Bollywood

Cast: Aamir Khan, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra

Director: Kiran Rao

Rating: ****

Every year literally hundreds of thousands throng to the city of dreams, Mumbai. To cover so many dreams in a small span of an-hour-and-a-half calls for some brilliant filmmaking. And watching "Dhobi Ghat" will make you realise that there indeed have been very few debuts as stunning as this one.

"Dhobi Ghat" is the story of five characters - Yasmin (Kirti Malhotra), Arun (Aamir Khan), Shai (Monica Dogra), Munna (Prateik Babbar) and the city of Mumbai. After a one night stand with Arun, who is a painter, Shai, an investment banker from America and an amateur photographer, obsesses over him, while her dhobi Munna pines for Shai.

Arun, meanwhile, discovers a few tapes in his flat from the previous tenant and, watching them, falls in love and find a muse in the woman who has made them - Yasmin.

Each of the character is thus looking for something in one another, while the fifth character, Mumbai, simply stares blankly at them without comment or prejudice.

One of the best things about the film is its casting. Each of the actors complement the film, its director, and the city of Mumbai perfectly.

Each is believable in his or her own garb. Prateik is bound to become the heartthrob of the generation, while Kirti Malhotra's innocence has to be seen to be believed.

Real life singer Monica brings out the uncertainty of her character beautifully.

The only one who is a little out of place, and hence the small sore point of the film is actor Aamir Khan. He begins shakily and is self conscious, unable as he is perhaps of shaking away two decades of Bollywood's acting baggage. By the end of it though, he manages to get into the film's rhythm and gives a believable performance.

It is hence not Kiran Rao's luck that she got superstar husband Aamir to act in the film, but Aamir's luck that he is in this film, which will go down in the history of cinema as one of the best character sketches of a city and its people.

Very few people in the world have sketched any city with such tender love, care and affection. And to add to the lilting melody that is Mumbai in the film is composer Gustavo Santaolalla who gives a haunting background score.

Director Kiran Rao brilliantly manages to find a physical representation of Mumbai city, in the old woman who blankly stares at all the characters, but says nothing. The metaphor is simple but powerful - Mumbai is a dying, decaying city, but one that is definitely alive and watches over all.

And like the character of Arun who becomes a voyeur into the life of Yasmin, it is Kiran Rao that has played voyeur on the city of Mumbai.

Another good thing about the film is that nowhere does it slacken or lose pace.

On the contrary, it unfolds almost like a mystery, like a rose bud, only to scintillate the senses in full bloom. It thus might become the low budget indie Indian film that will finally make money like big-budget Bollywood fare.

In the end though, that wouldn't matter much to the audience who will find themselves somewhere in the film. Each one of the characters in the film is like Mumbai, and Mumbai is like each one of us who inhabit it.

Aishwarya and Aamir Khan finally bury the hatchet

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has always maintained a respectable relationship with megastar Amitabh Bachchan but the same cannot be said with ‘Bachchan bahu’ Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

The face-off started when Ash abandoned Aamir Khan’s project Mangal Pandey at the last minute. At that time, Aamir called up his good friend Rani Mukerji, who finally appeared in the film.

However, they finally patched up after so many years and that happened at the 10th wedding anniversary of Akshay Kumar and his wife Twinkle. Ash and Aamir had a cold war, since these years but now they have settled the issues.

Usually, Ash does not stay in any party for more than 10 minutes but when she came to know that Aamir and Kiran Rao are on their way, the beauty queen waited for them to reach the party.

When the couple reached the party, Ash went forward and bonded with the actor like never before. They spoke warmly and discussed about Kiran’s upcoming movie Dhobi Ghat. After spending some time together, Aamir had to leave early. Soon after his exit, Ash also left the party.

A source from the party revealed that both were seen very comfortable with each other and it seemed that they have forgotten the bitter past and planned to move ahead with good will of each other.

Now, when the dup has settled their issues, can we expect any joint project in near future?

Secret is out: Genelia, Riteish seen getting bold at party

Bollywood actors Ritiesh Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza have finally come out bold and clear about their alleged relationship. According to the buzz, the great looking duo had gone to Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna’s 10th wedding anniversary which was held over the weekend in Mumbai.

The buzz is that right from the time the two entered the plush Juhu home of the Kumar’s they were seen in complete harmony with each other as a cozy twosome.

Both were just very passionately involved with each other and danced to their hearts content quite oblivious about what people would think. Thus, the normally publicity shy and coy couple had suddenly decided to give everyone a pleasant surprise by just coming out bold about what exactly they felt for each other.

So, just how long have the two been in the relationship? If rumors are to be believed then it has been for the past eight years or so. Well, what about Jacqueline? What about the rumors about her and Riteish as a couple? Now that was all speculation going on, that’s about it!

Now since Ritiesh and Genelia have gone quite bold over their relationship, rumors are that they would soon go in for tying the knot too. Seems like Bollywood is all out to party this year!