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Posts tagged Delhi
Isha and Zaheer back together?
Jul 28th
Now that the couple is trying to give love a second chance, Isha is willing to make amends even at the cost of her career
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 28, 2010)
Not all cricket-Bollywood link-ups go the Harbhajan Singh-Geeta Basra way. India’s fast bowler Zaheer Khan and Bollywood actress Isha Sharvani are back together and are trying to make things work, come hell or high water. In fact, Isha is making serious amendments to her list of priorities, now that Zaheer and she are giving their relationship a second chance.
Isha and Zaheer dated for nearly two years before calling it quits in 2007, post which they didn’t stay in touch. Both of them quietly stepped out of the media glare to get back to their respective careers. Interestingly, neither Zaheer nor Isha was linked with anyone else in these two years of separation from each other. Obviously, the two couldn’t sever emotional ties. Now, they’ve decided to give love another chance.
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| Isha Sharvani |
Though no one knows who initiated the reconciliation, a source close to the couple tells Mumbai Mirror, “Despite splitting up, Isha and Zaheer could never forget each other. Friends in their circle knew that a reunion was inevitable.”
But it’s come at a cost. Though Isha can’t stop smiling after Zaheer came back into his life, she has started taking liberties with her career. Recently, she bunked the shoot of Kingdom Of Dreams in Delhi and she was eventually asked to leave the cast of the musical play.
A source says, “Isha and her fellow actors had been housed in Delhi to shoot for the musical play Kingdom Of Dreams. None of the actors from the play is supposed to leave the set, but Isha did not pay heed to this instruction.
She kept meeting Zaheer in Delhi. Now Isha is out of the project. Producers of Kingdom Of Dreams, Wizcraft International Entertainment, are talking to a new actress Kashmira (she acted in the TV show Amber Dhara) to play Isha’s role now.”
Viraf Sarkari, Director of Wizcraft International Entertainment, confirmed that Isha is out from Kingdom Of Dreams. He said, “She quit Kingdom Of Dreams because of personal reasons.”
So be it. Throwing light on how the reconciliation happened between Isha and Zaheer, a source says, “During one of their meetings in Delhi, they decided to take a call on their personal life.
After sufficient thought, they felt that they should give their relationship another shot.” Isha’s mother, dancer Daksha Seth, was apparently never happy about her daughter’s relationship with Zaheer. That hasn’t stopped Isha.
Zaheer and Isha first met at a function in 2005. The touring Australian team was leaving India and Isha was performing at the event. They got talking and exchanged numbers.
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| Zaheer Khan |
Later, they kept bumping into each other at parties and social dos and were soon drawn to each other. Reportedly, Zaheer even helped Isha find a place in Khar. It was reported that they were even living-in for a brief period.
When contacted, Isha asked what the story was all about. When told to comment on her reconciliation with Zaheer, she chose to remain quiet. She didn’t, as they say, play ball. And neither did Zaheer, who also chose not to comment.
RIP Ravi Baswani
Jul 28th
MUMBAI MIRROR; July 28, 2010
(29 September 1946 – 27 July 2010)
Ravi Baswani, acclaimed actor, who shot to fame with the cult comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), passed away in Shimla yesterday when shooting for a film he was planning to direct.
He was 64. Having debuted in the Sai Paranjpe’s Chashme Buddoor in 1981, Ravi Baswani did many films as a character artiste.
His performance in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro earned him a Filmfare Best Comedian Award.
The film he was planning to direct was about a 10-year-old orphan who lives with his grandmother in the hills.
The actor died of a massive heart attack, last afternoon, in Haldwani, near Nainital.
Ravi Baswani’s friend actor Zakir Hussain told Mumbai Mirror, “I believe he was coming from Nainital back home to Delhi.
He was accompanied by a couple of people who were working with him on a children’s film, which he planned to direct in the near future.
Ravi had spoken to a few people who had agreed to produce the film. The team had gone to Nainital to scout for locations. The plan was to shoot the film in the hilly regions in and around Nainital.”
Explaining what transpired, close friend Ashok Pandit said, “Ravi suffered a cardiac attack. By the time they could get medical aid in Haldwani, he had passed way. His death has come as a big shock.”
Sudesh Sayal who produced a TV show directed by Ravi Baswani, called Panchi said, “Ravi had no bad habits like smoking or drinking. He was a very simple man.”
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Salman’s a chhata badmaash!-Vidya Balan
Jul 27th
Vidya Balan answers 10 questions to BT
Garima Sharma | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 27, 2010)
Vidya Balan has a lot happening in her life right now. She’s the latest muse of M F Husain and has also been voted as the most appropriate bride for Rahul Gandhi. But it’s the romantic SRK and lover boy Salman Khan, Vidya hopes will woo her someday…
Last year’s been a joyride professionally. How was it personally?
I can’t draw a line between my personal and professional lives. My profession gives me great joy in my personal life.
Is it time now for a break?
I’ve been on a break past few weeks, since I came back from Delhi after the shoot of No One Killed Jessica. I’ve been helping decorate my new house, reading, watching films, meeting friends and going on dates.
Dates?
No, I’m kidding. I just wish, I just said aise hi. Honestly, there’s nothing.
Okay, so how many boys do you reject every day?
I wish I had such good fortune. But, where are the boys, really?
A recent survey said that you are the most appropriate bride for Rahul Gandhi, provided he buys you a lifetime’s supply of Sabyasachi sarees…
If that happens, I won’t wave at people. I’ll just raise The Hand. But I’m not thinking of marriage right now. It’s not even on the agenda because I haven’t met anyone who has inspired that in me. First, I need to be with someone for a while and have to romance without the bindings of marriage.
What kind of romance?
Long drives with music that I enjoy in the rains, and maybe buy ourselves cups of chai from a thela.
You don’t discuss your relationships…
A relationship is between two people and should remain like that. The problem is that today, everyone is discussing relationships so openly. Anyway, I think I should become a writer besides being an actor. A romantic novel, perhaps, or actually a romantic film. Maybe I’ll start the film in five years when I have more experience with romance in my life.
And the hero would be?
Salman Khan. He’s a chhata badmaash, he’s the quintessential lover. Perhaps, Shah Rukh. He’s the ultimate romantic. Ufff ! I’m a clichéd romantic!
How?
I’d love for him to look into the mirror when I ask him, ‘Chand dekha?’ and he’d say, ‘Haan, aaine mein dekho….’ I know, it’s corny!
You’ve got an ardent fan in MF Husain…
I know that Husainsaab wants to narrate a script to me, but it depends on when we meet. I’ve spoken to him on the phone, though. He was extremely generous. I was very flattered. He’s probably the best judge of sensuality.
Check out: Pradhuman Singh sans his ‘Laden’ make up
Jul 26th
By Subhash K. Jha, July 26, 2010 – 12:41 IST
With the unexpected success of the political satire Tere Bin Laden, plans are afoot to create an ongoing series of films featuring the Laden look-alike played by Pradhuman Singh.
The success of the desi Laden has taken the film’s makers by surprise. Director Abhishek Sharma admits creating a franchise out of the Laden character is an idea being serious explored specially since the humour on Laden has been taken in the right spirit.
Singh who has been in-character playing Laden even off -screen is a bit more cautious in his enthusiasm to reprise the role. “It would depend entirely on the writing. Abhishek Sharma who’s almost like a childhood buddy-I know him since I was 17- worked hard to bring the idea of a poor Laden look-alike who creates a global stir, come alive. Now to carry the idea forward without seeming to simply cash in on a successful formula, we need a script that is as funny if not funnier.”
Pradhuman who acted at the age of 20 when he was in the National School Of Drama gave up acting entirely and has now returned to acting with a role he never though he could pull off. “When Abhishek suggested I play a character that’s mistaken for Laden, I was zapped. I had never even remotely thought I resembled Laden. But now that the character has been liked I don’t mind playing him again.”
Another Laden in-blunder land saga is on the anvil. And this character may become Hindi cinema’s first formal farcical franchise in the tradition of Larry Charles’ Borat played by Sacha Baron Cohen.
Says Pradhuman, “I’ve gotten so used to being dressed as Laden/Noora, I had almost forgotten what I really look like. I’d wake up in the morning without makeup and wonder who the stranger in the mirror was. We got a really good makeup person, Vikram Gaekwad, to do my ‘Osama’ makeup.”
The makeover was so complete and convincing even Pradhuman’s girlfriend (a law student) was fooled.
“But in spite of being constantly dressed as Osama, I suffer from ‘no identity’ crisis. As a trained actor from the NSD, I can get in and out of character without missing a beat,” says Pradhuman who now heads home to Delhi to celebrate the success of Tere Bin Laden with his family.
Then he returns to Bollywood to start from scratch. “I’ve to convince filmmakers that the person I played in Tere Bin Laden looks very different from me.”
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
The Real Haji Mastan
Jul 24th
Is Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai about him or not? Read this life-sketch of the legendary smuggler and check for yourself
Deeptiman Tiwary and Abhijit Sathe (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 23, 2010)
For Bollywood scriptwriters who tend to seek inspiration from the underworld, Haji Mastan would be hard to resist. Movies like Deewar and Mukkadar Ka Sikandar were loosely based on the life of this smuggler.
As Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai is all set to release next week – with a disclaimer as directed by court - we put together the stories from the life behind the legend.
Contrary to his eulogised figure in movies, Mastan was no dreaded don or gangster. He had never killed a man or shot a bullet in his entire life. He was merely a smuggler with money and connections. What turned him into our Don Corleone was his penchant for exhibition - of power in Robin Hood style and of luxury in the company of the glamour world.
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| Haji Mastan with Sona, a starlet he fancied, financed movies for and later married |
Haji Mastan was born Mastan Haider Mirza on March 1, 1926 in Panaikulam village near Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu.
His father, an impoverished farmer, migrated to Mumbai with Mastan in 1934. They ran a small cycle-repair shop near Crawford Market that barely fed the family.
As Mastan toiled through the day at the shop, Mumbai’s cruel wealth whizzed past him in luxury cars and beamed through the posters of art-deco film theatres. No wonder, he started nursing fantasies of breaking out of his circumstances.
In 1944, Mastan joined the Bombay docks as a porter - a job that turned his life on its head. Unloading cargo that came from Aden, Dubai, Hong Kong and other cities, amiable Mastan, developed good relationships with much of the staff and officers, and most importantly, regular travellers.
Because of heavy taxes on electronic goods, gold and silver, there was room for smuggling. This is where Mastan came in.
Retired ACP Isaque Bagwan, who saw the rise and fall of Haji Mastan, recalls, “People who came back from Haj brought electronic items like transistors and watches. Some of them even brought gold biscuits. Mastan helped them smuggle these items out of the port by hiding them in his clothes, headband or underwear. He was well rewarded.”
Mastan’s adopted son Sunder Shekhar, 54, shares a dramatic story of how his father earned the trust of the hajis and regular travellers. “A man was trying to smuggle gold biscuits with the help of my father.
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| In the ’80s, Mastan had formed the Dalit Muslim Suraksha Mahasangh with Dalit leader Jogendra Kawade |
While my father managed to sneak out with the biscuits, the man was caught. After three years of imprisonment, when he came out, my father returned him all the gold. That man never did business with anyone but my father after that.”
The big game, however, started when Mastan came in contact with Daman’s fisherman-turned-smuggler Sukur Narayan Bakhia in the mid ’50s. Both became partners and smuggled gold and electronic items from Dubai and Aden.
By mid ’60s, Mastan had become rich and powerful, thanks to underworld friends like Karim Lala and Varadrajan Mudaliar and politicians who hobnobbed with him because of his influence over Mumbai’s Muslim voters. “Sanjay Gandhi never missed the opportunity to visit daddy, when he came to Mumbai,” says Sunder.
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| Mastan with underworld don Karim Lala. Both were good friends |
Mastan was almost out of bounds for the law. However, there was one Customs officer who gave him a tough time. When Mastan could not buy his integrity, he got him transferred.
When the officer was leaving the city in a flight, a gloating Mastan went to the airport, climbed the flight ladder and waved the officer goodbye. “That was the clout and confidence that Mastan had in the ’70s,” says former DGP T Singarvel, who was in Mumbai at that time.
He adds, “Even when he was arrested in 1974, the two officers who arrested him gave him king’s treatment at a night halt in Kolhapur, with Mastan dressed in impeccable whites enjoying bowls of dry fruits. His arrest itself came after then union minister of state for finance sat on a dharna in Delhi.”
Since mid ’60s Baitul Surur, Mastan’s palatial bungalow on Warden Road in South Mumbai also saw a constant stream of stars.
“During ’70s, daddy had excellent relationship with Dharmendra, Firoz Khan, Raj Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar and Dilip Kumar. Salim and Amitabh often visited him while Deewar was in the pipeline,” says Sunder.
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| All his life, Mastan lived in a 15×10 feet room on the terrace of his plush bungalow on Warden Road | Mastan when he was young |
Mastan married a starlet called Sona and financed a few films for her. However, neither Sona’s career as an actress nor his as a filmmaker took off. “His films either bombed or never saw the light of day,” says Sunder.
With these indulgences, Mastan was also trying to shake off his past -poverty and infamy. “He wore designer suits, ties and his hair was neatly combed back. He had a Mercedes Benz, plush with TV and radio, and puffed 555 cigarettes. If someone spoke to him in English, he would just keep saying: ‘Yeah, yeah’,” says Sunder.
The 18-month incarceration during Emergency, however, took the wind out of Mastan’s sails. He became increasingly scared of the law. Surrendering to Janata Party leader Jayaprakash Narayan, he quit smuggling. He went on a haj and started prefixing his name with Haji, which means ‘devout Muslim’.
While he held janata darbars in his heydey, in the late ‘70s, he went on a social work overdrive. “He doled out money to the needy or solved their problems through his influence. There used to be a queue in front of the bungalow every day for food,” says Sunder.
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| Mastan with his son Sunder and actor Sunil Dutt |
In early ’80s, he made political forays by teaming up with Dalit leader Jogendra Kawade and formed the Dalit Muslim Suraksha Mahasangh, which was as unsuccessful as his films.
Before his death due to cardiac arrest in 1994, Mastan had started spending more and more time with his family, which he had ignored before. “Once he took me to our native place by train. He sat by the window like a child looking at hills and rivulets and animatedly calling our attention,” says daughter Shamshad.
Despite all his efforts, people didn’t accept him either as a filmmaker or as a politician. People liked him as the smuggler who played godfather. Mastan struggled to shake off this image, which Bollywood has since lapped up.
Bigg Boss season 4 gets Lucky?
Jul 23rd
Delhi’s super thief Bunty, on whose life Oye Lucky Lucky Oye was based, has been signed for the next season of the show
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 23, 2010)
Remember the Abhay Deol starrer Oye Lucky Lucky Oye? The Punjabi rap song Superchor should ring a bell. The story of the film is loosely based on the life of Devinder Singh alias Bunty, the super chor who created quite a stir in Delhi with his clever robberies. Bunty robbed over 300 houses and 100 showrooms in Delhi, before he was finally nabbed in 2007.
But the super chor, as the film clearly elucidates, had the police clueless about his whereabouts for over five years.
Turns out Bunty the super chor is now reformed and will be seen making his TV debut in the popular show Bigg Boss as one of the contestants. Bunty has already been signed on to be one of the 13 contestants but the matter is still under wraps.
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| Abhay Deol and Neetu Chandra in a still from Oye Lucky Lucky Oye |
Our source said, “It was the idea of one of the creative heads of the channel and it was not an easy task to meet him. Bunty is known to be on the run and keeps on changing his phone numbers. When he was finally contacted, he was surprised at the offer but eventually accepted it.
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| Devendra alias Bunt y |
He has signed the contract and has also signed an agreement where he won’t be allowed to talk to the media or reveal anything about the show.”
Another source in the industry said, “This show is known to get controversial characters to grab eyeballs. When the show roped in Monica Bedi or Rahul Mahajan, who are both controversial figures, the show was discussed in the media extensively.”
When contacted, the channel officials refused to comment on the news. For now, Bunty too has managed to remain unavailable for comment but then again, this super chor has always been good at evading people.
I’m not running away this time-Chitrangda Singh
Jul 12th
BACK AGAIN: Chitrangda Singh
Chitrangda Singh tells BT that this time around, she’s here to stay
Aakanksha Naval-Shetye | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 12, 2010)
Her only claim to fame still happens to be her debut film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi that had released in 2005. A hiatus of three years and then only one average film to boast of post-a-comeback would have given any actress cold feet, but Chitrangda Singh’s still optimistic about her Bollywood innings. “Why should I be worried? I have nothing to lose!” she says. But before her statement scares away filmmakers, she’s quick to clarify, “It took me long to discover what my passion was, but now I am here to give my career my 200 per cent. It’s not everyday that an actress with my track record gets such interesting offers,” she says referring to the three films she has in her kitty including Yeh Saali Zindagi with mentor Sudhir Mishra, Mani Ratnam’s Paaki with Vivek Oberoi, one with Pratik Babbar, and few others that are being finalised.
As for having no release since her comeback film Sorry Bhai bombed in 2008, she says, “Yes, the wait’s been a long one for the right roles. I made a rash decision to quit, when I shouldn’t have. Guess it will take a while for the industry to realise and trust that I’m not running away this time. I am just glad that I still have the luxury to choose and don’t have to do everything coming my way out of desperation to earn my bread and butter.”
She may be in the race, but she’s a long way to the top and certainly not in the league of a Kareena Kapoor. Point this out and she has no qualms in admitting it either. “I definitely can’t do a Kareena Kapoor, but I really look up to the kind of roles that Vidya Balan’s done recently. I really wish I could do a film like Ishqiya.” Realistic roles are her criteria too — though this may be more due to options than choice — but she doesn’t hesitate to express her desire to do a full on entertainer and even a dance number. “I think my image of Hazaaron keeps filmmakers away from approaching me to do any masala roles. But I love dancing, and I really wish I could do a dance number.”
Balancing her personal life with professional commitments, she’s been shuttling in and out of the city. “I have a house here, but for me Delhi’s still home,” she says referring to her family there with hubby, golfer Jyoti Randhawa and son Zoravar. Exasperated with reports of her marital troubles with Jyoti over her decision to act — that had kept her in news inspite of her absence in Bollywood — she puts up her hands. “I do not know why he’s being made the scapegoat here, when all decisions have always been mine completely. It’s unfair to paint Jyoti as a villain. He’s just happy that I’ve found my calling at last.”
IHLS draws worse than Raavan and Kites?
Jul 11th
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Much as a lobby in media papers and some affiliated portals have been reporting bloated figures and occupancies for I Hate Luv Storys as a commercial grosser, comparing it to All India hits like Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani and what not, the reality on the ground is much different, even at the multiplexes. The Karan Johar film featuring Imran Khan-Sonam Kapoor has lower figures and occupancies than even last month’s disaster Raavan in India (Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai), and less than Kites (Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori), which too was a disaster, and quite a lot worse than Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti which was a hit.
Even in overseas in North America where it released mid-week Wednesday itself looking to capitalize on 4th July holiday coming up there, IHLS the film’s collections were not upto expectation given it’s a Karan Johar production, collecting a subpar $375K over the 3 day weekend and $535k over the extended 6 day wednesday-monday period there. Raavan which was a disaster overseas also 2 weeks before fetched $482k over its 3 day opening weekend despite opening below expectations and crashing on Sunday. Rajneeti earlier in June did $850k in USA for its 3 day weekend despite supposedly being an Indian interiors themed film.
In India, contrary to opening average of 80-90% claims across all multiplexes last Friday for IHLS, the multiplex opening average for this ‘youth-centric’ fare was actually closer to 40%-50% opening average with single screens much much lower. And by Wednesday, with possible exception of Delhi metro, the same multiplexes were drawing hardly 10-20 people for this ‘multiplex hit’. This can be verified by visiting a multiplex like Cinemax in Andheri in Mumbai or Fame in Highland park in Calcutta. Coming up 2nd weekend too is equally shaky. The multiplexes have been asked to allocate large number of screenings again but the actual advance bookings are sad. Not even 1% in some cases.
The collections are barely over 26-27 crores (even less according to some distributors) with occupancies worse than the flops of recent past.
Next up this Friday, Shahid Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor make a comeback with Milenge Milenge. And also Red Alert a take on naxalism. The following week sees Sanjay Dutt’s Lamhaa and a comedy called Tere Bin Laden, apart from Udaan.
IBOSNETWORK.COM
Movie Review: MILENGE MILENGE by TARAN ADARSH
Jul 9th
By Taran Adarsh, July 9, 2010 – 12:57 IST
Freshly cooked, piping hot food is savoured instantly. Similarly, a film that radiates freshness catches your eye instantaneously. Conversely, if a film takes a really long time to hit the screens, it generally doesn’t find a place in your things-to-do-this-weekend list, unless the word of mouth is electrifying. MILENGE MILENGE suffers for this reason. Even the man on the street knows that it’s a dated product!
The gap between the commencement of this film and its eventual release is quite substantial and that’s pretty evident when you look at its promos. Especially the way the lead actors look. The camera doesn’t lie, right? Perhaps, that’s a prime reason why MILENGE MILENGE doesn’t propel you to rush to a nearby cineplex and grab a seat, despite the fact that its lead stars are at the prime of their respective careers and enjoy a solid fan-base.
| BY BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM |
But never judge a book by its cover. Sure, you march into the film with zilch expectations, expecting a dated product with a hackneyed plotline, but as the reels begin to unspool, you realize that it does have a story to tell. So what if MILENGE MILENGE borrows from the John Cusack – Kate Beckinsale starrer SERENDIPITY [2001]. The Indianisation by writer Shiraz Ahmed is quite engaging at places.
The ‘recipe’ for that perfect love story is simple [at least that's what most film-makers believe]: Cast a good looking pair, choose a tried-and-tested story [read, make a mix of EK DUUJE KE LIYE, Q.S.Q.T., MAINE PYAAR KIYA, D.D.L.J., KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI], garnish it with sweet/cute/romantic/delightful situations, add a couple of energetic songs [at least two/three Hit songs are a must] and shoot the muvie at panaromic locales. Presto, prem kahani tayyar ho gayee!
But MILENGE MILENGE has ‘kismet’ keeping the lovers apart. Imagine a love story where the lovers have already expressed love for each other, but some force beyond their control gets in their way and keeps them apart till the end of the film. The script indulges in bringing its leads together, but also makes sure that they stay far away from each other till minutes before the film is about to conclude. Sure, this thought sounds interesting on paper, but there’s a flipside to it. With Facebook, Twitter, Google and also cellphones at one’s disposal, is it difficult to trace anyone in today’s times? Naah, not anymore!
Final word? MILENGE MILENGE may be dated, but watch it for the chemistry between its lead pair. Perhaps, this JAB WE MET jodi may never team up ever again!
Immy [Shahid Kapoor] and Priya [Kareena Kapoor] meet at a youth festival in Bangkok. Priya is a romantic at heart and expects her life partner to be a teetotaler, a guy who doesn’t smoke and also, who doesn’t lie. Immy is totally opposite of what Priya wants from her life partner. Their world collides when Immy lays his hands on Priya’s personal diary and learns of her likes and dislikes. He poses as her dream mate by giving her a totally different picture of himself.
While preparing to return to Delhi, Priya discovers the copy of her diary in Immy’s room. She realizes that Immy has made a fool of her and decides to confront him. In the meantime, Immy confides in his friends that although he has cheated Priya, he is truly in love with her. But Priya appears in front of him and all hell breaks loose. She decides to end the relationship.
Immy tries to regain her trust by telling her that they are destined to be together. Priya decides that if it is destined that they be together, then they will find each other in Delhi again, although both do not know each other’s whereabouts in Delhi. Three years later, Immy returns from abroad, while Priya is now settled in Mumbai. Immy is engaged to a family friend’s daughter [Aarti Chhabria], while Priya has also moved on in life. She is in a relationship with a pop singer.
Both of them are about to be married, but after all these years, they still have this nagging feeling that the other was his/her true love. Of course, fate conspires to bring them back together [after several near misses] as they simultaneously undertake one last attempt to find one another just before they get married to someone else.
MILENGE MILENGE starts off like one of those countless love stories, with mandatory songs and lovey-dovey scenes aplenty, but the twist minutes before the interval is so well executed that it suddenly raises the bar of the film. Naturally then, you expect the post-interval portions to charter a new path.
The second half has its share of engaging moments, but, very frankly, it tends to get repetitive and melodramatic as well. The entire track of a particular Rs. 50 currency note and the book with Kareena’s name and phone number on it, although novel, hasn’t been portrayed too effectively. Even the finale — when Shahid reaches out to Kareena — isn’t convincing. Like I pointed out earlier, what binds the film together is the chemistry between the lead pair and a few charming moments.
Satish Kaushik’s handling of a few sequences is commendable. Himesh Reshammiya’s musical score is quite good. ‘Kuch To Baaki Hai’ and the title track are good compositions. Cinematography is okay.
Both Shahid and Kareena play the hopeless romantics to the hilt. Their [then] off screen chemistry comes across very well on screen. Although the film was shot several years ago and Shahid looks boyish all through, his performance is consistent and believable. Kareena is equally convincing. Aarti Chhabria has nothing to do. Delnaaz Paul [Kareena's friend] and Sarfaraz Khan [Shahid's friend] get ample scope and are noticeable. Satish Shah is hardly funny. Kirron Kher sparkles in a brief role. Himani Shivpuri is wasted.
On the whole, MILENGE MILENGE has the charismatic lead pair, who are very popular with the youth, as its USP. But the problem is its dated look. Having taken a long time to reach the theatres, it will have to rely on a solid word of mouth to lure the audiences into cineplexes. Business-wise, there’s some hope in the Hindi belt, where traditional love stories and melodrama are accepted.
