Smita Thackeray's first television serial -- Khel

Khel a dramatic weekly soap produced by Smita Thackeray, daughter-in-law of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, will air on Sony Entertainment Television on 22 July.

Khel boasts of a stellar cast which includes Dalip Tahil, Moon Moon Sen, Priya Tendulkar, Nirmal Pandey and Mrinal Kulkarni.

Speaking at the launch of the serial Smita Thackeray, who will be making her debut as a serial producer, said that the concept of Khel was very different from the usual saans-bahu kahanis, which are currently riding the air-waves.

The serial will be directed by Virendra Pradhan, who has been associated with Marathi theatre for the past eight years.

Raj Kumar Santoshi's mythological magnum opus

Lajja director Raj Kumar Santoshi is planning a three-part film on the Mahabharata, the estimated budget -- Rs 115 crore.

The making of this magnum opus will begin early 2002 after Santoshi's current film Bhagat Singh is ready for release. However, construction of the sets is already underway at Ramoji Rao Studios, Hyderabad.

Desis making it big in Hollywood

Indian actors and directors are making their mark in some of the most high-profile Hollywood projects.

Jay Chandrasekhar, director and co-star of the Sundance Festival's hit Super Troopers, was overjoyed when his film was picked up in January by Fox for US distribution. The film is due out this fall.

Shekhar Kapur, director of the Oscar-nominated Elizabeth, will soon release his Four Feathers, while M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) is making progress with his supernatural thriller Signs, with Mel Gibson in the starring role.

Rahul Khanna (Earth) has signed on for The Palace Thief, along with Kevin Kline, to be directed by Michael Hoffman (A Midsummer Night's Dream).

The Mystic Masseur, Merchant/Ivory's telling of the 1957 V S Naipaul novel, will star Jimi Mistry (East Is East) and Ayesha Dharkar (The Terrorist), is due this fall.

One of the most eagerly awaited comedies due out next year is The Guru, starring Jimi Mistry, Heather Graham (Austin Powers, Boogie Nights) and Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny).

Anil Sharma gets choosy after Gadar

Director Anil Sharma is hot property after Gadar- Ek Prem Katha. But, Anil has signed on just two films, out of the 20 offers he has received.

Sharma has initially signed Sunny Deol for one film and has also agreed to direct a film starring Akshay Kumar.

Compiled by Vivek Fernandes
Design: Imran Shaikh