Which 'witch' is good for Bollywood?

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript" src="Config?Configid=43376741"></script></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="64.1%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;photopop?msid=292028&type=0&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/cms.dll/thumb?height=100&width=100&photoID=292028" hspace="12"" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal">Click to enlarge</div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">The greater the glamour, the higher the stakes.<br /><br />And none of it is truer than in the Bollywood context.<br /><br />One hears of souls being traded in for a sackful of guineas and lives being written away for that atticful of fame.<br /><br />Success has its price. Sometimes too steep. And the great ''buyer'' of souls, Mr L himself, is ever waiting for his pound of soul, from weak mortals - willing for a trade-off for a fistful of dollars.<br /><br />I''d read with much fascination, about Hollywood stars and rock celebs, indulging in ''rites'' that would make the eyebrow go up. The ''offer'', as any ''Godfather'' aficionado will tell you, has always been too good to refuse.<br /><br />But has there ever been any truth in the star-Netherworld nexus? About celebs indulging in pagan worship and demonic orgies to appease the dark forces and win favour?<br /><br />Well, going by reputations, orgies and glitterati seem synonymous. And paganism has always been part of the lives of the most pagan tribe (however religious they may be) in the world.<br /><br />But in India and with desi stars, the paganism is restricted to erotic cover shoots for glossies, affairs galore and home breaking (though unintentional and purely in the pursuit of personal happiness). Of course, the wild parties and the drinking soirees notwithstanding.<br /><br />Which is why it came as a big surprise to read a news report about superstar of yesteryears, Rajesh Khanna, visiting a ''witch doctor'' for a quick fix cure.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="64.1%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;photopop?msid=292015&type=0&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/cms.dll/thumb?height=113&width=113&photoID=292015" hspace="12"" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal">Click to enlarge</div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">It seemed funny at first, then intriguing, that Kaka (as he was popularly known) visited Mitli village in Baghpat district in UP state, to ''consult'' with a twenty-one year old girl ''Shammo''. The reports clarifies that the girl was apparently blessed with supernatural powers and could ''advise'' on ways to sort out personal/professional problems. <br /><br />Whether or not the claim is true, the fact remains that Kaka believed that the girl had access to deeper forces and would be able to connect with the ''other world'' to look deep into his problems and maybe remedy them.<br /><br />This need for a constant crystal ball required by Bollywood biggies to monitor their careers, personal lives and loves has been the one constant factor that drives them to either spirituality, astrologers, tarot readers, shamans or the dark side.<br /><br />Years ago, the well-known ''white witch'' (they practice what is known as good magic only, which is supposed to benefit people only and draws from nature and its healing qualities), Ipsita Roy of WICCA, had said in an interview to a society magazine that a popular actress of the 80s was a practicing white witch. She had refused to name the actress out of a promise made to her. But the actress'' mysterious ways left little to the imagination as to who it was, as long as it was for the general good, why not?<br /><br />There have been many stories in Bollywood of leading designers, actors and makers who''ve tried dabbling in the dark for a little slice of success. What was horrifying were the tales that followed. Of some of the dabblers dying forlorn, penniless and alone. With make up on, but not hiding the sadness and the fear.<br /><br />Those instances are far and few for Indian stars. But far more for their Hollywood counterparts (didn''t I say the greater the glamour the higher the stakes?)<br /><br />Perhaps because we desis are far more spiritual and religious in our beliefs. And anything remotely deviant, from our brightly lit lives, makes us scurry into the lair of our God.<br /><br />Now wonder spirituality will always remain India''s greatest export to the world.<br /><br />And the world is a better place for it.<br /><br />The Netherworld nexus be damned.</div> </div>