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Baabul disappointed me: Hema Malini

Subhash K Jha
IANS
Posted Monday , January 01, 2007 at 20:03

Mumbai: Hema Malini, who plays Amitabh Bachchan's wife in Baabul, was shocked to see her insignificant role after watching the complete film. She says there was no need to sign her because anyone could have done it. Wasn't she aware that the drama is centred on Amitabh and Rani Mukerji?

"I was aware. But surely I could've been a part of the main drama. Instead, I look like an outsider. After Baghban, the audiences wanted to see more of Amitji and me together. Everyone thought we made a terrific couple. Now, everyone is disappointed. What was the need to sign me? My role could've been played by anyone else," Hema said.

While everyone has already commented on her shockingly abbreviated appearance in Ravi Chopra's drama about widow remarriage, outspoken Hema had so far kept her cool.

"That's because I hadn't seen the film. Finally, I saw the first half in Kuala Lumpur at GIFA (Global Indian Film Awards) and the second half in Delhi. Frankly speaking, I am shocked. Where am I in the film? I just seem to be hanging around while Amitji, Salman (Khan) and Rani look like a whole family."

What upset her more was the fact that she had been captured in unflattering close-ups.

"In fact, I've been very badly photographed. Why? I don't have a clue. I don't think I've ever looked so bad. In fact, I called up Renu (Ravi Chopra) and put in my complaint."

But all said and done Hema is still more than willing to work with Chopra again.

"They're a wonderful unit, very profession and easy to get along with. I had a wonderful time shooting both Baghban and Baabul."

She has been offered another film, a remake of the Clint Eastwood-Meryl Streep drama The Bridges Of Madison County.

"But I am willing to do only if my role is well defined. At this stage of my career I don't want to be a prop."

Hema has just finished putting together an idea for a project, which would star daughter Esha Deol in an exotic and agile avatar.

"It's an ambitious project. But I think I'm allowed to be ambitious, am I not?"

Stars, Crores and No Crowds

By Ali Peter John, MovieTalkies.com, 21 December 2006

It is a baffling and bewildering time for the industry. Not one of the films released during the last three months have done the kinds of business the experts expected them to do. Some of the most ambitious films have hardly managed to keep their heads above the dangerously churning and wild waters and most of them have just drowned like so many Titanic. Nothing seems to have worked for the films the way they should have. And the one factor that is worrying the forever in trouble and still surviving industry is the heart breaks some of the most popular stars have caused them. The mighty stars who have forgotten the good old days of the lakhs coming in and are only wallowing in the crores that are so easily pouring into their pockets, purses and wherever they can find place to store the crores have continuously failed to bring in the crowds even on the first three days which are supposed to be their testing times and not even on the first day of the first show at most of the films released so far.

The most glairing and grim example of the stars failing in doing what they are suppose to do for the crores they are so crazy about is the case of “Baabul”. The film had stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, John Abraham and Rani Mukerji. The prices paid to these stars were more than the money spent on the making of the entire film. The distributor bought the film at exorbitant prices for the so called charm, charisma and call of the stars. But they and all those who had put in their money in the making of the film were flabbergasted and were found groping in the dark to find the light of the stars when the film was released. Some said it was the subject that let down the film but then what about the myth which says it is only the stars who are capable of making films succeed? What the hell happened to their magic which only helped in sending so many to hell, some of them angrily asked.

There was Farhan Akhtar’s “Don” starring the King Khan, the Khan who they said ruled at the box office. It also had Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor in a sizzling item number for his ‘crorepati’ company. The film did reasonably well but it was expected to break records because of the power of attraction proved by the King in the past. All the Kings efforts and all the efforts of the King’s men and women failed to create a major blast in the film and at best “Don” lived on to be the don whose domain was limited and certainly not like how it was supposed to spread and go on spreading.

Yash Raj Films’ “Dhoom – 2” was expected to do double the business the original had. After all it had Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra from the original and was fortified by the fascinating combination of Bipasha Basu and Hrithik Roshan with Aishwarya Rai and even a long kissing scene between the two. The film did open to a bumper response but the people, the final judges, who had seen the original found the fireworks they had expected missing inspite of all the “crorepati” stars. There was no repeat audience like the original had. The film was not a major disappointment but was certainly not like what the original “Dhoom” with comparatively smaller stars had done.

The industry had pinned some soaring expectation on J.P. Dutta’s “Umrao Jaan”. It had the hottest pair of stars today, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. They were saleable names, hot in the market and also hot because of the blaring headlines they made with matters of their delicate heart. The film was damned and doomed and remake. But what in heaven’s name happened to the magic of Abhishek and Aishwarya some of the reining stars of today and tomorrow? Why couldn’t they bring in at least their loyal(?) fans to the theatres to save the film?

And what about “Jaan-E-Mann” with Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta, all of them “crorepati” stars? The film was hyped to the high skies on the basis of the might and magic of its stars. The might however turned into a myth when the audience found nothing special, nothing to inspire them to see the inside of theatres full.

There are other examples to show how the Stars have failed in their responsibilities to bring in the crowds for which they are paid all kinds of unbelievable crisis. There are people in the serious business of entertainment who are wondering and worrying about the no no situation they are caught in. No one cares for a film without theses big stars and no one care for theses big stars only growing bigger when it comes to the release of the films they star in.

The sensible filmmakers with their heads on their shoulders have clearly seen RED. They are wondering whether it is worth paying these demigods and goddesses the money they are demanding. They are trying to find ways to control the power of the stars. They are wondering if someone, some associations or a group of influential producers would have the guts to tell the stars the bitter truth about themselves and make them realized how they are only helping in hastening the industry towards dooms day.

They are wondering and keep wondering even as the stars are celebrating their discovery of a new planet of producer who has bags full of money, crores and more crores to keep the stars very comfortable and “khush” like never before. There is one big star being paid thirty six crores for three films which are yet not even in the realms of imaginations. There are other stars who are on their way out who are being paid prices they could never imagine in their wildest dreams. These neo dream merchants and corporate houses are in no mood to learn from the mistakes of those who have dealt with the business of handling star. They are only spoiling the stars and ruining the future of producers who have given their entire lives to the making of films. Will they learn or will they live long enough to see stars at noon?

Ravi Chopra's 'Baabul' gets tax exemption

Dec 21, 2006, 19:00 GMT

New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) Director Ravi Chopra's recently released film 'Baabul' about widow remarriage has been exempted from tax by the Delhi government, market sources said here Thursday.

The film which is doing well both in the country and overseas has a star cast comprising Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, John Abraham, Rani Mukherjee and Hema Malini.

Fear factor

Hema Malini might come across as an extremely funny person at times, but not while she is shooting. On the sets, the actress prefers to keep to herself, which often intimidates her co-stars. But Hema couldn't care less. Recently, on the sets of Baabul, an Australian model Ellicia McDonald was flown in specially to shoot a song sequence with Amitabh and Salman Khan. The model was completely smitten by Big B and Sallu, who were paying her a lot of attention. Ellicia was seen chatting with Salman and Amitabh, but she couldn't manage to approach Hema Malini, nor speak to her. Ellica found her extremely reserved and serious even when Hema was dancing to the 'Come on come on' track. When Sallu informed Ellicia that she happened to be the only trained dancer in the entire unit, Ellicia wanted to approach Hema for some tips. But eventually the girl got so scared that she decided against it. When Hema was informed about the incident, she smiled and said, "Is that so? Now what do you expect me to do? How can someone expect me to chat with a girl who I have not been introduced to? Everyone knows me. I don't sit and giggle on the sets, but if someone wants to talk to me I am always cordial. What's there to be scared of me?"

Baabul steals the show at GIFA fest

ITS RAINING STARS: Salman Khan sign on a board as he arrived for the premiere of Baabul in Kuala Lumpur.

Bollywood stars Bipasha Basu signs on a board as she arrived for the premiere of Baabul

John Abraham and Bipasha Basu arrived for the premiere of Baabul.

John Abraham, shakes hand with fans in Malaysia.

Bollywood stars Rohit Roy, left, and Arbaaz Khan pose as they arrived for the premiere of Baabul.

Kuala Lumpur: Hundreds of screaming Malaysian fans greeted Bollywood heartthrobs Salman Khan and John Abraham at the international premier of their latest movie, which kicked off a three-day Indian cinema extravaganza on .

The Global Indian Film Awards program started with the premiere of Baabul, starring Salman Khan, the Bollywood star who is also hugely popular in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East.

Malaysian fans, mostly ethnic Indians and many Malay women dressed in traditional headscarves, waited for several hours at a cineplex in a shopping complex for Khan, Abraham and other stars to show up.

"John, John! Come here come to me," many women standing behind steel barriers shouted as he and others walked a red carpet to enter the cinema foyer.

While Abraham ambled up to the fence and shook hands with many fans, Khan waved and signed his name on a billboard before going in.

A highlight of Baabul is the title song by Amitabh Bachchan, 63, the doyen of Indian cinema who dominated the screen for several decades as an action hero before taking on more mature roles.

In Baabul he plays the progressive and fun-loving father whose daughter-in-law becomes a widow. Unable to witness her sorrow, he forces the daughter-in-law to remarry, defying an Indian social taboo against widow remarriage.

Bachchan's son, Abhishek, one of the most popular Indian stars today, was also expected to attend the Global Indian Film Awards, which will climax on Saturday with an Oscar-style awards presentation in 32 categories.

The Bollywood stars are set to play a celebrity soccer match with Malaysian artists and government ministers on Friday, followed by a fashion show and charity dinner.

This is the second annual GIFA program. Last year the awards ceremony to honor Bollywood stars was held in Dubai.

Top stars Shah Rukh Khan, Bipasha Basu, Abraham and Priyanka Chopra were expected to be among the 300 Bollywood personalities in attendance, organizers said.

The nominees for the best film this year are Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Lage Raho Munnabhai, Rang De Basanti, Krrish and Omkara.

Besides being popular among the Indian diaspora around the world, Indian movies are also followed avidly by people in other countries. In Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, dubbed versions of Indian movies are shown regularly on television.

Indian films are the most widely watched in the world, selling 3.6 billion tickets last year in India alone.

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