Seema Sinha

An evening at Filmalaya Studios, Mumbai.

Powerful strobe lights in green, blue and red dazzle your eyes as you walk into a shooting schedule of Abbas Mustan's Hamraaz starring Bobby Deol, Akshaye Khanna and Amisha Patel. The place is smoky, there's music blaring and people milling around.

A group of 50-odd dancers in short leather pants and jackets are matching steps to a racy number. The sets resemble a cruiseliner.

Leading lady Amisha is sitting in the audience, with a young girl and a TV journalist who is smoking. Amisha is dressed in a bodysuit, short leather pants and a revealing leather top. Her long, straight, silky hair has been curled. She is chattering non stop with the girl who appears to be a close friend.

Their conversation is interrupted when Amisha is called for a shot. She spots the journalist lighting a cigarette. "You lit another cigarette. Stop it,'' she admonishes. The journalist laughs.

She and Akshaye Khanna rehearse a few dance steps. The shot is canned and the two take a break. Just last week, I had seen Amisha in a simple chikan salwar-kameez, her long hair in a mess, shooting for the climax of Vikram Bhatt's Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage. The difference today is startling.

Amisha's mother Asha and brother Ashmit, regulars at Amisha's sets, join her. She looks happy and content, gulping down some milkshake and looking over the colourful clothes she is wearing for the film. Soon, she bids an affectionate goodbye to her mom and brother. "My mother is so innocent. When I am 50 plus, I'd like my children to say, 'Ma toh baddo innocent chhe [Mom is so innocent]' about me," says Amisha, warmly.

She is excited about the film and her role: "It has different shades, even a negative one,'' discloses Amisha. An assistant director, who is checking the shots on the monitor, asks whether she has seen it. "Don't worry, my eyes are everywhere," Amisha promises. "I know what is happening around me.'' For now, she is doing an item number and admits she isn't too comfortable with the outfit for the day.

Abbas Mustan, known for fast-paced thrillers like Baazigar, Badshah, Soldier and recently Ajnabee, started Hamraaz last August and plan to complete the film within a year.

The film bears no resemblance to the 1966 B R Chopra hit Hamraaz, starring Sunil Dutt and Vimi. In time present, Akshaye Khanna catches your eye. He's relaxing in front of a cooler, eyes closed. Post the success of Dil Chahta Hai, Akshaye has gone in for a total change of image. He has a new hairstyle [someone tells you it's a wig. You decide to ignore it], great physique and just looks good. Someone approaches him. He opens his eyes, smiles charismatically, says something and closes his eyes again.

Akshaye appears at peace with himself. He doesn't seem very keen on checking his shot in the monitor like Amisha. "Amisha and Akshaye are dancers and are part of a dance troupe. Bobby Deol plays a rich guy. Music is an integral part of the film. It is a typical Abbas Mustan film, a racy thriller, but we haven't repeated the subject,'' explain Abbas Mustan.

So who is the negative character? "We don't want to reveal that,'' the duo insists. The Akshaye-Amisha pair is fresh and vibrant, they declare. "Amisha has got a nice role in this film, one which very few actresses get. She gets to perform. We saw some portions --- she has done a good job. We are more than satisfied,'' they add.

The next shot appears to be the climax of the song. A huge cage descends and Amisha enters. She beckons Akshaye seductively; he follows her inside. The cage lifts while Akshaye and Amisha hug each other.

India News Features Service