Salim Khan has always struck us as a man of singular emotional intelligence and progressive views. Not only is he the man who was part of the team that gave us two films like Deewar and Sholay, but he himself is patriarch of a family that mostly is an example of how to live in harmony in modern India
Salim Khan has always struck us as a man of singular emotional intelligence and progressive views. Not only is he the man who was part of the team that gave us two films like Deewar and Sholay, but he himself is patriarch of a family that mostly is an example of how to live in harmony in modern India.
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What's more, the women in his family are given their space and the liberty to conduct their lives the way they want, be it Helen, Malaika Arora or his daughters who have not only married non Muslims, but are disciples of Hindu gurus - as is in the case of elder daughter Alvira.
Salma, Helen and Salim Khan
Listening to Khan's fire-fighting interview with Rajdeep Sardesai post Salman's alleged controversial tweets in support of Yakub Memon, we were struck by how we need more people like Salim Khan in public life to represent the Muslim community. But it is not for this alone that we draw your attention to the interview.
Arpita and (right) Alvira
Right at the beginning, when asked about the agitation against Salman, Salim says that the trouble was fomented because of BJP MLA Ashish Shelar's enmity against his son. A point dear reader that we were the first ones to make a few days earlier (Tuesday July 28th titled 'Party politics of another kind') Don't want to get repetitive but you heard it here first-again!
Who's that boy?
Suddenly he's the IT boy, his chiselled visage grinning out at you from every Page Three party. We're talking about the thirty-something Delhi model best known for his stint in a season of Bigg Boss who seems to have a lot of show biz friends in Mumbai.
From the recent birthday bash of a Bollywood's star's sister, to escorting the star daughter of a yesteryear actor and politician to parties (and even being seated next to her at a high profile fashion show) to big film preview parties and even the home of a prison bound star out on parole, he's everywhere.
"Yes he has made it into the right circles," said our filmy snoop, "but what's the secret behind his irresistible rise up the social ladder is a mystery to all" she said, "unless of course it's the Snow-white ladder .."Huh, we said not understanding "Snow" she repeated looking at us pityingly. "Also known as blow, freebase, nose candy," she said. "what makes things go better with..." Ah so, we said. Ye old trusty Snow-white ladder. All is explained.
Who's porn is it anyway?
All things considered it's been a bad hair week for Rajdeep Sardesai. First he took to twitter on Sunday to announce that he'd "faced abuse from Bhakt friends like never before. And I thought it was friendship day!"
Rajdeep Sardesai and Milind Deora
Then things went more pear shaped when Milind Deora stumped him during a live debate on the porn ban on Monday, when he lobbed him an impertinent question. Taking once again to his wailing wall, Sardesai tweeted 'When I ask @milinddeora on live TV if he watches porn, he shoots back, asks whether I watch it!
Sorry Milind, you have to ans, I get to ask!' The fast thinking, Twitter friendly politician replied swiftly 'Privacy is my inalienable, constitutional right. What's your answer Rajdeep?' Which forced Sardesai to drop the nonsensical query and concentrate on the real issue at stake. Oh well, every anchor has his day...
Seth and the Olive Girl Syndrome
We couldn't make it to last Thursday's 'Lime Diaries' at Olive Bandra, which featured such worthies as Kunal Vijayakar, Suhel Seth, James Crabtree and Mahesh Murthy - all excellent candidates to shoot the breeze, raise a glass and have a chinwag with. But we did manage to make it for the post event down time.
James Crabtree, Mahesh Murthy, Suhel Seth and Kunal Vijayakar
And whereas Crabtree and Murthy had hotfooted it out of Mumbai's iconic restobar, Vijayakar and Seth were there each pursuing their own interests i.e. Vijayakar was seated before a large table groaning with eats (he'd just sung for his supper –remember?) while Seth, as is his wont, was surrounded by a bevy of PYT's in LBD's.
Have you seen a blob of jaggery attacked by fruit flies? Not to make too fine a point of it, but there is a certain kind of man, a certain kind of evening and a certain kind of woman, who epitomize what we call the 'Olive Girl Syndrome.' The 'Olive Girl' is most importantly, a 'babe'. She works in media/ showbiz/ PR/ marketing/ events or fashion - or a combination of all of the above.
Most likely she is an out of towner, who has made Mumbai her home and Bandra her universe. ("It's just like the West Village" she squeals.) Comely and confident she may be, but make no mistake about it, the Olive Girl's calling card is her career, which she attempts to tell you about in a great detail, in what is an enigmatic, mid Atlantic-via-Gurgaon /Bangalore twang.
Unfortunately given the sound levels at the Olive, where minor stars are attempting to make major moves, the Olive Girl' s attempt to tell you about her career in that distinct mid Atlantic-via Gurgaon / Bangalore twang only comes across as a squawk. You smile. She smiles. And every thing is lost in translation.
Meanwhile, Olive Girl realizes she's also losing out on the Suhel Seth - action and so with an apologetic smile, she waves her tiny hand and is off to the evening's main plot. Not jaggery - make that a blob of honey, sweetheart.
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