Sridevi goes came(o)-ra shy

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Posted: 18 years ago

Sridevi goes came(o)-ra shy

< content=07/10/2007 name=date>

Sridevi doesn't want her two-minute cameo in Halla Boll publicised. Certainly not as her 'comeback' role!

Back to Section Stories Posted On Tuesday, July 10, 2007


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Subhash K Jha / Sandipan Dalal

Sridevi

Sridevi and Boney Kapoor are upset that her miniscule appearance in Raj Santoshi's Halla Bol is actually being publicised. "It was never meant to be publicised!" exclaims Boney Kapoor. "And you can't really call it a guest appearance. After so many years, do you think Sri would return to the screen with a guest appearance in a Vidya Balan-Ajay Devgan starrer?"

Boney describes the exact extent of Sridevi's so-called role in the film. He says, "Since Halla Bol is set in the film industry, Sri and I make a joint appearance on stage and give an award to Ajay Devgan, who plays a star. Now, Sri and I give away such awards at several awards functions. Would that qualify as a guest appearance for Sri too? It's as much a guest appearance as Sri joining Karisma Kapoor in Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai on TV."

What's troubling Boney is that Sridevi agreed to come on screen for a couple of minutes for the sake of her old friendship with Santoshi. "There are some things that you just do for friends," says Boney referring to his long-term association with Raj Santoshi who made Pukar for Boney's banner. "That doesn't mean it should get used as a publicity gimmick. That's unfair."

Is Halla Bol based on Jessica Lal's murder?

A still from Halla Bol

If sources are to be believed, Rajkumar Santoshi has borrowed heavily from the 1999 Jessica Lal murder who was shot dead at the Tamarind Court, a restaurant owned by socialite Bina Ramani in Qutab Institutional Area in south Delhi, for his forthcoming film Halla Bol, starring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan. The plot of the film primarily revolves around a smalltown boy who wants to join the Bollywood brigade. His hard work and determination pays off and he acquires celebrity status in a short time. In keeping with his colleagues he indulges in a few vices that estrange him from his family. A conflict arises when a shocking murder at a party changes his life.

Sources close to Santoshi indicate that the murder in the film is no ordinary killing. Just as Jessica's killers Manu Sharma and his aide Vikas Yadav have strong political connections (Sharma's father was once a Union minister and is now a Haryana state minister and Yadav is the son of a don-turned-politician D P Yadav), the accused in the film too weilds political clout. He flees from the scene after shooting a model-turned-actress in a posh restaurant.

Santoshi, however, focuses on Devgan's troubled mind and his urge to stand up against the killer. His estranged wife (Vidya Balan) and mentor (Pankaj Kapur) help him to take a stand.

When quizzed about it, director Santoshi however claims that the story is original and the similarity is purely co-incidental. He says: "The murders are similar in nature. But my film is not based on Jessica Lal's murder." He adds, "I had the story idea seven years back even before Jessica was shot." (Well, Jessica Lal was murdered eight years back in April 1999.)

Talking about special appearances in the film, Kareena Kapoor has one too. The actress just plays herself in the film. Says Santoshi, "Kareena makes a friendly appearance alongside Ajay. Both are superstars in the film."

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Sridevi

Sridevi goes came(o)-ra shy

Sridevi goes came(o)-ra shy

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