Posted:
I swear... even after so many decades of monitoring showbiz antics on both sides of the Atlantic, some decisions continue to baffle me. Especially decisions that involve "our" stars in Hollywood. Perhaps it's stupid of me to feel proprietorial or protective about Freida Pinto . She's a big girl and knows what she's doing. At least, I hope she does. Phir bhi. Here's one lucky Mumbai girl - a Bandra-wali - who was fortunate enough to get a dream break ("Slumdog Millionaire") with an A-list director. The film acquired a cult status in no time at all and Freida was suddenly up there with the best and the most gorgeous in international cinema.
We watched with pride as she confidently claimed her place on red carpets across the world - from Cannes to Tokyo. We applauded her dramatic transformation from the Plain Jane, girl next door, to a sleek, soignee creature who was blessed enough to have the world's top couturiers and snob joaillieres ready to throw their fanciest frocks and priciest baubles her way. Freida rapidly became a 'brand' (which remains every big ticket celeb's ultimate dream)... and India sighed!
Finally, one of 'us' had cracked Hollywood (Pity! But we remain slavish and obsessed). We smugly told ourselves -now there is no looking back. Freida is on a roll. She is here... she is there... our Freida is everywhere! On glossy covers, in fashion spreads, on stage...there is no stopping Freida. No ghussa for this Pinto... just glory.
And then she goes and does the raunchy Gorilla video.
As we say in Bambaiya speak : Kaike vaastu?
Bruno Mars maybe a big name. Freida may have been paid a Gorilla amount for stripping down to her undies and 'doing it' with a pole (standard pole dancing moves). What on earth could have motivated her to get down and dirty at this stage? What were her managers thinking? Let me tell you what I thought: There go her endorsements. Freida just blew it.
I could be 200% wrong. I sincerely hope I am.
Perhaps it was a well calculated decision on her part.
Maybe she wanted to show her risque side to talent agents. It's possible this racy video will bag her the sort of roles she has not been offered so far. Kuch bhi ho sakta hai, in showbiz. But, Freida is no Miley. Her career has not been built around sticking her tongue out or twerking in public, unlike Miley's. Freida has worked with Woody Allen, for God's sake. That is akin to being inducted into global cinema's super league (Holllywood royalty is neatly divided into those who have worked with Woody and those who haven't). With that achievement under her belt, did she have to?
But Freida's swanky positioning as fashion's little darling has remained undiminished to date. She is an outstanding clothes horse and photographs like a vision. Let us hope she hasn't damaged that picture perfect image with her explicit moves and skin show in a video which features cheeky lyrics like "You and me baby, making love like gorillas".
Udne Ki Aasha
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