All Baabul Reviews- HERE ONLY!! - Page 5

Baabul

By Jay Mamtora, AllBollywood.com Staff
December 08, 2006



Ravi Chopra returns with Baabul after his surprise smash Baghban hit the theatres three years ago. In an age where we're dealing with groundbreaking movies a la Omkara, Rang De Basanti, Krrish and to a certain extent D:2, he opts for a social drama focusing on widow re-marriage and emancipation of women. But alas great intentions are not enough to make a great movie. At a time when the validity of marriage itself is being questioned in movies like KANK, Baabul is unquestionably a few years too late.

Balraj (Amitabh Bachchan) and Shobhna Kapoor (Hema Malini) are a wealthy couple who dote on their foreign returned son Avinash (Salman). Your typical picture perfect family that's made even more perfect when Avi meets Millie (Rani) and they predictably fall in love and get married. A few blissful years and a sprog later, Avi dies in a freak accident leaving Millie's life in tethers. Unable to see his daughter-in-law pining away for the void left behind by his son's death, Balraj decides to take matters into his own hands, and to ensure her happiness, attempts to set her up with her childhood friend (and you guessed it her secret admirer) Rajat (Abraham).

How he defies traditions and the social taboos surrounding widow remarriage form the crux of Chopra's sickly sweet and overtly melodramatic fare.

If I'm honest Baabul is a very watchable film. There are some light humorous moments (courtesy Salman's antics), a few memorable songs, great cinematography and a few truly tear inducing moments – yet something somewhere is amiss. While Baghban was a little far fetched it was still convincing due to the Amitabh-Hema chemistry and their sweet romance track. Although Baabul re-creates that unmistakable chemistry, the focus this time is more on addressing a social issue (which technically is ONLY an issue in India and not anywhere else in the world), and in doing that the whole impact of the film is completely diluted.

Of the cast Salman shines and pretty much (almost) outperforms everyone else. There's something very likeable about his impish grin and his rapport with the cast – be it Amitabh, Hema, Rani or the cute little kid that's extremely endearing. Ageless Hema looks stunning yet again and gets a few sequences to show sparks of her talent but undoubtedly deserved a better etched out role.

I'm sorry, I don't know if it's just me but Rani seriously needs to do something different now. It's like she walked straight out of a KANK set to come and shoot for this – only this time wearing specs. Otherwise her look is the same, her clothes are the same and the copious glycerine induced tears that she sheds are – you guessed it – the same! It's all getting a bit boring now. The next in line of disappointments is John. His character fails to evoke any sympathy, his expressions are bland and his pairing with Rani is just not happening.

Right did I forget anyone else? No? Oh yes Amitabh. What can you say about his performance? He's ALWAYS good and he's the best thing in Baabul too. He pretty much holds it together with his author backed role – but as I already implied, that was already a given when I sat down to watch the film.

Besides the front line cast, the supporting cast barring Sharat Saxena is pretty trite. Om Puri is loud and ridiculously over the top. Rajpal Yadav is wasted and Smita Jaykar, Parmeet Sethi, Sarika and Aman Verma are mere space fillers.

It's quite a shame really. Baabul was supposed to end an already successful year in Bollywood with a bang but sadly it doesn't quite get there. It will definitely appeal to the family crowds and rural audiences, but youngsters in the Dhoom frame of mind will most likely ignore it.

In conclusion – a very watchable yet eminently forgettable film.

- Jay Mamtora -

Final Rating: * * .

Baabul- ***

Director: Ravi Chopra
Banner: B.R. Films
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, John Abraham, Rani Mukherjee, Hema Malini



After Baghban, Ravi Chopra comes back with another emotional tear jerker, starring once again his last film pair, Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini with the addition of 3 bigger box office names, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee and John Abraham. Based on a plot loosely inspired from the late 60s Marathi film, Kanyadaan, Baabul rises above the average solely because of the exceptional performances by its lead players.

Balraj Kapoor (Amitabh Bachchan) is a rich industrialist whose son Avinash (Salman) returns from "Amreeka" after 7 year of study. He shares a buddy-buddy relationship with Avinash and is very emotionally attached to him. Avinash falls in love with a middle class girl Mili (Rani) and proposes marriage. After a few misunderstandings are resolved she accepts his proposal leaving behind her best pal Rajat (John Abraham) who secretly loved her since childhood. Nursing a broken heart, Rajat, a singer - performer by profession leaves for Europe immediately after Mili's marriage. Time passes by the couple now has a four-year-old kid. In a hurry to reach back home on his son's birthday, Avinash meets with a fatal accident and dies. Mili's life is shattered and she starts living in the past imagining Avinash is around her.

Balraj cannot bear the pain of seeing his daughter-in-law going through all this. He decides to take a bold step of settling Mili's life once again. He traces down Rajat in Europe and on knowing that he secretly loved her and has still remained single, he plans to get him married to Mili. Though Rajat doubts Mili will ever accept any other man in her life again, he joins Balraj hoping if everything works out right his childhood friend shall get her lost happiness back. Balraj's strategies start working out initially as according to his plans Rajat keeps bumping into Mili and slowly becomes a part of their family.

Even Mili's son starts to adore him. But, soon Mili comes to know that Rajat was brought back by her father-in-law to consider remarriage and she expresses her displeasure. Both Rajat and Balraj successfully convince her to rethink her decision of marrying again. On the day of Rajat and Mili's marriage, Balraj's elder brother (Om Puri) and all other relatives come and try to stop this marriage on the grounds of breaking the tradition that widows should not be remarried. Even Shobhana is not able to support her husband. But, Balraj alone fights against all the accusations and upheavals and adorning the role now of Mili's father successfully gets her married.

Ravi Chopra has picked up an age old theme that looks a little out of place in today's modern times. This theme could have still been apt had the setting been in a small town in India where widow remarriage is still considered a taboo. Chopra needs to be applauded though for not letting excessive rona - dhona spoil the proceedings. But it fails to touch your heart the way his last film Baghban did. The dialogues by Dr. Achala Nagar are punch-packed. The camerawork by veteran Barun Mukherjee needs special mention for making Rani look beautiful like never before even without her make-up in many scenes. Aadesh Shrivastava's music is melodious and the title song composed and sung by Big B himself is very touching.

Amongst the actors, it's a Bachchan film all the way. The varied emotions his face exhibits and the energetic enthusiasm he puts in even the most mundane scenes makes you assured yet again that there is no match for Big B in today's times. Salman is charming as his son and his chemistry with Rani works out very well. John looks a little out of place in the first half but manages to come up on his own later. Both Salman and John have two scenes together and both appear competing for being the best performer in the scene. Rani is very expressive and impresses with her performance.

Hema manages to look gorgeous at 56. Om Puri is too loud and wasted. Sarika in a small role of Bachchan's youngest brother's widow is good and manages to make an impression with just one dialogue for her in the entire film. Rajpal Yadav evokes a few laughs. The rest of the star-cast (mostly TV-stars) including Aman Verma, Parmeet Sethi, Vaishnavi, Beena, Avtar Gill are used as mere props in the background. In fact, right till the end one is not sure what Aman Verma's relation to the family is.

http://cinemaa.indya.com/reviews/baabul.html

RATING - Timepass

Starring: Salman, Rani, Hema Malini, John and Amitabh Bachchan.

Bole To: When in trouble/conflict, deliver some grand, emotional dialouges.



STORY:Salman gives lesson in fastest way to patao girl and gets Rani Mukerjee to marry him. He then dies abruptly. His father Amitabh then gives lesson in 'How to be cool father-in-law', and gets Rani's childhood friend and lover John Abraham to read '101 delicate ways to patao a widow'. John by-hearts the book and marries Rani. And they all cry happily ever after.

REVIEW: The unusual thing here is the film moves very slowly in places where it should move fast, and takes sudden random jumps at places where it should go a little slower and let things sink in a little better. Obviously, that is not a very good thing. But the film has it's good bits ; there are a few funny moments. Amitabh spent the first part of his career as angry young man solving problems by beating people up. Great fun. He now spends the second part of his career solving problems by shooting out dramatic bits of dialouge. He did in KHAKEE, he did it in several other films, and he does it now in BAABUL. Several things happen too easily, and several problems are solved too fast. Having said that, Big B holds the film together.

WATCH OUT FOR: a) Aman Verma's 'I-am-not-sure-why-i-am-doing-this' expressions, and exactly 2 lines of dialouge. b) Random Dhoni look alike extra in one of the songs, who gets more footage than Aman Verma.

BOTTOMLINE: Decent film, but a lot more enjoyable when you are sitting with few others, passing comments and spoofing bits as you go watch.

By Sreeram Ramachandran

http://www.mtvindia.com/mtv/movies/reviews/06/baabul/index.p hp

My review of Baabul {sorry friends if it is too long)

Like all of you, I had huge expectations from Baabul after a film like Baghban. I am happy that the film has not disappointed me at all.👏 😊

But first things first-Dont compare it with Baghban. Not that it fails before Baghban, but still the film that leaves a deeper mark in your heart is Baghban. 😊I saw Baghban again on Sunday after seeing Baabul and that is why I waited till today to give my final review. But, dont mistake me- I think BAABUL is a fabulous film!👏👏

The film has been made as beautifully and sincerely as ever my ravi chopra. 👏 👏 👏 It is a very simple film that is bound to touch your heart. The story may be 'as old as the hills' as they say, but the film is one which everyone can see with your family and believe me, it will make most of you cry...😭 😭 😭

yOu guys know the story so why exaggerate it?Briefly putting the story- its how a Father-in-Law becomes the Father of the Bride.

there are some flaws in the film like:

Loose connection for Rajat (John Abraham) in the story.
1. Rani has little say about her marriage(No no...she is not forced by Amitabh to remarry)

But you actually tend to overlook these flaws because the man who has you in his palm is Mr.Bachchan...man!!! What a PERFORMER!!! What an Actor!!! What a presence he has on-screen...Big B's performance is so power-packed-Its synonymus with 'ecxellent'!!!👏 👏 👏

His character is-Balraj Kapoor n is the Baabul...He has various phases of his charcetr-The loving husband, daredevil dad, caring father in Lw, Angry father, The Baabul-->and he just carries it with such ease...

The climax is the best part of the film and the performance of Big B in his scene is unforgettable👏...one of the most memorable scenes he has acted in. There are many scenes which will touch ypur heart n make u weep...but still make u feel as if to stand up and clap for Big B and Rani👏 👏 👏...esp in the last part for Bachchan when he says "'e say that the practice of sati is over. But isn't denying a widow the right to live fully, equal to sati?"👏 👏 👏 No one but he could have muothed this dialogue so well...

BalRaj's character is the strongest one in the film and Big B's acting skills are equally powerful...No wonder he is the Big Boss oF Bollywood!!! A legendary performance this is...👏 👏 👏

The other person who deserves much appreciation is Rani Mukhejee. Her performance is great too 👏 👏 vand thank god--This will be a relief for her fans after dreadful KANK😆 😳...sHE has come up with such a superb performance and she looks gorgeous(But Hema Malini scores when looks are concerned...she surely is such a Dream Girl!!!)😳 😳 😳

John Abraham is average but hasnt much footage to prove his Acting skills...Salman is very good and what to say abt Hema--As beautiful as ever and a very good performance...👏 👏

But all in all...the film belongs to Amitabh Bachchan and Rani alone...😊

By the way the dialogues deserve a special mentioning here--They are so beautiful and emotional and at the same time Very powerul...👏 👏

Music is good and the best is 'Kehta Hai Baabul'...man whatta a song!!! I was so surprised at the fact that Big B has sung n composed it himself...man..whatta man he is!!! cant describe him...just too talented~~~😳

Bottomline: A film which you can watch with your family and surely make you weep...(I did!!!)-Worth Watch-Recommended😊

Rating : **** (btw,I give Baghban ****1/2 ...but Baabul too is a wonderful film without doubt)

Yah. Babul is a really good movie. I would give it at least 3.5 stars. AB and Rani are magnetic. Salman is a surprise package and too good. Hemaji is wasted in a small cameo role and so are many other actors. John Abraham is average. No great shakes. Music is really good and overall the movie is worth the penny that u speand on it. I would definitely like to watch it again for Big B, Rani and Salman. 👏 👏

I watched Baabul on Friday with my kids. It is such an emotional movie anyone who claims to be a strongest person will have tears in their eyes. Emotional fools like me cried for more that 1.5 hrs in the movie.
Amitabh Bacchan excelled as Baabul. I was wishing like Rani did in the movie: I wish I have a Baabul like Big B.. I liked it more because its too close to my real story. My son was four yeeas old when my husband died all of a sudden. Unfortunately I didn't have a Father In Law. Mother In Law and Sister In Laws always have fear of losing their Grand Kids and Nieces and nephews. Its not only my story. It is a story of so many young single woman who has no family support to move on in their lives.
Rani, Salman and Hema Malini's acting was good but I cannot get over with wonderful, outstanding, superb performance from Amitabh. No one can act like Amitabh at this age. He is simply awesome. Rani and Amitabh get the entire credit for making the movie watchable.
There were so many week performances in the movie which I blame the makers. They could have done something in the movies, if any dialogues were given to them. I am talking about famous TV actors work in movies with lots of hopes, what they are given, few one liners or just stand there and stare at the lead chaacters. Aman Verma and Parmeet Seth are well known TV actors and all they did was: just stood there and stare at Big B or Sallu or Rani. Lady from TV serial Ek Ladki Anjani Si( Anany's mother), she did not even have single dialogue in 3 hours movie and Sarika has only one dialogue in the whole movie.
I loved all the songs as much as I loved the movie.
My rating: 3.5.

Director: Ravi Chopra
Music: Aadesh Shrivastav
Lyrics: Sameer
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, John Abraham, Om Puri

By Sameer Wadekar, Bollywood Trade News Network



Ravi Chopra's BAGHBAN conveyed the plight of the parents who are desolate and humiliated by their children. His new film BAABUL talks about widow remarriage. It's a good effort by the eminent director but only if the script was a little stronger and compound, the movie would have made a bigger impact.

In BAABUL, the script is dashed up with nothing but contrived situations and spongy dialogues. The writer Dr. Achala Nagar does nothing special to keep the viewers riveted. But in patches it does work. Some scenes, like Amitabh Bachchan star gazing and talking to himself, a few comic situations, have been well-written.

The film's story goes something like this. Balraj Kapoor (Amitabh Bachhan) and Shobhna Kapoor (Hema Malini) is a middle-aged couple, both rich and happy. Avinash (Salman Khan) is their only kid and very much a 'laadla'. The father-son duo keep calling each other 'buddy' all the time, stating that they are more of friends. Avinash falls in love with Mili (Rani Mukherjee) and they get married. This hurts Mili's best friend Rajat (John Abraham), a singer, who has feelings for her.



In the mean time Avi and Mili have a son, Ansh. All is going well until one fateful day when Avinash meets with an accident and dies off. Mili is devastated. Now Balraj is not able to bear Mili's sufferings. So he decides to get her remarried and for that he thinks of Rajat who has been Mili's childhood friend. So he goes to look for Rajat who is now settled in Europe and sings Hindi songs over there, with lots of girls swooning around him (didn't know Hindi songs are that popular in Europe).



Balraj is opposed against getting Mili remarried by his elder brother Balwant (Om Puri) and also mildly by Shobhna. But Balraj doesn't budge and in the end Mili and Rajat are married off.

Amitabh Bachchan delivers an upright performance. Rani Mukherjee and Hema Malini also impress in their respective roles. This is a walk in the park role for Salman Khan. He fits the bill perfectly. John Abraham also puts a neat show. Om Puri, Smita Jaykar and the rest provide able support.

But Aadesh Srivastava has disappointed with his music. The music is an average fare. The title song sounds good on ears but that's been composed and sung by Amitabh Bachchan! On the technical front, the photography by Barun Mukerjee looks good.



The movie could go well with the single screen audience and smaller centers. Family sagas have always been loved and cherished by the audiences. As far as the multiplexes are concerned, it's a little uncertain. But a decent attempt by director Ravi Chopra who has brought in a complete package for the family audiences.

http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/baabul.asp

Despite 'Baabul', widow remarriage still a far cry

By Arpana, IANS



BR Films, one of the prestigious banners in Bollywood, has spewed several socially relevant films like "Ek Hi Raasta", which was about widow remarriage, and almost after five decades its torch bearer Ravi Chopra once again stresses on the rehabilitation of widows in his just released "Baabul".

The film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Salman Khan, Hema Malini and John Abrham highlights the fact that widow remarriage pattern is still a taboo in the so-called modern Indian society.

The film revolves around Amitabh, who tries to bring joy and colour in his daughter-in-law's (Rani) life after his son's (Salman) death. He convinces Rani's old friend (John) to marry her. However, Amitabh's elder brother opposes it.

"In 'Sholay', there was the effort to rehabilitate the widow. That sentiment continues in 'Baabul'. It was initially tried in Dharamji (Dharmedra) and Meena Kumariji starrer 'Phool Aur Patthar'. Now widow remarriage is the theme in films like 'Water' and 'Baabul'. Good cinema needs to raise the collective conscience level of the audience," said Amitabh.

He is glad that a film stressing Indian values has been made.

"Television is so full of family dramas that this genre is hardly attempted in today's cinema. 'Baabul' is very traditional and close to our hearts. It addresses the sensitive issue of a widow remarriage. Why does a young widow become a victim of ridiculous customs, almost an outcast? Like all the films from B.R. Films, it addresses itself to a burning social issue," added Amitabh



Films were always considered a medium, which possessed great power to mould the perceptions of the society. However, it hasn't achieved much success in changing the attitude of people towards widows.

Old customs and belief are still deeply rooted. According to a survey conducted by India's national census in 2001, there were more than 34 million widows in the country.

The 1856 Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act gave women the legal right to remarry and the Hindu Succession Act of 1956 gave women the same inheritance rights as men. However, those rights are rarely put into practice. Widows are still seen as a curse.

Apart from BR Films, south based AVM Films known for making thought- provoking films with a social message, also touched the issue in their film "Kuladeivam" produced in 1956. In "Subha Ka Tara", V. Shantaram took up the cause of widow remarriage and tried to change the perception of the people.

In the recent times, Canada-based India filmmaker Deepa Mehta's bold film "Water", which is also Canada's official entry for Oscar this year, examines the dilemma of widows living in Varanasi in pre-independence era.



The film, starring Lisa Ray and John Abraham, faced opposition from the Hindu fundamentalists who felt that it is anti-Hindu and destroyed the sets of the film in 2000 and burnt Mehta's effigy. But Mehta was determined to complete the film and finally shot it in Sri Lanka.

Dharan Mandrayar, a California-based Indian director, was deeply affected by the ill-treatment of widows and made a movie "White Rainbow" on the continuing maltreatment of widows in present-day India. Set in the Hindu holy city of Vrindavan, the film focuses on widows.

In Mandrayar's film each character represents a different kind of widow abuse that is still experienced: social ostracism, abandonment by children, rape by in-laws, and financial and sexual exploitation by priests.

"Many Indians shrug off widow abuse. It's been like this for centuries as the accepted way of life. The husband is called a god and the minute a woman loses her god, she becomes a zero," Mohini Giri, a leading Indian activist for widows' rights, was quoted as saying.

Giri, herself a widow, founded the New Delhi-based Guild of Service in 1972, a volunteer organisation that helps widows and organises classes to teach them various skills so that they can support themselves.

Even today widows seek salvation either in Varanasi or Brindaban, which is about 120 km away from Delhi. According to a survey conducted by a social worker, there are more than 9,000 widows in Brindaban and most of them either survive on charity or pension from the government.

Many filmmakers had tried to brig forth the issue like Raj Kapoor did in "Prem Rog", Govind Saraiya in "Saraswatichandra", Rituparno Ghosh in "Chokher Bali" and Ramesh Sippy in "Sholay".



Young filmmaker Kunal Kohli also dealt with the sensitive issue deftly but subtly in his directorial debut "Hum Tum" starring Rani and Saif Ali Khan.

All said and done, widow remarriage still seems a far cry and one hopes Chopra's "Baabul" succeeds in penetrating and changing the orthodox mentality.

http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/06/dec/09_baabul_amita bh_rani_mukherjee_salman_john.asp

How the Baabul bursts...



Mayank Shekhar

Salman Khan and Rani Mukherji in Baabul

FILM: Baabul
DIRECTOR: Ravi Chopra
ACTORS: Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherji
Mirror Rating * *

There's a problem many filmmakers in the future are likely to find more serious than they perhaps do now. It's to do with movie-stars, and their lives and opinions, that make for a more watched and read subject for stories on television or print, than any character they will ever play on screen. Name it a sustained campaign toward trivialisation or the 'dumbing down' of us as a people, as it were, there appears very little break from the same dozen people we view, read or constantly hear about.

When we do watch them at the movies, the reason they exist, it becomes impossible to separate the actors from the characters they play. This would be fine, were the movie a blockbuster of sorts, an 'event picture' as it were, about super-heroes, cool cops and dons, or eye-candy lover-boys.

It doesn't help when the subject is fairly serious, and the characters expected to be at once real, strong and warm. It gets worse when the screenplay lends no intensity to performers whose thespian talents are in any case fairly suspect: jarring John, and sleepy Salman (eyes perpetually puffed up); one, who seems to be trying too hard, the other, who is, as usual, not even trying. Both make this film a public expose on how as supposed leading men they can't even deliver an emotionally stirring line with the comforting ease we must all take for granted. Bachchan has of course played the caring patriarch too many times in the past for us to tell the difference.

Unlike Chopra's Baghban (2003) though, you cannot entirely avoid the bozo-sons that many may have, and simply concentrate on the warm vibes that Bachchan exudes. Even his final speech here, a timely one about how traditions cannot prosper at the altar of human sacrifices and deaths, could have sufficed as a neat homily on the hit TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Much of the drama in the film, along with the spiral staircase of the quintessential Bollywood living room, of course, seems wholly derived from prime-time television, the nation's widest warehouse of joint Punjabi or Gujarati families.

The subject, one about how a widow's (Mukherji) remarriage still does not enjoy complete sanction in the Hindu society, surely deserves a film. You cannot fault the film's initial intention. The evident flaw is with the filmmaking, the excessive literalness of it all as a one-line plot linearly develops into a 3-hour film, thanks to each soppy sequence that's unbearably belaboured and extended to clock the expected minutes, while every character is permitted his own sweet time-out to weep on screen. A good movie, I should think, is meant to show, or express. This one just says too much; and much the same thing, too many times. By the end of it, you're also left slightly confused. For the film eventually seems as less about women's empowerment and widow's remarriage as Karan Johar's Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was about a widower's. The female protagonist is in fact the subservient daughter-in-law who prefers the widow's white dress to a light-green one because, she says, the colours have disappeared from her life (Khan). She barely half-considers moving on (Abraham), only because a man, the father-in-law (Bachchan) allows her to; in fact, wholly sets up the process for her; so much for a changing world.

To think of it, Chopra, the director of this film, is the one credited with the wonderful, big-ticket The Burning Train (1980) that I think should have been today. If you sit to do the math, that film was exactly as ahead of its time as Baabul is behind.

Daadi cool?

Hema Malini says now she's being asked to play grandmother

Ram Kamal Mukherjee

Dream daadi: Hema Malini

Has Hema Malini decided to only work with big banners? Is that why she has only a few films in hand? "It's not that I am flooded with offers every day. I am offered the regular 'mummy' type of roles in Bollywood, and now people have started offering me grandmoms' roles too. I wouldn't mind playing a grandmom, if my role is well-etched out. I keep myself engaged with other creative work, and I don't need to do rubbish films," she says.

And yet this 'grandmother has a long list of admirers.

The latest in the list is John Abraham, who claimed to be in love with her recently.

So, what has Hema got to say about Abraham's infatuation with her? "Really? But I thought that John is in love with Bipasha," laughs Hema. "I think most of the actors of today's generation are so articulate. It's sweet of John to say such beautiful words. I too want to say good things about people, but I don't know how to put my thoughts across. I always run out of compliments. Of course, I would love to work with John once again," she says.

As for her other co-star Rani Mukherji, Hema says, "I think she has come up the hard way. Bechari kitna mehenat karti hai. (The poor girl works so hard.) Surviving in today's age is certainly much more difficult than it was earlier," she says.

Baabul is Hema's third film with Amitabh after she made a comeback with Baghbaan. "Where are the heroes to star opposite me? None of the actors from my generation, except Amitabh, are working. So do I have any option? If I do a film, I need someone as big as Amitabh opposite me. I can't work with anybody and everybody," she says.

Hema had even announced that she would direct a film starring her daughter Esha. It's been over a year and nothing has materialised. "I have completed the script of the film. I didn't like the climax of the film, and I think I will wait until I get a suitable end," she says.

Apparently, Hema is unhappy with the length of her role in Baabul? "Now, when did I say that?" she counters. "I think people will try and draw a line of comparison between Baghban and Baabul, so I am just making it clear that people should not expect much from me. I don't have much to do in the film," she adds.

* It's not that I am flooded with offers every day. I am offered the regular 'mummy' type of roles in Bollywood, and now people have started offering me grandmoms' roles too — Hema Malini