Sujata Chanda

April 12. 2 pm. Film City, Bombay.

Heart-throb Hrithik Roshan is shooting for the Coca Cola ad along with the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai.

If one ever saw mass hysteria, this was it.

Remember the previous Coke ad shot by Rakesh Roshan on Hrithik and Aditi Gowitrikar in Mauritius? That ad, released last Diwali, was supposed to star Aishwarya Rai, but she dropped out at the last moment, leaving Rakesh Roshan no choice but to replace her with Aditi.

If there was any bad blood between the Roshans and Aishwarya over the incident, it seems to have evaporated in the summer heat as the two superstars have finally come together in the new Coke ad.

The heat from the sun is killing. But it is being patiently borne by a huge crowd. People from all walks of life have gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars.

Nearly five hundred people have deserted the neighbouring Kaun Banega Crorepati set and come to have a look at their two heartthrobs paired together for the first time. But where are they!

Inquiries with the unit members reveal, Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik and Aishwarya are having lunch in their respective vans. The shooting will only resume after they're done.

Hrithik's van bears the Mukta Arts logo. Has he arrived straight from the Yaadein shoot? Doesn't seem likely. The van is probably hired from Mukta Arts for the Coke shoot.

Lunch break seems to drag on. The sun continues to burn. Crowds get restless. Time to look around.

It is a typical college campus set, with lots of students around. While some are wearing yellow, the others are dressed in green. The trademark red of Coca Cola is conspicuously absent. The elections to the Students' Council are on. Rohit (Hrithik) and Tina (Aishwarya) have locked horns for the top place in the Council.

That Rohit was Hrithik's name in Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai is common knowledge, but one doesn't recall Aishwarya being called Tina ever.

Anyway, the story of the ad continues...

Rohit belongs to the yellow camp while Tina, to the green. So, that explains the colours worn by the students.

But what about the absence of the red? The train of thought is broken as a loud uproar from the crowd heralds the emergence of Hrithik and Aishwarya from their vans. The fans' emotions become palpable.

Hrithik is wearing a pink-and-blue, body-hugging tight top which displays every rippling muscle on his chest. Aishwarya, dressed in a pink top and blue denim, looks every inch a college student.

Meanwhile, the shot is ready. Students in the yellow camp, together with cheerleaders, begin shouting 'Vote for Rohit'. A healthy banter between the rival camps ensues as the green camp follows suit for its leader, Tina. The shot is canned after a couple of retakes.

Preparations for the next shot begin. The time taken in preparing the shot explains why the sixty-second ad is taking six days to shoot. It will not be aired until the first of May, 2001.

Hrithik and Aishwarya return to their vans. Crowd hysteria subsides for a while. The scorching heat is felt again. A cola might do more than good under the circumstances. Guess, it's time to leave.

And yes, the million-dollar question. Who wins the election? Neither Hrithik nor Aishwarya. Coca Cola does!

Strange? Not really, if you see the entire commercial. After all...Jo chaho ho jaaye...Enjoy!