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Suspects in plot to kill Bhandarkar arrested
Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 20 (IANS) Two men allegedly hired by model-turned-actress Preeti Jain to kill director Madhur Bhandarkar were arrested here Tuesday.

Shivam Arjun Das and Satish Mohite were working for underworld don-turned-politician Arun Gawli's aide Naresh Pardesi who asked them to kill Bhandarkar at the behest of Jain, police said. 

The duo was arrested from a central Mumbai residence. A locally made revolver and four cartridges were seized from them. An empty case of the cartridge apparently used to test-fire the revolver was subsequently seized from Pardesi's house, police said. 

Police said the arrests would provide more leads for the interrogation of Jain and Pardesi, the main suspects. 

Jain was arrested Sep 10 on charges of paying Rs.70,000 as contract money to Pardesi to eliminate Bhandarkar. Pardesi and Jain are currently in police custody.

In July last year, Jain had accused Bhandarkar of sexually exploiting her by promising her roles in movies.

Nandana Sen plays Arab-American in new film
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 20 (IANS) Nandana Sen is the odd one out and loves it that way, including her role as a Muslim Arab-American girl torn between her roots and events in the post-9/11 world in "The War Within".

Nandana is currently looking at a wide variety of roles and never mind if none of them is an average masala movie.

"I don't think I'm equipped for doing masala," she chuckles wryly. 

Earlier this month she flew to Canada to represent Joseph Costello's "The War Within" at the Toronto Film Festival. 

"It's the most challenging role of my career. I play a Muslim Arab-American girl torn between her roots and events after 9/11. It's a film and character that oppose religious fanaticism. 

"I like that. I like films that take a stand, that dare to cross boundaries. I don't think cinema should be only about entertainment." 

Nandana said this was one of the reasons why she liked the work of someone like Ram Gopal Varma. "He's forever going beyond entertainment," Nandana told IANS.

"In fact, my role in 'My Wife's Murder' was hardly that of a conventional heroine. I wish there had been more of me in the film. There was supposed to be..."

In another version of "My Wife's Murder", which was never released, Anil Kapoor's character murders his wife for Nandana's character. Then she murders her lover and they both get away from the cops.

"That's true," Nandana conceded reluctantly. "I was far more central to the other version of the story. But I still loved what remains of me in 'My Wife's Murder'. One of the pleasures of doing the film was working with Boman Irani. He's become an absolute friend. And what an actor! 

Boman plays Nandana's father in her new film "It's A Mismatch", a US-based comedy directed by young Ajmal Ahmed. In the film, Nandana plays a Gujarati-American who falls in love with a Punjabi-American. 

"The boy's dad is played by Anupam Kher. The only thing in common to Boman's interaction with me in 'My Wife's Murder' and 'It's A Mismatch' is that in both films, he makes me cry," Nandana said.

On another level, Nandana is excited about Willard Carol's "Marigold" where she teams up with Salman Khan.
Contrary to expectations, no sparks flew between the controversial Khan and the decorous Sen. 

"It's good to draw the lines from the start in all relations, working or otherwise. Much as I admire a lot of people in the industry, I can't suck up to them just because that's the done thing. 

"I would rather be jobless than get work for the wrong reasons," said Nandana, gung-ho about her career as a global actor.

Bhandarkar signs Sammir Dattani for 'Corporate'
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 20 (IANS) Director Madhur Bhandarkar has signed Sammir Dattani for his next venture "Corporate" after he watched his performance in "Pyar Mein Twist".

Says Madhur, "There's something really likeable about Sammir. He could be a part of a scene that has 10 other faces. But he holds the camera. That's the kind of face and presence I needed for a key role in 'Corporate'. Yes, I have signed him for the film."

Doesn't "Corporate" already have Bipasha Basu and Kay Kay Menon? "It does. But that doesn't take away from the importance of Sammir's role. Like 'Page 3', 'Corporate' is a character study, an ensemble piece, where you will find every character, big or small, making an impact," says Madhur.

Sammir Dattani, who flew to Bangalore for the release of his new Kannada film "Amrithdhare", is pleased with the way his career in Hindi films has shaped up. 

"Although my first film 'Uff...Kya Jadoo Mohabbat Hai' didn't do well, I was noticed in it and in my new release 'Pyaar Mein Twist', which was entirely Rishi Kapoor and Dimple's story. I really like my role in 'Corporate'. It gives me a chance to do something entirely different from what actors of my age group generally do."

Sammir, extremely popular as Dhyaan in Kannada films, has reason to be pleased. His new Kannada film "Amrithdhare" has fetched him rave reviews from local critics generally hostile to actors from Mumbai. The film is on the way to becoming a big success.

"First a hit in Kannada then a film with one of the best directors in Hindi...I couldn't have hoped for better," Sammir is all smiles.

Adds Madhur, "There are very important scenes in 'Corporate', where Sammir will get a chance to show his skills as an actor...He will be paired opposite Minissha Lamba, the girl from 'Yahan'."

Models to showcase shooting equipment at ramp show
Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) Models will walk the ramp at the O.P. Jindal Memorial TopGun Shooting competition here Oct 1 to exhibit various guns and accessories used in competitive shooting.

During the show, details of each gun will be given to spectators by the master of ceremonies. The TopGun Shooting Series has been made for TV and designed to attract people to the sport, said a statement from www.indianshooting.com, the organisers. 

"This will be a glamorous way of explaining and exhibiting various sporting guns used in shooting sports to the spectators," said the statement. 

Internationals Arti Singh, Amit Sanghi and MP Naveen Jindal will take part in the TopGun Shooting Series that will be telecast on TEN Sports.

The competition is sponsored by Jindal Steel and supported by the National Rifle Association of India, the parent body for the sport.

"We have changed the format slightly to make it more spectator friendly for the television and live audience. There will be 75 shots instead of 125 in the qualification, and 50 shots instead of 25 in the finals," said the statement.