HIGH LIFE- Glam slam
It is evident that what works with Bollywood heroines is glamour. The so-called simple, girl-nextdoor image does not really work. We have Anushka Sharma and Asin pitted against each other. The comparisons are inevitable. So here is Asin with perfect pumped up lips and all the attributes of a Bollywood heroine. Cosmetic or natural we don’t know, but she has what it takes. But Anushka clearly hasn’t worked. Usually Aamir is the one who picks simple, understated girls who can’t steal the show. Like Gracy Singh who was part of an Oscar-nominated Lagaan but didn’t really make it. Even Rang De Basanti had a white chick but again she was no glam doll. Ditto with Soha Ali who was part of the film but again, she is no sex kitten. Taare Zameen Par had a girl who breezed in and out. I don’t even recall her name. Then Jaane Tu… where nephew Imran was launched with the same logic. The girl Genelia D’Souza was no sex siren. Of course, the perfectionist that Aamir is, he must have chosen the girls according to the requirement of the films. But his heroines from the recent past didn’t really make it, while he walked away with the accolades. However, with Ghajini, it’s different. Aamir who has sexed himself for this film has opted for a hot looking Asin. She may be a fresh face in Bollywood but in the south, Asin has 20 hits to her credit. In fact, she is one young heroine who has had no flops.
Ironically, Shahrukh Khan who has always worked with stereotype bollywood beauties this time around apparently tried Aamir’s formula and it has evidently not worked. True, the papers report that Yashraj has signed her for two films but when they are made, we shall see. Also, no other filmmakers are hounding Anushka with offers. So far, SRK has always been the lucky mascot for his heroines. Even Deepika Padukone ended up with a debut that turned out to be a mega hit.
Chandni Chowk to China again has her looking promising. The promos look great and yet people are skeptical. If this one works for her then she will sail. But if it doesn’t, then she may have a lot of trouble-shooting to do.
Party sharty
Meanwhile, the Page Three people are limping back to normalcy. They are still confused about whether to party or not. So they have started with more somber parties this time. However, politicians and other government ‘servants’ are back to the party circuits pretty unabashedly. When they are the ones who should be hiding their faces. Vijay Mallya kicked off the party season by hosting a grand party at his Napean Sea Road residence. But he is the king of good times. So did Aasif Adil who hosted a wonderful party the same night at a Bandra club. They finally decided to cheer Mumbai up. However, Bollywoodians are all about making money. Ever since most five star hotels called off their shows, the actors first pretended to have called off the celebrations because they were mourning but only until the offers came in from abroad. The last week of January is going to see most top stars shaking they booties on foreign shores.
Simi Chandoke is the Editor-in-Chief, Lifestyle and Society, Zoom