Madhur Bhandarkar = EXPLOITATION !

Only Chandni Bar comes accross as the most natural film, and Tabu made it extraordinary any other actress had ruined the film.

Corporate was a disaster, Bipasha couldn't fill the life in the character, she was too glam to look the part. Satta was too loud - Raveena did a good job but something was missing.

every actress in his film goes through sex. i am not against it, but the way he portrays it like he is doing for the heck of it.

i don't count him a great director storyteller, but the industry needs him becoz he's the one getting the light of the shadow for actresses which is difficult in today's times even though its exploitation.

Well, how is that any different from some other film makers, like even The Dirty Picture went through a similar route.

If you wanna say that film was just on one actress, not the entire industry, Kareena and Madhur clarified that Heroine is not about the industry as much as its about just ONE actress. Mahi.

Actually, The Dirty Picture seemed very much like a Bhandarkar movie to me. I don't think it took itself any less seriously than Bhandarkar's films. It was aiming to be a commentary on the double standards/ skewed morals of 80s Tamil movie people, just like Page 3 and Fashion (haven't seen Corporate) were commentaries on the type of people who inhabit the socialite/fashion circles. I thought the very positive reaction that TDP got, as opposed to all the flack that Bhandarkar gets for his films, was very interesting. I have a theory that in the case of old hands in the movie business, audiences and critics react to their perceptions of the persons associated with a film, rather than to the film itself, and the TDP/Bhandarkar difference in reception kind of bears that out. Others like RGV and Bhansali tend to be negatively viewed as well, and they have an uphill task convincing people to give their movies a chance. Rakhta Charitra and Not a Love Story didn't get an audience despite being more than decent films. One bad film like Department (allegedly, I haven't seen it) confirms all of people's "RGV is like this only" notions, but the decent films he has made recently don't make a dent in people's perception of him. I guess Luthria gets a pass for a fairly cliched story because this is the first time he is making a film on this theme, and some protection afforded by the "this is a true story" tag. If he churns out a couple more on the same lines, he will be dismissed for being a formula filmmaker as well, even though the audience knows that discrimination and exploitation of women happens all the time even in this day and age, so the stories are not really irrelevant. They just don't want to hear that story from someone who has told a similar story before. The problem is with the messenger, not the message.

But I've read from various sources that Mahi Arora is NOT a typical bollywood Heroine. She has some kinda mental disorder, which adds an interesting dimension to a fall of an actress.

I think my first siggy shows slight shades of her psychotic behavior, lol.

She's really impulsive, off in the head, but completely fictitious.

Bebo said yes, the film industry is another layer to the story, but the film overall is on a completely fictitious character, Mahi.

some films are not that great but the actors made them great. The case is similar with TDP, it wasn't a great film because it was made on out and out on a commercial format. A little parallel touch to the film had proved a dent to its business so the makers played safe. i don't need to speak about Vidya's contribution again and again. it was actually surprising to see BO numbers of TDP soaring so high because it was way unexpected.

Madhur was good initially because he used to understand the subject but I guess he has pressures from the producer, i mean he got such a great producer with UTV. where i don't think page 3 or corporate or JAIL had such producers. he needs to feed them too so he is now more inclined towards the mass area.

Kahaani got such a dull opening, though it picked up later, BIG TIME, coz the film was great.

You make it seem like she's some kinda Khan that her presence will make even terrible films get good openings.

No matter how badly Agent Vinod was rejected, it still got a 30 crore opening. Ek Main Aurr Ek Tu also got a 21 crore opening.

Now lets see what Heroine gets.

Vidya's contribution as an actress dear, and its not abt TDP its all abt her other films as well.

neva said that : but there is something in Vidya Balan that inspite of her boring artsy film choices being projected by people she managed to tick it with the audience and its not just about TDP. its with NOKJ, ishqiya, paa. In all the films Vidya had stronger roles or with her heroes.

Opening of the film? I have always believed Star Power comes off to salvage the movie not to just get an opening, Because after Saturdays the BO numbers flip a new side so it doesn't really shows the Star power.

Vidya's contribution is that she chooses GREAT films. She does GREAT films, no doubt about it, and credit where due. But starpower is the ability to turn bad films into hits.

Like Bodyguard. (Salman's credit, NOT Kareena's)

Its differnet to start off low and then through word of mouth have a film become a hit. That's not just the actor, but the film overall that should also be credited. But if a film's OPENING is strong, that has nothing to do with content.

It has everything to do with what pulled audiences in the first place, coz they sure didnt see the film yet. That's where starpower comes in.

P.S.

The Dirty Picture was anything BUT a boring artsy film.

And as for Kahaani, GREAT that it became a hit. But the opening was really low. It grew with word of mouth, and ofcourse credit Vidya for a great performance.

Paan Singh Tomar was also a hit, but we cant really say Irfan Khan has starpower, though he's a tremendous actor.

nobody had expected KAHAANI to fetch a great opening, u can google what komal nahta said before the release, the trailer said that the film will rely on the word of mouth and same was with Paan Singh Tomar

Whatever it gets, Kahaani has indeed Boosted Vidya's power to much higher level because she was carrying the film on the shoulders, also one plus point was the budget, Kahaani wouldn't have flopped even with such a low opening.

Kareena hasn't given a solo movie that can actually tell her box office pull. Her chameli was a failure and after that she never dared to try her luck to lead the PACK. So Heroine is a Test For her. All her movies getting great openings shall have their heroes grabbing the credit. the only plus for her that she is an established star but the credit doesn't belong to her. but heroine clicks the credit will be hers