s the film industry holds its breath for producer Suneel Darshan and his brother, director Dharmesh Darshan's pricey Valentine's Day gift Haan… Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, an anxious question hovers over the future of other romantic films to come in 2002.
So far the box office has been extremely kind to the Hindi film industry. No other year in recent times has offered so many successes in the first two months. Apart from Vikram Bhatt's Raaz, made at around Rs 40 million and expected to gross five times the amount, other small-budget films like N Chandra's Style and Kuku Kohli's Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa have also romped over the finishing line.
What about the biggies? Trade pundits say the successes of 2002 so far had little to lose in terms of investment, scale of production, canvas and reach.
Dharmesh Darshan's Haan… Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya is the first epic film of 2002. It also happens to be a love triangle. Experts say the future of Suneel Darshan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's love triangles --- Mere Jeevan Saathi (featuring Akshay Kumar-Amisha Patel-Karisma Kapoor) and Devdas (Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai) --- depends on the fate of Haan… Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya.
The film boasts of a few USPs. It brings together brothers Suneel and Dharmesh Darshan who had drifted apart professionally and personally after Dharmesh's directorial debut Lootere some years ago. Says Dharmesh, "Haan…Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya was a very emotional experience for me. I worked with my brother after a decade. He was generous enough to make the first move [towards bridging the gap between us]. I was full of misgivings but he convinced me."
The film also marks the professional reunion of Dharmesh with his leading lady Karisma Kapoor. Dharmesh Darshan, who had directed the suceessful Raja Hindustani, fell apart with leading lady Karisma. "But I never doubted her ability to vibe professionally with me. To her credit, Karisma has given exactly the performance I wanted in Haan… Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya. If in Raja Hindustani she was a dreamy-eyed girl, in Haan… Maine, she is a woman of substance," observes Dharmesh enthusiastically.
The film's other USP is the casting of Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor. The film press in Mumbai has been linking the two together for the last five years. Understandably, there is some amount of curiosity among the public to see the two on screen.
Shudders Dharmesh, "It was tricky to direct them together. This is the first time they would be seen together in public and that too in a full-length romance. But Karisma never let any awkwardness creep into the atmosphere. She was extremely supportive. In fact both of us were working towards the same goal — to make sure that Abhishek gave a fine performance. And the audience has to see him to believe what he has done."
On Sunday, February 11, the entire team saw the film. Says Abhishek diplomatically, "I can't be objective about my films. But I guess this film will make waves." His mother Jaya Bachchan is more forthright: "It is a very traditional film. Abhishek has done his part very well, though I feel he still has a long way to go."
Akshay Kumar is far more ethusiastic: "I love the way the film upholds Indian traditions."
Not to be forgotten is Nadeem-Shravan's music score. The duo has already styled two musical hits, Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa and Raaz, in 2002. The songs like Hum yaar hain tumhare and Zindagi ko bina pyaar are already favourites of the masses.
A box office whopper? Valentine's Day will bring the answer.
Earlier column
