Trailer Tales

On screen, you8217;d never know, and behind the scenes, well, you don8217;t want to know. Our stars lead a schizophrenic, cross-connected life.

Unlike the sermonising films it produces, infidelity is not an issue in real Bollywood. As a top director/producer once said, 8216;8216;Show me one couple in Bollywood that is faithful, and I8217;ll stop making movies.8217;8217;

Trailers are usually the best location for 8216;quickie script discussions8217;, while outdoor locations come in second on the list of favourite venues for on-the-side fun. Anything can happen on an outdoor shoot. Even a heroine accompanied by mummyji and a hero with his biwi and bachchas in tow can still find time for a quick secret rendezvous.

A few months ago, it happened in Switzerland. Two former models, who recently made the transition to Bollywood, shacked up for some off-screen frames during the shoot of their recently released action thriller dud. The leading lady8217;s long-time boyfriend was present in the country, but that was only a minor detail for the amorous couple. 8216;8216;The hero and heroine had early morning scenes while the boyfriend was sleeping in the hotel. Bechara boyfriend sota hi rah gaya, aur hero-heroine ne kaafi mauj kari,8217;8217; The poor boyfriend was asleep, while the hero-heroine had some fun chuckles an assistant director of the film.

In another incident, a young actor, on a high from his latest hit, rocked Goa with a leading lady. The young gun has a girlfriend, and ditto for his quickie partner, whose boyfriend never misses an opportunity to declare his love for the doe-eyed beauty.

A veteran director says mobile phones are the industry8217;s favourite sex toys. After a newspaper printed the details of a siren8217;s phone bill, almost everyone discovered her call habits. She8217;d made an unusually large number of calls to a top actor her co-star in many films and to the son of a prosperous producer/director. Incidentally, the producer8217;s son is scheduled to make his Bollywood debut soon. Apparently, the energetic siren was two-timing them. Obviously, she denies it.

In the end, it8217;s all about getting the timing right. Like the brooding star kid who, at one point, had a good thing going with three leading ladies8212;one was his gym partner; another shared his dabba; the third was reserved for the high-flying parties. You8217;ve gotta hand it to him: The women didn8217;t have a clue. And even if they did, none of them complained.

Unfortunately, not everyone8217;s blessed with that sort of luck. A certain firebrand actress has had many ups and downs with her boyish boyfriend on account of her over-friendly attitude towards a co-star. Rumour has it that the couple had massive fights in South Africa, where they were shooting for a film that co-starred all three. 8216;8216;The boyfriend only needed the slightest provocation to create a scene. He was forever in jealous mode, and the shooting got delayed all the time,8217;8217; says a crew member.

Possessive boyfriends can be a pain, as a leggy model-turned-actress will testify. She8217;s dating a superstar known for his tendency to break things in a jealous rage. On a recent shoot, crew members narrate how the PYT was constantly on the actor8217;s radar. 8216;8216;He8217;s very possessive, and doesn8217;t give her any breathing space. When a photographer came to take pictures of her, she said no in front of her boyfriend. But the instant he left, she made a deal with the lensman to come and click her later when she knew she would be alone,8217;8217; confides a technician.

In fact, cover up is a Bollywood mantra. The make-believe flows right off the screen and into the real lives of its actors and actresses. Outwardly, everyone8217;s a bro, a darling or a 8220;great co-star8221;. But have a one-on-one conversation with any of them, especially the women, and the cracks beneath the make-up begin to show. The only thing they really care about: Dirt on their rival. The tirade will begin at the trailer door8212;but wait, there8217;s a footnote: Everything8217;s off the record.

Albeit, they8217;re not always playing games. Sometimes, even these folks hurt. A few months ago when a TV channel aired a file interview of a yuppie actor and his now-separated spouse, the chap sent out an SMS to his friends: 8216;8216;Tell me you8217;re not watching this.8217;8217; But, of course, they were. Because that8217;s showbiz.