Ghai announces his next
Producer-director  Subhash Ghai celebrated the 15th anniversary of Mukta Arts his banner, with a pooja  at the Hare Rama Hare Krishna temple in Juhu, Mumbai on October 24 which is also the wedding anniversary of Subhash Ghai and Mukta. Ghai also announced the launching of Mukta Arts, Production No 9.

Dutt’s mobile cancer unit soon
Sunil Dutt’s month-long hectic fund - raising tour for the Nargis Dutt Memorial fund for Cancer has helped India get it first mobile cancer hospital . The mobile unit will begin operations in Mumbai’s suburbs within the next few months . It will be equipped with the latest equipment and  will help diagnose and treat cancer and even conduct minor surgeries.

DD bans Bachchan …agencies protest
Doordarshan has decided not to telecast Amitabh Bachchan-starrers on any of its channels with immediate effect. The decisions seem to have been precipitated by Amitabh Bachchan  corporation’s failure to pay us Rs. 15 crore  which it reportedly owes to the National network .

Bachchan, jackie in Mehul’s film
All efforts made by producer - director Mehul Kumar to bring Amitabh and Nana Patekar together for his next film have met with failure. He has now lunched his new film with Amitabh and Jackie Shroff in the lead roles.

Mrinal Sen to head Mumbai fest
Veteran filmmaker Mrinal Sen will be the chief Guest at the inauguration of the Mumbai International Film Festival at the YB Chavan Centre on November 23. The Festival organised by Mumbai Academy of  Moving Image ( MAMI ) will be held from November 24 to 30.
Maharashtra’s chief minister Manohar Joshi will preside over the function.

Intel hosts ‘The Creative PC’
Last week Intel hosted an industry event, ‘The Creativity PC’ for the software, film and entertainment industry to showcase the power of Intel’s new high Pentium  II processor as a platform to create, edit and playback digital content. The highlight of the event was a demo of A R Rahman’s  Music Video Vande Mataram and Rakesh Roshan film’s Koyla which were created on Digital Versatile Disk (DVD).

Bhushan Puraskar for Lata Mangeshkar

The Maharashtra government added one more feather to Lata Mangeshkar's cap. It has decided to confer on her the special Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar, which. consists of Rs 5 lakh in cash and a citation. The award will be presented to her later this month.

Bachchan to star in ' Padmalaya film

Padmalaya Super Good Combine, Hyderabad, has signed on Amitabh Bachchan . to play the lead in their next film, a remake of one of the biggest Tamil blockbusters Suryavansam. It will be directed by Vikraman who directed the original. The film is being produced by GA Seshagiri Rao and RB Chaudhuri.

Rahul Roy turns director

Producer Sudhakar Bokade has signed Rahul Roy to direct Divya Film Internati-onal's Sanjay Dutt Jackie Shroff -Tabu-Suman Ranganathan-starrer, Mera Joota Hai Japani which was launched on Octoher 18.

Kokh at Penang fest

RS Vikal's Kokh was the inaugural film at the Penang International festival held in
Malaysia. It was the only Indian film to be chosen out of 10.

Meraj is dead

Meraj, a one-time chief assistant to Gulzar, died in . Allahabad last week. He was 47 and is survived by his wife Rubeena. He had directed Palkon Ki Chhaon Main starring Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini and Sitara with Mithun Chakraborty and Zarina Wahab.