The Bollywood Thread

[chonies]

I think the Karisma-Abhishek relationship might have been partially a publicity stunt--Karisma is a Kapoor, but so is Nanda, to whom Amitabh's daughter is married. It sounds a little familial, although maybe that didn't bother anyone. It was also earlyish in Abhishek's career. Or maybe Karisma just got tired of it, eloped with some guy and it turned out to be a mistake? Also, the baby was born just six months after the wedding...which might have something to do with something, maybe.

ETA: Actually, I don't think it was a stunt anymore. Since Abhishek and Karisma were probably good friends, or at least acquainted with each, maybe their engagement was inevitable, but neither of them were really happy about it. They were together and engaged for something like seven years, so maybe it's just totally normal and they just didn't want to get married but didn't want to break up? Also, I can't get over Karisma and her cousin Nikhil pairing up with the Bachchan siblings--maybe it doesn't bother some but it makes me kind of uncomfortable. Also, there was a hint on a couple sites that the Bachchan fam. was too "traditional" which might have been hard for Karisma as she was trying to develop a career. But who knows?

Grr! I keep spelling her name wrong!

[chonies]

Bumping to ask if anyone has seen (or plans to see) Aishwarya Rai's newest: Mistress of Spices? I haven't read the book it was based on, and from what I've seen on IMDB, it seems like this is being marketed as "warm yet exotic ethnic people" rather than Bollywood. True? False? Does it work as a film but fail as an adaptation? I'm going to have to wait to see it as the closest theatre screening it is two hours away.

[Karen]

I haven't seen Mistress of Spices but I want to. I checked IMDB, the crew has only a few Indian names, and I agree that the overall impression is "ethnic film" not Bollywood.

But hey, Anupam Kher plays Geeta's Grandfather (whoever that is)! I guess he liked working with Gurinder Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges.

[chonies]

My friend met Anupam Kher a few years ago and said he was a pompous windbag, which I found extremely disappointing. I, however, think he's swell.

[Deleted]

Anyone else hanging out for the return of Kajol?
Fanaa comes out May 26th and stars Aamir Khan with Kajol...

Choices... to choose between right or wrong is simple, but what defines one’s life is the decision between the greater of two goods or the lesser of two evils. This is the advice that Zooni Ali Beg (Kajol) receives from her father just as she is about to venture out into the world on her own for the very first time. Little does she know that these very words will shape her life.

Zooni, a blind Kashmiri girl, meets Rehan Qadri (Aamir Khan), a local tour guide and an incorrigible flirt, who goes from city to city exploring their architecture as also the women. Her friends warn her against this good-for-nothing roadside Romeo, but she chooses to ignore them. She is not one to be protected. It is now her time to discover life, and love. Is this really the right choice?

I love her movies; she always brings a spark to her performances. Aamir Khan is really growing on me too, especially after Lagaan and Rang De Basanti.

[chonies]

Oh lawrd, I cannot wait! I love Aamir Khan, even when he was just a pin-up boy at one of the Indian groceries. Even though he's almost always a seether, he's a great actor with whatever he does. And I'm a total fangirl for him.

Fanaa sounds fabulous, even though it reminded me a little of Raja Hindustani where Aamir was also a tour guide, although more of the sweet, untouched country-boy variety, rather than the rogue gigolo. I haven't seen much of Kajol, but I do agree she has a spark (...that Ash lacks, ahem).

I hope it comes somewhere nearby!

[Karen]

It should be interesting, seeing Aamir and Kajol together. I hope her comeback succeeds.

Apparently there were some problems, but I guess they managed to work things out?

[Deleted]

Well that was interesting KarenK. Do you think he is really that hard to work with? I wonder why she turned down working with SRK for her comeback. Of course Aamir Khan is "so hot right now."

Another thing, maybe someone can answer this---Hrithik hasn't been seen too much lately. Is he only working with his Dad? Krish is coming up but I can't remember more than one movie he's made since Koi Mil Gaya.

[Karen]

icy said:

Well that was interesting KarenK. Do you think he is really that hard to work with? I wonder why she turned down working with SRK for her comeback. Of course Aamir Khan is "so hot right now."

His perfectionism seem to get mentioned relatively often, and though that can be a good thing (like wanting to film only one movie at a time), I can understand how it might sometimes lead to situations that are stressful and possibly his fault.

For some strange reason I can't remember reading anything about Kajol/SRK offscreen interaction - but then, in '02-'05 (when I started paying attention to Bollywood) she had no starring roles. Do those two get along?

[Deleted]

karenk said:

For some strange reason I can't remember reading anything about Kajol/SRK offscreen interaction - but then, in '02-'05 (when I started paying attention to Bollywood) she had no starring roles. Do those two get along?

As far as I know they did get along. Kajol has a reputation of being slightly eccentric. Shahrukh is actually quoted as saying that he thought of her as his little sister. That kind of wierded me out for a while but they do have sizzling chemistry together.