Box Office update: 'Golmaal Returns', 'Fashion' bring cheer

The morning and matinee shows on Thursday, October 30 were affected due to Bhai Dooj festival. Resultantly, the business of practically all movies was down by approx. 30% - 40% at several places, but things picked up again from noon and evening shows onwards. GOLMAAL RETURNS continued to lead with excellent collections in North and also Hindi belt mainly, but the real surprise was FASHION, which is running to packed houses at plexes of metros and mini-metros. However, the single screens aren't too strong. HEROES too picked up considerably on Wednesday and Thursday.

After two days of festivity [Wednesday, Thursday], its back to work from Friday [today] onwards. The new movies have opened at major single screens today. Also, the shows have been increased at plexes everywhere. The industry is keenly watching the response to GOLMAAL RETURNS and FASHION on Friday. Will the dream run continue, we'll keep you posted on that!

I am a very homely girl, says Kareena

Kareena is shooting for a TV commercial and she looks like a million bucks. On spotting you , she says, "Come. Let's settle down for a chat."

Excerpts from the interview:

You look far calmer these days; quite unlike the restless Kareena we all knew a few years ago.
I was a child then.

Is it the Saif effect?
Of course, it is. Also, experiences have made me stronger.

Like?
I mean whatever I have gone through in my personal and professional life. I’m a stronger girl now, far more at ease with myself than I was earlier. I’m doing things, which I want to.

You have moved on in your personal life. Was it difficult parting with Shahid?
Yes, it was a very difficult period. Whatever went wrong between Shahid and me is very personal. I have always maintained that Shahid will always be part of my life. But, we are better off as friends. There is no animosity.

On hindsight, do you think you could have done something to save the relationship?
Sometimes there are no reasons for things which happen in life. Even if there’s one, I don't think it’s right to talk about it openly.

Did it take time for your family to absorb the fact that you were in love with Saif?
No, I don't think so. My mother is cool about it. And Karisma and Saif get along like a house on fire.

How is Saif as a partner?
He is fun and extremely loyal. He has all the qualities which I always wanted in a man.

Is he very possessive? There were stories that he was upset with your dress at the IIFA awards and also when you gave a peck on the cheek to Sylvester Stallone?
Saif is very supportive. He gives me space. All those stories were false.

You get along well with his two children, Sara and Ibrahim?
Both his kids are very loving. They are like Samaira (Karisma's daughter) to me.

Are you in touch with Shahid?
Oh yes. I message him and he messages me.

What about marriage with Saif?
Way in the future.

Way in the future? Not in the near future?
(Laughs) Yes, it's in the future definitely, but not for the next two-three years. But, we want to be together.

You value marriage. You helped Karisma reconcile with her husband Sanjay?
Contrary to what people believe, I am a very homely girl. I am always there for those who are there for me. Frankly, I am nobody to help somebody with their marriage. But as a sister, I can only offer support and advice. It has worked.

You lost out on Dostana and Dilli 6 because Abhishek didn't want to work with you?
Firstly, there was no fight with Abhishek. He has decided not to work with me and I have decided the same.

The D-Day arrives!

Happy Diwali! It's that time of the year when everyone hopes and prays that the festival of lights spreads light in our lives. This year, I sincerely and genuinely wish, from the bottom of my heart, that the gloomy scenario fades and Diwali brings in cheer and prosperity to everyone within and outside the industry.

Till a few months ago, everything seemed bullish. But the last few weeks have been tough. Movies are flopping, the footfalls at plexes -- single and multi -- have reduced sharply, the corporates are in no mood to clinch deals, the independent producers are reeling under the shock over inflated prices of stars, the independent distributors are wary… Things have slowed down considerably.

But let's not lose hope. Or lose sleep. Let's keep our fingers crossed on GOLMAAL RETURNS and FASHION, the two movies that open today.

The pre-Diwali phase was dullest this year. HEROES, despite tremendous appreciation from all quarters, hasn't shown that big jump at the ticket window. The viewers were gung ho, the critics were generous too. But the numbers never reflected that appreciation.

After a decent start on Friday, things were more or less the same on Day 2 [Saturday]. There wasn't much improvement. Sunday was no different either. However, movie business hit rock-bottom on Monday and Tuesday, while Wednesday, today, should show an increase, provided HEROES manages to hold on to good shows.

Of course, GOLMAAL RETURNS and FASHION will be the first-choice, but let's remain optimistic. Also, the film deserves to be tax-exempted and the sooner the makers act on it, the better.

The other release, Yash Raj and Walt Disney's ROADSIDE ROMEO, has failed to lure the kids -- its target audience. No doubt, the animation was top notch, but the content was outright predictable. In fact, below mediocre level. We're moving ahead in terms of presentation and technology, but how about upgrading the content as well

Golmaal Returns - Movie Review

Two years ago, Rohit Shetty came up with a breezy entertainer GOLMAAL, which, most people agree, is the capable director's finest work to date. The comic scenes hit the right notes and buttons. Perhaps, that must've prompted its producers [Shree Ashtavinayak] and Rohit to continue with the GOLMAAL series.

But GOLMAAL RETURNS treats the viewer like a nitwit, with zero brains. No-brainer laughathons have worked in the past and people have catapulted these films to 'must watch again and again' category. But GOLMAAL RETURNS is simply unbearable!

35 years ago, the Kiran Kumar - Radha Saluja comedy AAJ KI TAZAA KHABAR [1973] is the inspiration for GOLMAAL RETURNS. No issues with that, it's an interesting concept. But screenplay writer Yunus Sajawal makes a mincemeat of the material, so much so that your head starts aching after a point and you want to tear your hair in disgust.

Seriously, what was the writer thinking when he came up with a pathetic screenplay? And how did a talented director like Rohit Shetty agree to ride on it? And how could an accomplished actor like Ajay Devgan green signal this enterprise? Questions, questions, questions...

GOLMAAL RETURNS was never meant to be a thinking man's film, but the attitude is, no-brainer comedies have worked and this one will work too. To give the credit where it's due, a few jokes/sequences involving Tusshar and Shreyas do bring a smile on your face, but in the absence of a tight screenplay, the film falls like a pack of cards.

Final word? Golmaal hai bhai script golmaal hai!

Gopal [Ajay Devgan], who lives with his wife Ekta [Kareena Kapoor], sister Esha [Amrita Arora] and brother-in-law Lucky [Tusshar Kapoor], gets stuck in a yacht after saving an attractive woman Meera [Celina Jaitly] from some goons. Both end up spending the night on the yacht and when he comes home the next day, his painfully suspicious wife, who is also a hardcore fan of the saas-bahu serials, smell fish.

Gopal knows it's going to be hard to quell her suspicion, so he concocts a cock-and-bull story about having stayed the night with a fictitious friend called Anthony Gonsalves. Ekta refuses to buy his yarn and writes to Anthony [on a fictitious address given to her by Gopal], asking him to visit her.

Gopal convinces his junior at work, Laxman [Shreyas Talpade], to pretend to be Anthony. Everything goes according to plan till the real Anthony turns up.

If that isn't complication enough for Gopal, a dead body is discovered at the location where he had saved Meera. The Investigating Officer, Madhav [Arshad Warsi], who is Esha's boyfriend and also who cannot stand the sight of Gopal, learns that the latter had been missing from home that eventful night and begins checking on him.

A sequel carries the baggage of humungous expectations. And you definitely expect GOLMAAL RETURNS to be a step forward. The makers had thundered, "GOLMAAL RETURNS is bigger, it's better" and that raises the bar. But the film is such a put off.

Writer Yunus Sajawal takes an interesting premise, but instead of upgrading it, only downgrades it with lacklustre situations. The writing is so weak, so lifeless that after a point you sit motionless, looking at the goings-on mechanically, instead of being a participant.

A few sequences do entertain you, but they're few and far between. Not enough to camouflage the defects. In view of the fact that the writing is so weak, there's not much that director Rohit Shetty can do to save the ship from sinking. However, the dialogues are howlarious. Music is not as inspiring. 'Tha Karke' is the best track, while 'Tu Saala' [well promoted] isn't there in the film and 'Meow' comes during the end credits. And you're exasperated by then!

GOLMAAL RETURNS belongs to Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade. Tusshar is terrific yet again, the real scene stealer, while Shreyas displays his comic side very well. Both, in fact, provide respite to the viewer. Ajay Devgan is likable. Kareena does the suspicious wife act well. Celina stays on your mind even after the show is over.

Arshad Warsi is relegated to the backseat. Amrita Arora is strictly okay. Anjana Sukhani gets no scope. Vrajesh Hirjee is alright. Sharat Saxena, Rakhi Vijan, Sanjay Mishra, Murli Sharma, Mukesh Tiwari and Ashwini Kalsekar fill in the blanks.

On the whole, there's tremendous curiosity to watch GOLMAAL RETURNS and the terrific promotion has only enhanced the excitement. But the film is a major letdown in terms of content. Barring a few jokes and gags, this GOLMAAL pales when compared to its first part. At the box-office, expect a terrific start for the film, but GOLMAAL RETURNS lacks the power to stand on its feet after the initial euphoria settles down.

Celina, Amrita and Anjana sidelined

It is yet another case of people being unhappy over a movie’s promotional campaign.

In the publicity of “Golmaal Returns”, only Kareena Kapoor is being given importance while the other three heroines – Celina Jaitley, Amrita Arora and Anjana Sukhani – have been completely sidelined.

Apparently, the three leading ladies are very unhappy that the producers of the film, Shree Ashtvinayak Cinevisions, have not given them their share of publicity.

But they refuse to speak up in the open and voice their anger as they are all aware that Kareena is the boss, and she sells too!

The Girls of 'Golmaal Returns'

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Definitely not Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor or Shreyas Talpade! A scene for Rohit Shetty's 'Golmaaal Returns' requires the funny four to dress up, literally! The guys get dolled up to celebrate Women's Day in the film, and like any desi hottie, they just had to hit the mall up! Well, guess what? No entry unless you're packing pantyhose and lipstick! Director Shetty comments on the actors' willingness to go girly: "I was quite taken aback when Ajay [Devgan] agreed to this scene in particular. He was very gung-ho to go ahead with the scene! In fact, none of the guys had any reservations, which made it one of the best scenes in the film!" Hmm... Maybe the guys should have auditioned for Karan Johar's 'Dostana'!

Karisma - Kareena together for GOLMAAL RETURNS

If things go as planned, we might see Shahrukh Khan digging into the past and hunting for treasure in a film inspired from the famous Indiana Jones series from Hollywood.

Acclaimed director Santosh Sivan is set to make a fantasy film on the lines of Indiana Jones. Earlier, in an interview, he mentioned his desire to make an adventure-cum-fantasy film.

In the movie, we will see SRK in hunt of treasures a la Indiana Jones through mystic lands and jungles. According to a source, this film is going to be a big-budget movie with a touch of romance and comedy. Moreover, it might also star John Abraham .

The movie details are not yet out, but Sivan has clearly said about his interest to direct a fantasy film. Locales are yet to be finalized.

This is the second time Shahrukh would team up with Sivan after a long gap of seven years. Previously, they worked together in Asoka . Sources said that Shahrukh will start shooting once he has finished working for other projects.

In the meantime, Sivan’s movie Tahaan is releasing next week which boasts of a bunch of talented actors like Sarika Rahul Bose and newcomer Purab.

Kareena charged up about Golmaal Returns

Kareena Kapoor is surely going down the Aamir Khan route by taking a personal interest in the well-being and promotion of her next film. She wants to ensure that “Golmaal Returns” does not fall short of creating the magic it promises at the box office this Diwali.

According to industry sources, even while shooting for “Kambakth Ishq” in Venice with Akshay Kumar, Kareena was in regular touch with the film's producers about the promotion of “Golmaal Returns”, which, in her opinion, is an out-and-out commercial family entertainer.

In fact, Kareena was very keen to have Pritam (her “Jab We Met” music director) compose the score of “Golmaal Returns”, which she voiced to the producers at the outset. She even took a big interest in listening to the songs after their recording and voicing her opinion.

The result was a chartbusting soundtrack, including her “Tu Saala Kaam Se Gaya” number, which has become an overnight hit.

Upon her return to Mumbai from Venice on the October 15, Kareena is said to have made herself available for the publicity of “Golmaal Returns”, which hits the cinemas on October 30.

Golmal Returns - First Look

Watch The Trailer of 'Golmaal Returns'

Kareena’s dizzy spell

Suffers from nausea while shooting in Goa but Bebo claims she only hurt her knee!

Kareena Kapoor suddenly took ill in Goa yesterday morning where she is shooting for Ashtavinayak’s Golmaal Returns. It is learnt that she complained of dizziness and exhaustion.

Says a unit member, “Kareena came on the sets but soon started feeling weak and feverish. She was dizzy and couldn’t shoot till she was given papaya juice.”

Adds the source, “Goa has been like a boiling cauldron since the past few days. The cast and crew have been staying at the Intercontinental Hotel in Canacona Beach and shooting at a private beach for the past week. The heat and humidity got to Kareena. She was dehydrated. Everybody was extremely concerned about Kareena as she has been in the news for her size zero after her strict diet and exercise regime.”

It is learnt that Saif, who is in Goa, rushed to the sets after hearing about Bebo’s health condition.

Golmaal Returns director Rohit Shetty says, “Kareena wasn’t feeling too well when she came on the sets yesterday. She was feeling sick and giddy, but didn’t faint. It wasn’t anything serious. Kareena was given fresh fruit juices after which she was fine and completed her shots.”

Kareena, however, claims, “I didn’t faint or suffer a dizzy spell on the sets. I only hurt my knee. There is nothing wrong with me. I lost weight for Tashan to have a toned look and now I am back to my normal diet.”

The actress adds, “I have a great dietician and trainer. I love food too much to starve. I do yoga regularly which helps me physically and mentally. I feel great and am on top of the world today!”

Besides Bebo, Golmaal Returns stars Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Amrita Arora and Celina Jaitley.

Unit sources also state that Ajay, too, has not been keeping well. He is suffering from bouts of acidity due of the heat. The unit member says, “Till Ajay fell ill all the stars had been working out together under Ajay’s trainer Shereveer Vakil. Saif also accompanies Kareena for the workouts.”

But Devgan has now apparently got better. Informs the source, “Yesterday for lunch he treated the entire cast to a lunch of oysters and clams.”

Currently the climax of Golmaal Returns is being shot with the entire star cast.
Kareena’s dietician Rujuta Diwekar says

Bebo’s not a size zero. She’s an intelligent girl who would never go on a crash diet leaving the nutrients out. She knows she has to look good. Kareena has six to seven meals a day consisting of cereal, milk, fruits and coconut water in the morning. She has cheese, soya milk, Goan curry, chaas, curd, wholewheat bread with peanut butter as mini-meals through the day. For dinner it is paneer tikka and vegetables. Kareena is absolutely fine.

Upala KBR