For an actor who failed his initial screen test with such flourish that it prompted his prospective director to proclaim that he rather give up on his dream, Sanjeev Kumar did end up with more than just an impressive body of work.

The first shot of the iconic TV show Sopranos (1999) featured James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, a mob boss, endlessly staring at a piece of sculpture while waiting to be summoned by a psychiatrist.

In life and death, filmmaker Tony Scott, like the films he made — Top Gun (1986), True Romance (1990), Crimson Tide (1995), Enemy of the State (1998), Spy Game (2001) and Man of Fire (2004) amongst others — was a thrill seeker.

By Christina Daniels

Rs 495

There are two main reasons for writing a biography — either you love the subject or can’t comprehend what makes someone tick. Irrespective of where the author stands, this is how biographies often germinate.

By Aakash Chopra

Rs 299

In these air-time obsessed days of cricket, where events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) are discussed in greater details than any other format, could there be hope for cricket to survive in its pristine form? Chances are that you’d say “no” in the blink of an eye, but if you happen to read Out of the Blue, Aakash Chopra’s book on Rajasthan’s road to the Ranji Trophy, you’d take a moment or two before answering. Better still, after living the journey along with Chopra and others who scripted Rajasthan’s maiden Ranji triumph, you’d think there’s hope for Test, cricket’s purest form.