22 September 2001 - On the sets of Radheshyam Seetaram

Action appears to be the order of the day. A fight sequence has just been wrapped up. A peek into the camera has you wondering whether you're seeing double. Your eyes haven't deceived you. This is N Kumar Group's Radheshyam Seetaram, starring Aishwarya Rai and Sunil Shetty in double roles. Director Anees Bazmee (Hulchul and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha) has Bombay's Hotel Horizon in a tizzy. Ash steps out for her shot. Clad in a golden yellow salwar-kameez, sporting an elaborate hairdo, the actress looks almost surreal. Her attendant is having a rather tough time keeping ardent admirers at bay, as they fight to catch a glimpse of her. Ash, meanwhile, is busy on her phone. Over to Sunil Shetty. Describing the film as a remake of Comedy Of Errors, Shetty says, "I play Ram and Shyam with Aishwarya, who's also in a double role. Which means there's total chaos. It's a fun film, a complete entertainer." Shetty fans would recall his double role stint in Gopi Kishen. At the moment, with his plate full with assignments, Shetty is obviously pleased: "I am happy with the way my career is shaping up. I have Mahesh Manjrekar's Ehsaas and Ripples Pictures' Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar on hand. Working with different directors has been a great experience." Radheshyam Seetaram has been in the making for almost four years. Earlier, Ash wanted to back out of the film, due to problems with the producer. Now, however, all's well. And director Bazmee is thrilled with the final product. "People will really enjoy this film. I love making comedies. Since both Ash and Sunil have double roles, all the situations created are funny." "One pair has Ash playing a thief and Sunil, a smalltime crook. The other pair has Sunil playing a police inspector and Ash, a lawyer. The film has turned out well. We plan to release it around Diwali," the director adds. Meanwhile, Ash and Sunil are facing their duplicates, dialogues in hand. The two are clearly enjoying themselves. Sunil, in black, is sporting an eye mask. After the shot is okayed, Ash says, "Playing Sita and Radha was not at all a problem -- I enjoyed it. I had signed this film when I'd just entered the industry. But destiny had other plans for this film and me. I hope it turns out fine."

04 August 2001 - Double roles for Ash and Sunil Shetty

N Kumar nonchalantly flicks a cashew nut into his mouth and asks, "Which one?" And you reply that you want to interview Aishwarya Rai. Rai plays a double role in producer N Kumar's latest film Radheshyam Seetaram. She plays, but naturally, Radha and Seeta. Sunil Shetty plays Shyam and Ram. When Rai is asked about her first double role she points out that she is no stranger to dualities. Just when you think she is going to talk about Salman Khan, she goes on to elaborate on how her roles in films like Iruvar, Jeans and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam had two distinct shades to them. "There is a personality transition in each of these films and as an actress I have had to play the traits of two different individuals," explains the gorgeous actress. Thus playing Seeta and Radha is clearly no problem for her. She also points out that Radheshyam Seetaram was one of the first films she signed, and many of its scenes were shot years ago, when she was still a raw talent. The film will feature two Aishwaryas: a young talent bubbling with energy, and a mature actress approaching the peak of her powers. At the point we met her, she was shooting a Koli dance draped in a stunning maroon sari. While she did not know the kind of sari she was wearing, her research for the film was in-depth. "I was hellbent on a Koli dance because Radha lives in a jhopadpatti," says Rai. (The film is set in Mumbai.) Her co-star, Sunil Shetty, is a man who works equally hard on his roles. In recent times he has made a shift from action roles to comedy. Thankfully, he has done it so naturally, people are laughing with him and not at him. Radheshyam Seetaram, he says, "It is a comedy of errors. It has clean humour for the entire family." When asked about his propensity to tickle people's ribs he smiles as if to say ''isn't that what ribs are for?" He then tells you that his friends have always thought he had a great sense of humour. His recent films like Hera Pheri prove that they weren't pulling his leg. Shetty's commitment to films is no laughing matter. The work he has put in over the years is evident during the shoot for the Koli dance. Both Shetty and Rai pick up choreographer Chinni Prakash's steps quickly and then they huddle around the TV monitor dissecting each move. This song is one of the last things to be shot for Radheshyam Seetaram, which is due out shortly. It is writer-turned-director Aneez Bazmee's second film after his directorial debut Hulchal. He will certainly be hoping that his second effort lives up to his first's name at the box-office.

13 July 2001 - Song recorded for Radheshyam Seetaram

Music director Aadesh Srivastava recorded a song for N Kumar Group and writer-director Anees Bazmee’s Radheshyam Seetaram on June 29 and 30 and July 7 at Sahara. Penned by Sameer, the song was rendered by KK, Preeti and Pinky. The film stars Sunil Shetty and Aishwarya Rai (both in double roles for the first time) with Sharad Kapoor, Sheeba, Reema, Guddi Maruti, Deepak Qazir, Girija Shankar, Smita Jaykar, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Prem Chopra and Raj Babbar. Cinematography by Thomas Xavier, choreography by Chinni Prakash, action by Bhiku Verma and Pappu Verma, lyrics by Dev Kohli and music by Anand Raj Anand are the major credits.

05 July 2001 - Sunil, the gentle side...

Met sweetie pie Sunil Shetty again. Poor chap was feeling under the weather. "I've got a headache man," he complained. Sinus, you see, because of changing climates. London cold, Mumbai warm. And since he's been on the London-Mumbai route more often than the home-to-studio route, he was feeling preety washed out. But, no matter what, his manners are impeccable. Ask Aishwarya Rai, she'll vouch for it. They were shooting for their much- delayed Radheshyam Seetaram. Now Sunil was immersed in a conversation with an industrywallah when he spotted Rai heading towards her car. Sunil broke into a sprint, jumped over the parked vehicles and gallantly opened the car door for his heroine. Was Aishwarya impressed? You bet. Ditto the unit. One of them even commented, "Aise to aadmi teen hi time daudta hai - ya to Olympic ka race ho, ya to police case ho, ya to Aishwarya Rai ki gaadi ka darwaza kholna ho!"

Talk of Aishwarya and Sunil, and we are sure they were pleased as Punch when producer Shabnam Kapoor finally washed her hands off Radheshyam Seetaram. For those who've came in late, the film has been more off the sets than on. One of the reasons? Remember the time Shabnam cried foul in the media about Aishwarya's so-called unprofessionalism, her demand for a hike in remuneration, her playing hard to get with her dates blah, blah, blah? Well, dunno about Sunil and Aishwarya, but director Anees Bazmee sure is relieved to have Shabnam off their backs. "If there are 200 unit members, Shabnam fought with 199 of them," he revealed, still rankled. "She got very hyper, very agitated at the smallest of things. In fact, I often told her that she should see a psy-chiatrist." What's it they say - the truth is always out, sooner or later. Well, Aishwarya stands vindicated! Today Shaba-nam's out of the project, but Aishwarya is still in it and ho-nouring her commitment even when she's feeling down with a throat infection.

02 February 2001 - Double Trouble Again!

Looks like our moviemakers have found out a new rage – double roles! After Kajol’s twin roles in Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi, the upcoming Radheshyam Seetaram is starring Sunil Shetty and Aishwarya Rai in double roles! Radheshyam Seetaram is almost complete and will be released in the second quarter of this year. Apart from Sunil and Ash, the movie also stars Paresh Rawal, Raj Babbar, Sheeba, Sharad Kapoor & Prem Chopra in lead roles. The music has been composed by Anand Raj Anand & Sajid-Wajid.

01 February 2001 - What Radheshyam Seetaram is all about?

Anees Bazmee's Radheshyam Seetaram is 70% complete and the movie will be released in the second quarter of this year. The movie stars Sunil Shetty, Aishwarya Rai, Paresh Rawal, Raj Babbar, Sheeba, Sharad Kapoor & Prem Chopra in lead roles. The music has been composed by Anand Raj Anand & Sajid Wajid.

Sunil Shetty & Aishwarya Rai play double roles in the movie. While Sunil Shetty enacts the role of a robber (Shyam) and a cop (Ram), Aishwarya plays the role of a robber (Radha) and a lawyer (Seeta). Radha and Shyam live in the village are petty criminals. Shyam goes to the city and Radha goes in search of him when he fails to return. But here she meets Ram - the look alike of Shyam, who is a police officer and hilarious situations follow. Prem Chopra is a scientist by profession and plays Seeta's father. He discovers a secret formula for which the villains, who want to profit from it, kidnap him for the formula.

23 November 2000 - Can't get enough of Ash!

Confident and bespangled she was the face to reckon in the whole world. Still years after she was crowned Miss World, Aishwarya Rai continues to enthrall many an admirer with her charm and vivacity. The glow of tinseltown's arc lights couldn’t detract the radiance of her visage nor did the cutthroat competition of the filmdom bog down her confidence. Now it seems as if her fans were not getting enough of Ash on two-plus hours of celluloid and the message got to the dream merchants just in the nick of time. For the doe-eyed lissome lass will hog the silver screen in a double role for the first time in her career. In what is seen as an all-and-out Ash film she will pair opposite Sunil Shetty (who will also play the double role) for the N Kumar group's maiden production venture titled Radheshyam Seetaram. Written and directed by Anees Bazmee the film is probably the first of its kind in which both hero and heroin play the double roles. The film, it is expected will prove to be a milestone in her film career just as Seeta Aur Geeta turned out to be for Hema Malini. In the least it will be Ash galore throughout two-plus hours of celluloid for her star struck fans and that too for just the price of a ticket.

10 November 2000 - Now You know Why You See Double!

This one's for those of you who haven't got enough of Aishwarya Rai. The lissome beauty will soon be seen in a double role for the first time in her career. Hmmn. (Looks her career is going somewhere after all.) She is paired opposite Sunil Shetty who will also be performing in double roles. The film is called Radheshyam Seetaram and is written and directed by Anees Bazmee. Ash sure looks busy, now that her career is on a roll. Wonder what this film will do to her record. Hey, what do you know, this double role may just prove to be a milestone in her career and for all you know, she might retire after that, announcing marriage or something. Hey, hey, hold on, she's a career woman, we know that, but then when does one get married? Wotsay, Ash?

27 October 2000 - Sunil Shetty and Aishwarya in double roles

We have seen numerous films wherein the hero plays the double role or the heroine plays a double role. But there are not so many films wherein both play double roles. Have you seen such a movie? If not, here is your chance to feast upon Radheshyam Seetaram. The film will star Sunil Shetty & Aishwarya Rai together in double roles. The movie has been produced by N Kumar group and is written and directed by Anees Bazmee. Let's hope that the film lives up to our expectations and we do not have to say Hey Ram!

06 October 2000 - Prices are on the Way Up

Radheshyam Seetaram continues its impressive performance in the exchange for the consecutive third day on 6th October with the stocks registering a gain of Brs 43, when this is written. The stock was lying below Brs 200 mark a couple of weeks ago. Since September 23rd, the stock has gone up in charts by about Brs 100 to close at Brs 233 on 6th October. Radheshyam Seetaram was priced at Brs 133 at the start of September. The stock stayed there unnoticed till September 24th and on that day the stock went up by Brs 75. In the days that followed, the stock showed signs of major improvements by reaching Brs 190 on October 1st. Now, on October 6th the stock has made another quick jump to reach Brs 233 with a gain of Brs 43. Radheshyam Seetaram has got some hot stars of the industry in Aishwarya Rai and Sunil Shetty which really makes traders going for it. Sunil Shetty now stands in the prime of his career and Aishwarya Rai is a real selling point for any movie. The duo is coming up with another movie Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke which is also doing very good in the exchange.

08 September 1999 - War Of The Women!

We really don’t know whom to sympathize with here, considering both the warring parties are women. Ash and lady director Shabnam Kapoor are at war. And all for Radheshyam Seetaram. No sillies, that’s not a man they are fighting over. It’s the movie Shabnam had announced with the Rai many moons ago, but which had not seen the light of day. Post the success of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Ms Kapoor found the necessary funds to revive her project. But now Ash had no dates and contended that Shabnam wanted to use her new, successful status to cash in on. It led to tears and a war of words as well. The matter went to all the required film bodies until it was decided that Ash would finally do the film. She even doled out the dates. Phew!! But hold on folks. The matter didn’t end there. Now the angry Ms Kapoor says that the dates allotted by Ms Rai do not match those of her hero Sunil Shetty and she wants fresh ones. Ouch! Wonder how angry Ash will retaliate now. Let’ stay out of the line of fire. You’ve heard about the fury of angry women haven’t you?