For most of its history, Bollywood’s economy was entirely based on black money on which no taxes had been paid. Filmmakers made movies with black money that was paid to actors who were known to be repositories of unaccounted wealth.
It was a regular feature in newspapers of a few decades ago to see raids by the Income Tax on the biggest stars of India. Some also came in the list of highest tax payers but that raised the question of why other stars of similar stature, who presumably commanded the same price, were not in that list.
Last week, in a sudden move, the Indian government announced that currency notes of Rs500 and Rs1,000 would no longer be legal tender. All those who held these notes and had not reported their wealth found that their black money had overnight become worthless.
But it is a testament to how much Bollywood has changed that it evoked almost no panic there and that is because in the last 15 years or so, the influence of black money has become negligible, after companies listed in the stock market entered into film production – and they could only deal in white money.
Before that, everyone from underworld gangsters to moneylenders had turned to Bollywood to launder their black money by making movies. That was also the time when financial institutions were reluctant to loan money for moviemaking. But now banks gladly lend money, to the big filmmakers at least.
Unsurprisingly, the announcement was welcomed by many Bollywood actors. ‘Farsighted. Extremely smart. And not politically motivated. Will bring such a positive change for Indian economy. Great move @narendramodi’, tweeted Shah Rukh Khan, congratulating the prime minister.
Karan Johar also tweeted, ‘This is truly a masterstroke move!!!! @narendramodi’hits it out of the stadium!!!!.’
Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Rishi Kapoor and host of other Bollywood personalities also praised the decision. But the move does have a minor effect on under production movies, since there are a number of daily wage workers on sets and until the new replacement currency becomes easily available it will be difficult to pay them on time.
That is, however, a minor inconvenience. If something like that were to happen 20 years ago, a large number of film stars would have found themselves in an enormous loss.

Love equations

It seems almost predictable now. Each time, the rumours of Salman Khan planning to marry someone are followed by reports of his breakup, and he is back to being the most eligible bachelor in the country.
That seems to be holding true in his latest romance too, with Romanian model Iulia Vantur. She has in recent times been spotted often with Salman, and even with some of his family.
Obviously, Salman has never confirmed any of his relationships and it was the same with Vantur too. But it was not the best kept secret in town. In any case, the open flaunting had led to speculation that they might marry soon. But now, if you go by rumours, it seems that their relationship might be in trouble.
And in the script, there is also a third party making an entrance in the form of Urvashi Rautela, the actress who was recently seen in Great Grand Masti. She was photographed outside Salman’s residence.
She is trying to break into the big league of Bollywood after a shaky start and call it coincidence, but that is exactly the moment when Salman’s relationships bloom, as happened in the case of Katrina Kaif.
Meanwhile, of course there have been unofficial denials from Salman’s family who say Urvashi is just a friend. No doubt we could accept it if not for the fact that every couple in Bollywood was mere ‘friends’ once upon a time.


Hate tweets

Ram Gopal Varma has for some time made it his business to become as offensive as possible, because it gets him a lot of followers on Twitter and free publicity that has eluded him as a filmmaker – since no one takes him seriously on that front anymore.
His tweets are designed to make people react and he just got them to do it once more, the only difference being that this time it had to do with the US presidential election results.
Soon after Donald Trump’s victory became known, Varma put up an image of Trump’s wife Melania, a former model with looks to match, along with that of Michelle Obama with these words, ‘For some reason I like the present First Lady much more than the previous..can anyone tell me why?’
He also tweeted along the lines of ‘US got its hottest 1st Lady since all wives of presidents starting from George Washington ..1002 kisses to Trump for making America Greater’ and so on.
Angry responses on Twitter to this ranged from calling him a racist to a sexist. Varma was unfazed. After all any fame is preferable to anonymity.


Glamour to arthouse

Karan Johar recently threw a party for the success of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and spotted there together were Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, once again becoming a topic of discussion.
They are former lovers, of course, but their chemistry is so great that it is hard to not make associations, even though the romantic angle might be well and truly be in the past.
Deepika, back in India, after a stint in Hollywood looked radiant. And why would she not be? She remains the most sought after actress in the Hindi movie industry and she might just pull another ace out of her sleeve.
She recently did a look test for a movie that the acclaimed Iranian director Majid Majidi is planning in India. It is the plain look of an average poor woman, a contrast to the ultra-glamorous role opposite Vin Diesel in XXX: The Return of Xander Cage.
If she lands the role, then it might get her acting abilities noticed in the arthouse cinema circuit across the globe.

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