Deep Throat

Between The Lines

With publishing houses incr­easingly facing lawsuits over libellous con­tent, many of them have changed their protocol. Before they agree to publish a book, they want it to be vetted by a panel of lawyers to prevent legal issues later. How­ever, a prominent yoga pra­­ctitioner and author is believed to be somewhat pee­ved as the publishers of his next book are insisting that his work will have to be first clea­red by a team of lawyers. The yogi is said to have asked the publishers—the Indian arm of an international house—about the need to vet a book on spirituality. All the more reason, he was apparently told.

Strictly By Invitation

After producer-director Sanjay Leela Bhansali had to cut short the shoot of Padmavati in Rajasthan, he was promptly invited by Bihar’s deputy CM Tejaswi Prasad Yadav to shoot in the state, only to be opposed by industry minister Jai Kumar Singh, a Rajput from the  JD(U). Though Nitish Kumar refu­sed to be drawn into the spat, sou­rces say Bihar leaders were amu­sed at Tejaswi’s enthusiasm. They can’t figure out the RJD’s sudden liberal streak. After all, it had prevented the screening of a Bhojpuri film, Deswa, at the 2016 Patna Film Festival as it showed RJD’s rule in Bihar in poor light. Also, earlier in 2003, filmmaker Prakash Jha was summoned and apparently chastised by Laloo Prasad Yadav for naming the character of a don as Sadhu Yadav in his Gangaajal.

Blow Hot, Blow Cold

It is hard to tell who has an upper hand in the BJP-Shiv Sena love-hate relationship. After Uddhav Thackeray ann­ounced that Sena would go solo in the BMC elections, CM Dev­endra Fadnavis went all out, say­­ing his government will com­­plete five years, making it clear that the BJP isn’t worried about its num­­bers in the assembly. Sena insiders believe it’s only a matter of time before the plug is pulled. “We just want to let them know that the switch is in our hands,” says one. With the BJP having its finger on the raw nerves of the NCP, would it really be a matter of life and death for them to stay put for five years?

Overheard A Congress leader in UP: “What the party needs is a leader like the Late Sanjay Gandhi. Only he could have taken on Prime Minister Modi with equally bold moves. Rahul and Priyanka won’t do.”