Watch That

It's comeback time. Literally. Sultry siren Laxmi Menon, who has been on a semi-sabbatical but for brief interludes on the international scene, will be the new face of the Swatch Jewellery Summer 2005 campaign. The first time a Swatch campaign has been created in India by Indians, it stars the southern belle shot by Farookh Chotia and styled by minimalist fashion guru, the Goa-based designer Wendell Rodricks, who calls it one of his "best campaigns". We'll just wait and, er, watch.

Daddy's Girl

Straddling cinema and theatre is daunting for many. But when you have Naseeruddin Shah for dad, it could just be in your genes. After Mahesh Dattani's film Mango Souffle, Heeba Manara Shah will now be seen in Vinay Subramaniam and Mridul Tulsidas' Missed Calls. This, while being keenly involved in family theatre group Motley's new play Katha Kollage-2. The NSD grad says this is a "process to explore" her "artistic journey". Bon voyage.

Plan B

After Sabyasachi Mukherjee gave him a stark wardrobe in Black, the Big B gets a new image from Raghavendra Rathore in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's epic Yagna. Rathore, who worked with Amitabh Bachchan for Kaun Banega Crorepati, is at work on his sketchpad for his first film venture. What's the new look? Rathore won't say, except that the characteristic "beard will be an important part of the make-over". Gosh, does the goatee go?

New Tune

A show host fills in the gaps between performances, but here's an emcee who is taking over the whole show. Manasi Scott, 27, who has hosted some stage shows and plays second lead in the TV serial Miilee, is now set for a singing career with Naach Le. Chuffed about what she calls an album with "original" numbers, she will tour the US and UK with singer Adnan Sami. She's also open to item numbers. "An item would be great fun but I'd want to sing and compose it myself," she says. That's an offer few can make.

-Compiled by Kanika Gahlaut

Index