28th December 1997

Juhi and Akshay: memories to remember

Here they were in all their charm. Juhi the ravishing star from Bollywood and Akshay Kumar, superstar force behind many mega Hindi movies.

Akshay, the Pepsi guy who turned out box office hits such as Mohra, Khiladiyon Ka Kiladi, Raja Hindustani and many more sat calm and composed almost belying his action hero image when they met the press on their arrival in Colombo last week.

For Juhi it was her second visit to Sri Lanka. The first one being with her mother when she was just a school kid at Jesus Mary Convent in Bombay without much knowledge about the island.

"I used to think Ceylon and Kandy were all the same," she said smiling sheepishly.

Of course, the Delhi born Akshay hastened to add that it was his very first visit to Sri Lanka and that he was surely going to love it.

Juhi's captivating smile and that mischievous sparkle in her eyes are her unmistakable traits of appeal. Capturing the Miss India title in 1985, and already initiated into modelling, Juhi was effortlessly ushered into filmdom.

But for Akshay, who was a martial arts instructor, acting was a mere accident.

"One of the little boy's father introduced me to the film world," Akshay said.

When asked if she finds it difficult doing serious roles given the 'never-can-be-serious' looks writ large on her face, Juhi concedes that back at home too many feel that she is better cast in comedy roles than serious ones but her movies 'Dho Bai' and 'Darar' were well received, she stresses.

It takes much experience to express myriad situations through imaginative facial expressions. Akshay who has starred in 27 films feels it is indeed a challenge to take up various roles and admitted his fear of being type cast as the action packed lover boy.

"My roles nowadays are different from one another. And I insist on keeping it that way," Akshay said.

Talking of the ever-hot Bollywood gossip, one wonders how Juhi often escapes it and Akshay on the contrary is always embroiled in a hot controversy.

"They do not find material of such interest in me," she responds. "Perhaps they find such stuff in me," Akshay adds smiling.

How about all the stories about Juhi's marriage, are they true? "No personal questions please," she requests.

"So who is Jai Mehta? Is he in Colombo?" came a question. Juhi evades diplomatically throwing a cursory response "Mehta is a man from Bombay and he is certainly not in Colombo."

And what about all the talk of Akshay's string of affairs presently with Raveena and Rekha? He flashes a coy smile and declares "No that's not true."

Juhi and Akshay said they were aware of the mass appeal they have conjured among the Sri Lankan audience.

"We are not here to simply promote our songs and dances but to strengthen Indo Lankan cultural ties," Juhi said.

A hit on stage too..

By Minna Thaheer

Amidst thunderous applause, flailing arms and shrieks slicing through the evening at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Akshay and Juhi performed superbly thrilling the audience and retaining the special place they had already carved in the hearts of their Lankan fans.

With Abu Malik's fantastic music setting the backdrop and his repeated claims that the show would be unlike one done before, it had all the mettle to make it an evening to remember. A true veni ,vidi vici that was.

Juhi- Akshay Musical Show was no doubt a celebration of 'teenage exuberance'. The local youngsters' abounding craze over Bollywood stars was unbelievable. I was simply in awe just watching our teenagers inexplicable facination with Bollywood stars spurt out with so much vigour.

Back on stage shortly after much body bending with Henry's dance group, Akshay beckoned 10 beautiful Sri Lankan girls to come on stage. In a split second he opened a floodgate and many pretty lasses among the audience came to him, even leaping from the balcony above the stage straight into the arms of the dancers. They literally besieged the two stars and unleashed a flash flood of kisses and hugs- mostly on Akshay.

The show registered the glaring conflict of mood versus culture, where mood emerged victorious.

My gosh! teenagers a decade ago were so different. How they have changed!- the old generation may scorn. At least they are an honest lot, who react spontaneously displaying their feelings, consigning all conventional shackles to extinction.

"Never, have I had such a joyous time," Akshay proclaimed. "I love Sri Lanka,the pearl of the Indian Ocean" screamsed Juhi with great affection.

Juhi did her share well too. Her comic skits with Abu Malik and Akshay were done in her unmistakable mischievous style.

A skit that touched all Lankans hearts was when Akshay in a typical lover boy style running after Juhi expressed his love by singing songs in Hindi and English for all of which she responds harshly by slapping his face in a comical style and as a last resort Akshay tries a song in Sinhalese 'Ranpotathelambuwa Meniketa". Of course she instantly responds and he wins the maiden with a Sri Lankan song. This little skit was highly appreciated by the audience.

In contrast to the previous mega shows where Bollywood actors did little justice on stage with a shake here and a jive there, Akshay and Juhi showed their talents profusely managing to win a warm response from the audience.

"I want everyone to stand" Akshay said loudly towards the end of the very successful, entertaining hours "for the unity of India and Sri Lanka, give a big hand." The audience was compelled. Good gesture.

Akshay's tricks to feel the pulse of his fans worked well when he kicked blown up balls towards his fans and hurled his shirt to another corner sending waves through the audience.

The live wires of the show were the Malik brothers whose dynamic seven member band played to everyone's satisfaction.Their numbers from the 70's hit film 'Hum Kisi Se Kum Nehi'- '"Chandi Mera Diln" "Dil Haq," and 'Milgaya' were well sung. Juhi's "Thu meri Samuni" and Akshay's Mohra number "Cheez badi hai Masth" were the fans' feast.

Their amiable expressions towards the audience, stressing their joy in being in Sri Lanka and their reassurance to come back just goes to show how contented they were in presenting a successful show. Did someone hear Akshay say "Thanks for being such an obedient audience."

The show was sponsored by Swarnavahini and the EAP Group.

Continue to Mirror Magazine page 2 * All set to party * The Cleaner Girl