Telugu Film News 23-06-2007

Controversy: Who styled Rajnikant?

Mumbai-based designer Neeta Lulla, asks for her due credit for the Southern star’s look in his new film

Rajnikant, the people’s hero, is now turning into a style icon as well, if his new avataar in his latest film is anything to go by. But strangely, leading designers Manish Malhotra and Neeta Lulla are squabbling over the credit for his look in the film. Manish claims, “I dressed up Rajnikant and his heroine Shreya for the film, barring the songs. Why has someone else been given the credit.” Neeta has got rave reviews for her work on Rajnikant. She defends, “I have put together Rajni’s look for the title song. It is a dream sequence in which Rajni changes his look six times.

Director wanted Heroine to rehearse kissing scene!

She’s a relative newcomer — and she’s already witnessed the bad side of Bollywood. Ask Sherlyn Chopra about her experience shooting for Vinod Pandey’s Red Swastik, and the actress sounds hurt.

“I was given a very different picture of how the film would release,” says Sherlyn. “In fact, I am really disappointed in director Vinod Pandey. He kept saying it was a good role and a great film, but when it came to the film’s promotion and release, he let me down. The film was released in a few theatres and has disappeared. What has irked me even more is the fact that he has changed my name in the credits to Maneka, when I kept insisting that I wanted to stick by ‘Sherlyn Chopra’. I have an identity of my own, and he has totally diluted it. It is very unfair to me.”

Was it true that he wanted her to rehearse for a kissing scene with her male co-star, by actually showing the male lead how to kiss the actress? “Can you imagine? He wanted rehearsals for a kissing scene. Who does that?” says a disgusted Sherlyn. “I put my foot down and told him that I would only kiss the actor during the take, and that’s that.” With such a bad experience, Sherlyn says she will definitely be more careful in future!

Gossip: Nallapusal Srinu Needs A Climax!

Nallapusala Srinu, a writer is after the Producer, C.C.Reddy to see his script approved. He worked in ‘Jananatyamandali’, a frontal organization of the erstwhile People’s War. He made his dent into film Industry as a writer. As C.C.Redy always looks for the subjects on teenagers, he got the script by name ‘Navataram’ ready. C.C.Reddy okayed the entire subject, barring the ‘Climax’. Srinu has submitted more than 30 alternatives for climax but Reddy has not approved one. Srinu, in turn, is asking every small time writer for a climax.

Babu turns 'charitable', eyes on NRIs

Former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu is now donning a new avatar. From a tough-looking and never-smiling politician, Babu wants to transform himself to a "caring philanthropist" and "mobile physician" to provide the much-needed healing touch, not only to the Telugu Desam but also to its cadre at the grass roots level.

With State Assembly elections fast approaching, Chandrababu Naidu has jumped into service activities. He believes that the best way to win over the hearts of people (read voters) is to give them something. And what is this "something" that will fetch more votes? Providing healthcare and medical facilities to people living in rural areas.

On Saturday morning, Chandrababu Naidu launched the Telugu Desam's first-ever Mobile Health Clinic. He plans to have such clinics for all the districts.

He also wants to keep Telugu NRIs in good mood. So he has also launched a website for NTR Trust. So we have now three websites manned by Chandrababu Naidu. One for the Telugu NRIs, one for the local Telugus and one for those who want to donate to the Telugu Desam.

And that is the inimitable Chandrababu Naidu.