Kajol making a comeback in Fanaa

Thursday, May 25, 2006

New Delhi (UNI): She went into hibernation post marriage. But the allure of arc lights and showbiz was far more blinding to let her stay in her self-imposed four-year sabbatical for long. And after having revelled in matrimonial bliss, she is all set to stage an emphatic comeback in Yash Chopra's next venture Fanaa, that that means "destroyed in love", which will hit the silver screen tomorrow. Kajol, who has given blockbusters like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hain and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham in the past, will be starting her second innings in the Kunal Kohli-directed film, which is a tale of love, trust, betrayal and pain and where she is playing a visually-impaired Kashmiri girl, Zooni Ali Beig.

Matching her step by step in the venture will be the perfectionist actor who is unique in his own individual way. He has already given one blockbuster this year, and if trade reports are to be believed he has delivered one of his finest performances in the Aditya Chopra-produced enterprise. Fanaa stars Aamir Khan in the male lead opposite Kajol. Tabu, Rishi Kapoor and Kiron Kher have marginal roles in the film, while Lara Dutta and Abhishek Bachchan make cameo appearances. Others in the cast include Shiney Ahuja, Gautami Kapoor, Lilette Dubey and Vrajesh Hirjee. Aamir has already tasted success at the turnstile this year with Rang De Basanti having already been declared a hit. This is after so many years that two films of the midget Khan are seeing the light of the day in the same year. This is also the first film to have Aamir and Kajol playing lovers. The two powerhouse talented actors previously acted in 'Ishq' but they were not pitted opposite each other in the film.

Fanaa sees Aamir Khan once again working with Yash Chopra after 13 years. Aamir plays Rehan Qadri, a local guide who has a penchant for poetry. An exuberant man who uses his charm to get his way with girls. Zooni is full of spirit. She wants to explore life for herself and is not going to let her handicap come in her way. She is leaving home on her own for the first time and wants to make the most of it. This is where she meets Rehan, the man who will change her life and will himself be changed in the process. Rehan is absolutely besotted by Zooni. Once he gets close to her, he sees beyond her blindness and delves into her soul. He wants Zooni to feel the beauty of this world to the hilt. But there are other sides of Rehan which Zooni is unaware of. He knows letting the secret out will take Zooni away from him. But he also fears that her being a part of his life can also destroy her.

Though Aamir has already tested his vocal cords in films earlier, it will be the first time Kajol will be lending her voice to a song in the film. Other songs have been rendered by Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Babul Supriyo and Mahalaxmi Iyer. Shot extensively in Delhi, Poland and Kashmir, the film is one of the most eagerly awaited ventures of the year.

This is Kajol's third film with the Yashraj camp. Earlier, she acted in two flicks of the numero uno production house -- Yeh Dillagi and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. According to Director Kunal Kohli, who has already directed Hum Tum and Mujhse Dosti Karogi for the Yashraj Productions, in Fanaa Kajol has given an unmatchable and scintillating performance and she has shown why she is still the best in the trade. Her married status will in no way stop her fans thronging cinema halls and instead they will be more than keen to see their favourite actress pitted against midget Khan for the first time in her film career, he adds.

The music of the movie has been composed by Jatin Lalit and lyrics penned by Prasoon Joshi. A buzz going round is that the music of the film will be one of the strong points and no modern equipment have been used. Arabic instruments like Udh have also been used to give that old and Sufi touch to the music of the film.

There is also talk that the two protagonists of the film will die in the end, but neither the producer nor the director is willing to confirm that as the Yash Raj Productions has long been in the habit of zipping its lips about the storylines of their films before their release. And if the character of Aamir dies in the film, it will be his third consecutive film in which he will be losing his life. The two earlier films in which he was killed were-Mangal Pandey and Rang De Basanti in which the actor played a happy-go-lucky street-smart guy.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the film will not be screened in multiplexes in the state of Gujarat. Fearing attacks on theatres in the state, the Multiplex Association of Gujarat has decided not to screen Fanaa in multiplexes across the state. The decision of the Association comes after violent protests were witnessed in different cities of Gujarat, including Ahmedabad and Vadodara, after Aamir made certain remarks against the Gujarat government and Chief Minister Narendra Modi few weeks back.

While film critics are sharpening their knives before the release of the flick at the box office, fans are waiting with bated breath to see the film and its fate at the ticket counters. Whether the Chopras would once again be able to use their charisma to recreate the magic they are known for and set the silver screen ablaze with the film, whose genre is their favourite- love story, whether the Aamir Khan and Kajol pairing will work to the advantage of the film or whether Kajol will be able to prove that she still has it in her to draw the audiences to theatres, all these questions will be answered once the curtains are lifted on the most eagerly awaited film of the year tomorrow.