Amitabh calls me 'Maalkin'...

Not too many people know this. But Mr Bachchan addresses Shefali Shah as 'maalkin'.

"I know!" she laughs. "It's very embarrassing when he called me that all during my husband's film Waqt and now during The Last Lear. Maybe because I was the producer's wife? To my horror he called me that during Last Lear too.

On the first day of the shoot he warned everybody, 'Don't go by her face, Because by and by she'll start changing everything on the sets…Hey,I don't do that! Of course I was critical on Vipul's set. That was my home production. But on another set I wouldn't cross the line. "

After Gandhi My Father Shefali Shah plays her producer Anil Kapoor's wife in the Subhash Ghai production Black & White.

Is she worried about the leap in intention?

"Not really," says Shefali. "Black & White is not a running-around-trees film. It's again a socially relevant film. Anilji is the hero and I'm the conventional leading lady. But I don't wear makeup, good clothes and sing songs."

Shefali informs that it was Anil who recommended Shefali. "But had it not been a good role I wouldn't have done Black & White. But it's not Gandhi My Father. Not at all. …nor is it The Last Lear, the English-language film that I've completed with Rituparno Ghosh."

The vastly talented and grossly under-used Shefali Shah is on the threshold of a new beginning in her career.

Her role as Kasturba in Feroz Abbas Khan's Gandhi My Father is already garnering rave reviews. In fact Akshaye Khanna has gone on-record to say it's the best performance in India by a female actor.

"I know Akshaye said that. And I'm deeply grateful. We've just returned from the film's world premiere and the response was overwhelming. Unfortunately Nelson Mandela couldn't come due to ill health. That was really sad, though he did send a message.

But the South African president and the whole cabinet was there. After the screening there was a stunned silence. They all told me they couldn't believe I look so different in person. A local lady who could barely speak English told me I made her cry.

I feel this film goes beyond boundaries. It's really moving. The premiere was unbelievable. Gandhi My Father is about selfless creation. Every actor and technician believed in what they were doing.

They thought of the film, not of their own interests. We all got an insight into lives that went way beyond art and acting. "

Shefali has been losing weight. "And so has my husband Vipul. I finally look the way I want to."

God forbid, Shefali gets typecast as an old woman after Gandhi My Father, a la Rohini Hattangadi after Attenborough's Gandhi.

"No way!" avers Shefali. "Because I'm the young Kasturba in most of the film. And the cinematographer has made me look look better than ever before….I don't think after this role the industry will typecast me. And even if they do, it's up to me to take or leave their offers. I've always been choosy anyway. Even if I do one film every two years it has to be something special."

Gandhi, she considers, her most important film so far. "Though I feel I could still have done better. I've never been more focused. Obviously I want to be appreciated. And I want the appreciation to be translated into a lot more. I'm at a stage where I think good things will happen to me. People are now willing to cast me in main leads.Somewhere I think I lacked the focus earlier."

Last Lear is another very special for Shefali. "I'm one of the central characters in both Gandhi My Father and The Last Lear. In Ritu's film I play my age and someone who looks after Amitji's character. I must tell you, after Vipul's unit, Ritu's was the most warm and organized unit I've worked with…very caring.

Bade pyar se thande dimaag se kaam hua. I've worked with productions where scenes are written on the sets. Sometimes I've played a character who has nothing to do with the scene given to me."

And yet she did a bit role in Yashraj Films' Mohabbatein.

"I don't regret doing that. It was a small role. But there was one good scene. After Gandhi and The Last Lear I may not do it. I took a break from acting to look after my babies, got back into shape. And now this is like my comeback. I've never felt better."

Big B vs Media: Who will blink first?

It is an unusual war. Angry at the way they were treated during the Abhishek-Aishwarya wedding coverage in April this year, news photojournalists in Mumbai have banned Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and his family.

Hordes of photojournalists turn up at public functions attended by Bachchan and his family, his friend Amar Singh but they refuse to shoot a single photograph. Thrice since the much-hyped April 18 wedding, photojournalists have refused to shoot pictures of Bachchan, clearly annoying the superstar. The background to this open war is the treatment the media received when Abhishek-Aishwarya got married at the Bachchan bungalow, Prateeksha in Juhu in north-western Mumbai. Usually in celebrity weddings, the concerned celebs are sympathetic to the media and make it a point to pose at least one for a few minutes to enable the media to carry on with its work.

India captain Rahul Dravid posed with his Nagpur-based wife Vijeta for a few minutes and politely requested photographers to stop. Sachin Tendulkar's wedding to Anjali had immaculate security but the master blaster made it a point to step out at Jewel of India restaurant in Worli to pose. During Hritik Roshan's wedding to Suzanne, Papa Roshan conceded media request and participated in a photo-op if only for barely two-three minutes.

But, Brand Bachchan was obviously bigger than anything else perhaps. Not only was there heavy security at Prateeksha and Jalsa, the two Bachchan residences in Mumbai, even neighbours were asked not to allow a print or TV camera to peep into the wedding venues. The TV crews had their OB vans equipped with food, water etc. parked at the wedding venue but photojournalists worked in shifts to ensure that they don't miss a picture. They got none for two days before the wedding.

On the wedding day, when Bachchan with the married couple and Amar Singh returned to Prateeksha after a ritual, Amar Singh's black cat commandos got into a scuffle with photojournalists. DNA newspaper's B.L.Soni was kicked and hit with a rifle butt so badly that he spent next four days in the hospital. The local police did lodge a case against unidentified guards but obviously no action was going to be taken against political heavyweights.

Next morning, Bachchan summoned in TV crews still snooping around the bungalow and apologised for the fracas. But, the apology failed to convice photojournalists who vowed to impose a ban of photographs of Bachchan and his family.

They stuck to their word at the glittering premiere of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom where the Bachchans were present. Earlier, this month, Amitabh and Jaya released a commemorative book on Samovar, a restaurant at the Jehangir Art Gallery frequented by top artists, film stars, models and commoners. But no pictures appeared in Mumbai papers.

Yesterday, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh suddenly arrived in Mumbai to announce the candidature of Rashid Masood, party's MP from Saharanpur, for the Vice President's post representing the Third Front. Astute politician that he is, he quickly realised that photojournalists stood there armed with cameras but none clicked his picture. That's when he tendered an apology for the April 18 attach by his guards.

But that failed to pacify photojournalists. This morning, Bachchan appeared with Hollywood actress Sienna Miller at a IIFA function at a five-star hotel, and photographers did not shoot pictures. Bachchan and Miller were promoting Global Cool, an initiative to create awareness about the perils of global warming.

This is the second time that Bachchan has personally faced such a ban from photographers. In 1970s, when he was the reigning superstar, the photographers who exclusively cover cinema assignments had imposed such a ban

All the Bachchans are going on The Unforgettable world Tour: Amitabh Bachchan

Last month Amitabh Bachchan was honoured by The British Academy Of Film & Teleivision Arts. He speaks to Subhash K Jha about the experience... How was the BAFTA experience? Another unique honour for you... I feel very deeply humbled and honoured. My recognition is really an acknowledgement of the Indian film industry, and indeed India. Its feels wonderful to see so much attention being given to our country. There was a retrospective of my films and some documentaries about me made by prominent people.I had to interact with the public over two evenings. British and Indian speakers spoke of my contribution and then I was asked up on stage for q&a. Clips of my work were shown as a reference alongside on the screen. Good intelligent interaction with the public. The Chairman of BAFTA ended the event by announcing me as an honorary life -time member of BAFTA. I felt really proud to be a small part of the Indian Film fraternity, receiving this distinction. Plans for the world concert featuring you with Abhishek and Aishwarya have been finalized? Yes. We hope to be in action next year around April and cover many countries. The tour is called The Unforgettable.It'll be exciting to accompany such a young and energetic group of youngsters. The joy of having Abhishek and Aishwarya along is the added excitement. The tour is expected to take us to all important countries in the world as well as internally in India too. Some additions to the cast are in planning and soon should be finalised. I feel a lot of nostalgia and anxiety within me as I take this on after several several years. But the scale of the event and the enthusiasm of the producers and cast will I hope help us in putting across a memorable experience. Would you like to do a project where all four of you feature together? You mean Jaya, Abhishek,Aishwarya and myself ? Yes we would welcome a project that involves all of us actively. We hear a lot of talk amongst makers for such projects. You've just returned from this trip to England covering IIFA, Leeds, London. How has it been for you? Its been wonderful. The family has been together. IIFA has been the best and the biggest Bollywood event since inception. It is such a joy for me to see the entire industry together in one place, entertaining, working and interacting with each other. The love and enthusiasm of the Yorkshire people,the respect and dignity with which they treated us was all so memorable.

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Bobby Deol, Lara Dutta

Producer: Aditya Chopra

Director: Shaad Ali

Music Director: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Rating: **1/2

Yash Raj Films is back again with yet another crossover flick. After Ta Ra Rum Pum's luke warm performance in the box office, it is Shaad Ali's Jhoom Barabar Jhoom's trial at the box office. A colourful fun filled fare, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom sure entertains but seems to have ignored the necessity of a sturdy storyline. Basking entirely in its technical expertise, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is a flimsy script stylishly camouflaged in exotic locales and captivating music and dance.

Like any other YRF movie, two words to describe the movie would be "Colourful entertainer". Colourful not just visually, but also in the areas of screenplay, music and choreography. Expertly crafted, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom lacks just one fundamental aspect – strong storyline. The movie enthralls the senses and leaves one yearning for more by the end of it. Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is the age old boy meets girl - fall in love and thrown apart by ego story. There is absolutely nothing more to it.

The story summed up - two strangers meet in the railway station and fall in love. No we are not talking about Ek Chaalis ki last local! This is Waterloo Railway station and the protagonists are Rikki Thukral (Abhishek Bachchan) and Alvira Khan (Preity Zinta). When Rikki and Alvira bump into each other by chance sparks fly. They spend two hours with each other pretending to wait for their respective fiancé's. Rikki is an uncouth Punjabi living in London who makes his living by selling pirated DVDs and smuggled antiques. Alvira is a cultured British Asian woman who believes she is more British than Pakistani. Alvira tries to avoid Rikki initially and tells him she is already engaged and that she is waiting for her fiancé` Steve (Bobby Deol) to arrive. To keep up his side of the story, Rikki lies to Alvira as well and tells her that he is waiting for his fiancée` Anaida (Lara Dutta) to arrive. They both narrate to each other their self invented love stories to each other just to kill time. By the time their trains arrive they realize that they are mutually attracted to each other. They exchange numbers and leave. Cupid strikes and both Alvira and Rikki try to think of ways to win each others' hearts. Alvira calls Rikki and Rikki invites her and her fiancé` to attend the Mr. and Ms. Southall dance competition. Alvira asks Rikki to come with his fiancée`. A mad rush begins to find fake fiancée's for Alvira and Rikki. Alvira asks her friend Sukhvinder (Bobby Deol) to act as Steve for the night and Rikki asks Laila (Lara Dutta), a prostitute to act as his fiancée` for the night. What ensues is a totally fun filled nach-gaana sequence. Rikki and Laila are declared as Mr. and Ms. Southall. The rest of the story revolves around how Rikki and Alvira discover that they are not engaged to Laila (Anaida) and Sukhvinder (Steve) and are in love with each other. Sukhvinder and Laila somehow meet and fall in love with each other and lock lips. The film ends with Rikki and Alvira confessing their love for each other and locking lips in the suburbs of London.

Abhishek Bachchan as Rikki Thukral delivers a fine performance. His portrayal of the tapori guy with absolutely no refinement is up to the mark. Preity Zinta has made an honest attempt but hasn't worked on her accent enough. She doesn't look British Asian. Lara Dutta has delivered a truly fantastic performance both as the French Asian and the prostitute. Bobby Deol struggles to bring in Steve's suave look. Sukhvinder suits him better. Amitabh Bachchan is item number. He plays the British busker who keeps reappearing with the peppy title track all through the film. Though insignificant to the story, this busker keeps alive the screenplay every time it begins to spell boredom. Dressed like a rainbow, Amitabh Bachchan charms as always.

Shaad Ali's narrative is impressive. He juxtaposes reality and fantasy through the conversations between Alvira and Rikki. A very fresh and fine initiative wasted by a flimsy script. Ayanka Khan impresses yet again with vivid visuals and effervescent colours.

Music is the highlight of the movie. The title track will top the charts for weeks to come. Ticket to Hollywood is another track that lingers.

All in all, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom entertains but lacks substance. Though it has three lip-locks (Abhishek Bachchan - Lara Dutta, Bobby Deol – Lara Dutta and Abhishek Bachchan – Preity Zinta) and an A certificate Jhoom Barabar Jhoom can pass of as a complete family entertainer. Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is pastime.

The International Indian Film Academy Awards in Sheffield, England

Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan arrives at the Hallam FM Arena for the International Indian Film Academy awards in Sheffield, En