Fair and frank
Gori Tere Pyar Mein has opened to mixed response but many analysts are asking does an actress of the calibre of Kareena Kapoor need to dance to something like “Tooh”. “If I felt that something was not right I would have definitely said no. I don’t think it is a bad word and it is shown in a Punjabi wedding. On 3 Idiots poster Aamir Khan was shown sitting on a butt. Nobody criticised it,” defends Kareena during an interaction. “It is popcorn film. After doing a couple of very intense films I wanted to do something light, very light,” she analyses.
On life after marriage in the industry, Kareena says the curiosity is a lot more in the media than in the industry. “Marriage is no crime and has nothing do with the kind of roles you are offered. My mother-in-law (Sharmila Tagore) gave some of her biggest hits after marriage. I come from a film family, my job is to act in films and marital status is just a part of my resume. It has nothing to do with my work.”
Kareena has reached a stage where when films fail it doesn’t affect her status at the box office. “Thank God, I have reached a stage, where I can sit back and enjoy the laurels of the hard work. Finally, I am in a position to pick and choose.” Recently, she gave 200 days to Karan Malhotra’s epical love story with Hrithik Roshan. It is one of the biggest films being made in the country right now. Unless it is a heroine oriented film, actresses are required for only 40-50 days but here the story is such that both Hritihk and I are required for a long duration.” However, she doesn’t see it as a major change. “It has always been like that. In the 70s Hema Malini did “Seeta Aur Geeta”. It depends on the talent of the actress,” she muses. Recently, she made a statement about her missing out on formal education. “I missed out on college because of my career but now I realise its importance. Has it something to do with Saif’s company? “Of course, not just Saif his entire family is so well read. He is one of the most intelligent minds in the industry,” she gushes.
Title talk
Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Bullett Raja released this week and the director says apart from other things the title of the film plays a big role in attracting the audience. “These days a director has to do three things right to make an initial impact on the audience. One is title, second is promo and the third is one catchy number. D-Day was one of the tautest and most entertaining thrillers that I have watched but the title limited its reach. It made it a niche film which it was not.” Bullett Raja was initially called ‘Jai-Ramji’ and then the producers wanted to name it ‘Revolver Raja’ but it sounded too similar to Kangna Ranaut’s forthcoming film Revolver Rani.
Back after Boom
Industry is full of stories of actors and directors, who are considered jinxed. Once upon a time Vidya Balan and Tigmanshu Dhulia were considered unlucky, Kaizad Gustaad still is. After an interesting debut with Bombay Boys, his career doomed with Boom. In terms of cast it had everything going for it with Amitabh Bachchan and Jackie Shroff leading an ensemble cast of glam dolls like Katrina Kaif and Padma Lakshmi. The film sank without a trace marking the downfall of Jackie as a producer as well. However, industry always gives a second a chance and Kaizad literally returned to the rails with Bombay Central. However, a freak accident, leading to the death of a crew member during the shooting at Mahalaxmi station, ensured that the project was abandoned midway. Now he is trying to be third time lucky with Jackpot, where he joins hands with Naseeruddin Shah who gave us a fun time in Bombay Boys. He is again playing a quirky character and is supported by Sunny Leone as once again Kaizad goes by glamour rather than acting quotient in this comic thriller. But then there is Sachiin Joshi as well, who also happens to be jinxed. Will the two get over the unlucky tag or will Sachiin, who is backing the project, go the Jackie way?
Reality check
After making reality shows a reality on Indian television, Endemol India is foraying into film business with Traffic under the banner Eyedentity Motion Pictures. An adaptation of the critically acclaimed Malayalam hit, it is based on a true life incident and marks the coming together of Manoj Bajpai and Jimmy Shergill in the lead roles along with Bengali superstar Prosenjit, Parambrata (of Kaahani fame), Divya Dutta, Kitu Gidwani and Sachin Khedekar. The film will also see the debut of talented actor Amol Parasher.
Adapted by Suresh Nair and directed by National Award winning filmmaker Rajesh Pillai, who also directed the original in Malayalam, the movie showcases a high voltage drama and a battle against time when stakes run high and life is in danger. “What sets Traffic apart from other films is the fact that it is an emotional thriller, it will also introduce the Hindi film audiences to an altogether new genre of entertainment,” says Pillai.
