror-romcom. Kumar, one of the few non-Khan actors to command a significant overseas box-office draw, is currently on a roll: his last two releases made it to the UK Top 10.

But when does he think the elusive cross-over hit will happen? “I think it is happening with films like Monsoon Wedding and Bend It Like Beckham,” Kumar stated. I pointed out that those films are, strictly speaking, not Bollywood films. “Why are you taking this away from us?” Kumar questioned. “They have Indian actors; they are Bollywood films.”

The new Mrs Chopra?

Is Rani Mukherjee married to top producer Aditya Chopra? No-one is saying but my source tells me the alleged couple will make an announcement very soon. This is because Mukherjee’s latest and perhaps last film as a leading lady, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (A Stain on your Reputation), is released this week. Why is it that in 2007 Bollywood actresses still feel the need to appear single in order to be successful? The key exception of course is the new Mrs Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, who is as busy as ever with her Bollywood and Hollywood projects.

All aboard the Mumbai Magic Bus!

“It would be great to have more support from Bollywood icons as they are adored by children,” Nisha Paul, Chair of the Event Committee of the Magic Bus charity told me at their sixth annual fundraising dinner, held at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London last Wednesday. The UK based charity raises funds to help Mumbai slum children. Spotted at the event: respected television presenter Peter Snow, outstanding pianist Zoe Rahman, British Asian actress Priya Khalidas and stand up comedian, Shazia Mirza.

Big B and the Bard

Fans of serious Indian cinema are in for a treat when The Times BFI 51st Film Festival opens in London next week. My picks include K. Kanade’s Mahek about a twelve year old daydreamer; Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Kerala set Four Women with talented actress Nandita Das (Earth, Fire) and respected Bengali director Rituparno’s Ghosh latest drama, The Last Lear. Filmed in English, Ghosh’s multilayered drama stars mega-god Amitabh Bachchan as an ageing thespian obsessed with Shakespeare.

Bollywood goes Down Under

After London’s Indian summer, it is now Australia’s turn to celebrate Bollywood. The 5th Australian Indian Film Festival kicks off in Sydney on October 18 with a screening of the acclaimed bio-pic, Gandhi My Father. During a ten day period, over 20 Indian films will be screened. The highlight of the festival is the ‘Bollywood in Australia’ section featuring three hits – Dil Chhata Hai, Chak De! India, Salaam Namaste, Heyy Babyy – all set and shot Down Under.

Oscars: the grouch

India’s official entry for next year’s Best Foreign film Oscars, Eklavya – The Royal Guard, is proving to be an unpopular choice. Why wasn’t the moving Dharm or even hit masala films like Partner and Heyy Babyy nominated? “It is a very democratic process,” Vinod Pande, the Chairman of the panel of selectors stated, adding that the aforementioned hits were not considered as they are “shoddy copies of Hollywood films.”

Bollywood Bad – the sequel

“What s**t are you writing?” British Bollywood star Upen Patel berated me when he phoned me about my piece in last week’s column which commented on his relationship with the British and Indian press. “I don’t need the press!” Bollywood’s Brad Pitt declared, before abruptly hanging up.

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