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It can, at times, be rather difficult to understand our film-makers. They will spend millions on making a film, but will not invest time or effort on the story which, in any light, is the backbone of a film.

What boggles the imagination, though, is the fact that this error can actually be committed by a writer-turned-director like Sanjay Chhel (whose script credits include Rangeela, Yes Boss, Halo, Daud and Kachhe Dhaage). As a result his debut film, Khoobsurat, is sinking fast at the box office.

A rehash of the Hrishikesh Mukherjee classic, Bawarchi, Khoobsurat has nothing original about it; even the title is borrowed from another Mukherjee film (starring Rekha and Rakesh Roshan). Chhel's forte as a writer is comedy and that, believe me, is only good thing about the film.

With an opening of only 40-50 per cent, Khoobsurat can go only one way -- down! Except, of course, in Maharashtra where comedies, as a rule, are patronised.

Chhel's disaster is taking its toll on the film's nubile heroine. Urmila, who's desperately looking for a hit, now has another flop -- after Jaanam Samjha Karo, Kaun, Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain, Mast and Dillagi -- on her hands. All in a row, at that!

Rs 210 million in three weeks

The first three weeks's gross collections of Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Saath-Saath Hain in India are a whopping Rs 210 million! No wonder the modern-day Ramayan is becoming the fastest money-spinner of Bollywood ever. In the Bombay territory alone, the film is expected to yield an amount over Rs 100 million.

Wow! Never mind if the film is not poised for a long run, the bank balance's rapid rise will more than make up for it.

Paaji -- on the beach!
Distributors of Sunny Deol's Dillagi are facing massive financial losses. Even in a place like Bhilai, where the film was released in two theatres only, it had to be discontinued from one of them after only a four day run! As for Sunny, he has fled to London to get over his depression.

Phew! Wonder, where his distributors will head for? Or will they? Their financial losses will run into hundreds of thousands for smaller territories and millions for the bigger ones.

Karisma Kapoor must be thanking her stars for having walked out of Dillagi. She had shot for the film in London, when it was titled London and directed by Gurinder Chaddha (Bhaji On the Beach fame). Perhaps Karisma realised the film would not run and opted out of it soon after Sunny and Gurinder developed problems.

Karsima's loss, then, was Urmila's gain. An equation that, after the film's release, has reversed on its head. Which prompted a smart alec to remark, "The Bhaji On the Beach director would've at least made a better film. Sunny's Dillagi is capable of getting paaji (Dharam paaji) on the beach!"

Kapoors and Deols coming together?

Talking of the Deols, it looks like one more is all set to join Hindi films. Esha, Hema Malini and Dharmendra's eldest daughter, has apparently decided try her luck as an actress. And launching her is none other than Boney Kapoor.

Boney reportedly met Hema Malini and expressed a desire to launch Esha in his next film, a remake of a Telugu super-hit. He is considering Sanjay Kapoor and Aftab Shivdasani (who debuted in Mast) as the male leads in this one-heroine-two-heroes subject.

Wonder what Esha's step-brother and Boney's sworn enemy, Sunny Deol, would have to say to that?

Dumbstruck?

That Twinkle Khanna has an 'unusual' voice is common knowledge. Dharmesh Darshan has, therefore, decided to have her dialogues in Mela dubbed by a professional dubbing artiste. Twinkle has no choice but to accept Dharmesh's dictates. After all, the director has a Raja Hindustani behind him and poor Twinkle has yet to prove that she can be a box-office rani.


Postponed!

Shahrukh Khan's home production, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, which was due for a January 21 release may now be delayed by some weeks. Although people concerned with the film insist that January 21 of the new year is the D-day, it seems more likely that a postponement is on the cards. One gathers this from absolutely inside reports.

A look at the week

Rating	Film	Production House	Verdict	Position Last Week
1	Hum Saath-Saath Hain	Rajshri	Hit	1
2	Khoobsurat	Jhamu Sugandh	Average/Flop	New
3	Dillagi	Vijayta Films	Disaster	New
4	The Sixth Sense	Manoj Night Shyamalan	Above Average	New
5	Vaastav	Adishakti	Average (Hit in Maharashtra)	2
6	Rockford	SIC Pictures	Average	3
7	Taal	Mukta Arts	Above Average (Flop in parts)	5
8	Shool	Dream Merchants Enterprise	Flop	4
9	Dil Kya Kare	Devgan Arts	Flop	9
10	Baadshah	Venus Records & Tapes Pvt Ltd	Average	10

Komal Nahta edits the popular trade magazine, Film Information.

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