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Newsbytes!

January 15, 2003 17:46 IST

SS Balan watches AnbesivamKamal Haasan

It was a proud moment for Kamal Haasan when the doyen of the Tamil cinema producer S S Vasan‘s son, media baron SS Balan, watched Anbesivam at a private screening. Balan was deeply moved by the experience, calling the film a classic.

"As a fan of the veteran filmmaker, I was deeply moved by his son's compliment," Haasan said. "There are a handful of people whose judgement I value. Balan is one of them. Besides, everyone's reaction was extremely positive. I'm sure Anbesivam will go the way it was meant to.

Later this month, Haasan's production Nala Damyanti, with his Anbesivam costar Madhavan in the lead, will be launched. Written by Haasan, the film will be directed by Mouli of Pamal K Sambandham fame.

Yash Chopra to direct a filmYash Chopra

The script is being feverishly worked upon. In March, Yash Chopra will launch his first directorial venture after Dil Toh Pagal Hai, five years ago. Says the filmmaker, "First, my son Aditya got busy with Mohabbatein. Then all of us got busy with his wedding. Meanwhile, we got three directors to make films for our production house."]

Now Yash Chopra will direct a film. To be launched in March, the film is in the final stages of scripting. Though the star cast is yet to be finalised, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan are already included in the film. "They are like my family members," Yash Chopra claims.

Pooja Bhatt wants a good release for JismPooja Bhatt

With the release of her prestigious production Jism fast approaching (on January 17), Pooja Bhatt has a hectic schedule. She wants to take the film to every corner of India. She was in Hyderabad on January 13 and New Delhi on January 15.

"I don't want Jism to be screened as some cheesy little film. I want it to have a decent release," she stated. The tag of a sex film threatens to limit the film's audience. But Pooja will have none of that. "I have made a film we are all proud of and no one is going to take away from that!"

Anil Kapoor's new lookAnil Kapoor

Anil Kapoor has decided on a new look. On January 14, he got himself a close-cropped haircut. Besides making him look younger, the new hairstyle goes perfectly with his role of a cop in Anurag Kashyap's new film. Anil has also been working out regularly in the gym.

"I feel young. I want to work with young enthusiastic filmmakers. I have at least half a dozen producers ready to put money into my starrers. But I can't find good directors," he groans.

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Subhash K Jha