Sush got the boot

Our question is, did she deserve it?

We believe there are two sides to a coin. Which is why, this story.

Sushmita Sen, you might recall, was thrown out of a film by director Mahesh Manjrekar.

On second thoughts, we want to know: is asking for a narration really a crime? Is telling the director the truth, that she (the actress) didn't think she had a meaty role, a crime? Is asking him to add better scenes a crime?

Evidently, it is, for Mahesh Manjrekar. The hotshot director (who shot to fame with his Vaastav hastened to show the door to Sushmita for N R Pachisia's film, Tera Mera Saath Rahe.

Though Sushmita's reputation as an unprofessional actress hasn't helped her.

But sources close to the director -- and who want to remain anonymous for obvious reasons -- admit that Manjrekar's brand new ego took a dent because Sushmita was bold enough to ask for a proper narration.

Or was Mahesh only looking for a reason to fit in his current Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai heroine, Sonali Bendre, who eventually unceremoniously replaced Sushmita?

Throw tantrum, get thrown out!
While we're on boots, let's train the spotlight for a while on Manoj Bajpai. For he's gotten too big for his.

Not only is the actor demanding unheard of amounts from his directors, he is also now insisting that he play the lead in all his films.

Now there are two ways to take this. Either dance to his tunes -- like Akashdeep or Hansal Mehta -- or stick to your own.

Like Prakash Jha and Subhash Ghai. Apparently, Jha is directing a film for Ghai and Manoj is said to have been shortlisted to act opposite Neha.

But when it came to money, Manoj quoted a figure which made the duo jump. In alarm.

Manoj's logic: "I am a hero, too, and if you can pay the stars, why not me?"

Ghai looked at Jha. And Jha smiled. He already had a alternate lined up.

"It is better to work and train newcomers than tolerate star tantrums," he said, and pointed the Vimal model, Jatin Garewal, to Ghai.

And before Manoj could say Manoj -- or even Jatin -- Jatin was in.

Tantrums are fine, but wethinks you should know whom to throw them at!

Jackie's off to school -- the school of hard knocks!
Now, here's one man who knows how to flow with the tides.

He's also aware that his days as hero are numbered. And so Jackie Shroff has spread his wings.

In all directions. He acceped a negative role. And, in doing so, has discovered that life on the darker side has more benefits than he ever imagined.

He is playing the villain in Raj Kanwar's Farz, where he will be locking arms with Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt.

In Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Mission Kashmir, he's pitted against Hrithik Roshan

Now, he's so thrilled with his decision that he has even agreed to play Kareena Kapoor's father in Raj Kanwar's next film. The bait, one hears, is that he was asked to play the negative character with Rati Agnihotri as his wife.

No pain (and he's sure to get a whole load of it on screen, what with his new decision), no gain, we say. True enough -- Jackie's said to be earning more than what he did as a hero!

Here's to Jackie and the school of hard knocks!

When disillusioned, return to the camera!
Wethinks Raj Babbar has been disillusioned with politics.

Why we're saying that because the actor is now making a comeback in films.

A sincere worker of his party, Babbar is said to have been disappointed to realise that the party was not offering him a significant post. They, of course, had no compunction in using him as a spokesperson and was a draw at most of the party functions, cashing in on his star status.

The long wait ahead...
Rikku Rakeshnath's son, Karan Nath, is to be introduced in Joy Augustine's film, Pagalpan.

The long wait ahead...

He seems to have gotten carried away by his reputation now that his son, Karan Nath, is being introduced in Joy Augustine's film, Pagalpan.

The film is almost complete. Meanwhile, Karan Nath entered into a contract with Aruna Irani and Kuku Kohli, and has begun shooting for their film.

Left by the wayside is R Mohan, producer of Pagalpan.

One shudders to think that Mohan might have to wait a good eight months to a year to have Karan Nath complete his film.