Here’s some vital info on the Shekhar Kapur-produced film Mantra, to be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The makers have signed Preity Zinta to play a pivotal role in the film. Incidentally, Preity is Shekhar’s discovery - he had signed her for Ta Ra Rum Pum Pum much before she bagged Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se.

Shekhar, who had seen Maqbool at the Marrakech Film Festival, had struck up a friendship with Vishal and both were seen walking through the streets of Marrakech late at night discussing cinema.

Apparently, Shekhar mooted the idea for Mantra in a small teashop in Marrakech. Vishal was so taken by the idea that the deal was struck immediately over a glass of mint tea!

IN spite of having been in the industry for a reasonably long time, he is memorable for two films-----Alai Paayuthey and Run. We Malayalis remember Run because it made Meera Jasmine a very rich girl. But, variety?

I want to do a variety of roles in my career in films. Only then can you survive in the cine industry. I believe that it is my good fortune that I got to work so closely with Kamalahasan in Anbae Shivam and Nala Damayanthi.

"I have acted in 13 films so far. Seven have been hits and the other six didn't do as well as we thought it would. Even though they had failed commercially, they were successful in an artistic manner."

I have signed a Telugu film with Pawan Kalyan. Over the years, I have had offers pouring in from the south, but rarely have I received offers from people who wanted to narrate the storyline to me.

Tarsem Singh’s next movie is titled The Fall. Part of the movie will be shot in India . We will also be filming in South Africa and Romania .

I am a product of Hindi films and owe my success to Bollywood. This is the most exciting phase of my career. I get to work at a pace I am comfortable with. Since many heroes are trying anti-hero roles, experienced actors such as Naseer, Anupam Kher, Om Puri, Paresh Rawal and I are getting exceptional roles. But I feel that only 30 per cent of my potential has been tapped.

IN a significant development, Mandira Bedi, who became a household name with the World Cup last year, will be associated with events and movies channel MAX, on a regular basis. Bedi, who appeared in Extraaa Innings and Extraaa Shots on the channel last year, has signed an exclusive contract with MAX, making her a more or less permanent fixture on the channel.

Speaking about the channel’s decision to include the actress-cum-anchor on its rolls, Rajat Jain, executive vice-president and business head, MAX, says, "Mandira will contribute to MAX’s programming and marketing initiatives. She has been actively associated with MAX for close to a year now and we have some exciting and interactive avenues that will have her and MAX take the passion of movies and events to our viewers across the country."

To begin with, Mandira has been signed for an exclusive ground promotion titled Mandira Aapke Ghar, which has her visiting homes of MAX viewers and spending time with their families.

The promotion began on January 10, 2003 at Ludhiana in Punjab, travelling to Amritsar the following day with the objective of covering key towns and cities over the next three months.