A source says, “A lot of people Bollywood Extremely shocked how Farhan managed this casting coup. Actually ‘casting coup’ is a generic term to use here because these three girls have a history of issues.”
The source adds, “Maybe they have made up but the cracks were not so thin and small that they would have healed completely. This film is clearly a sign of maturity and understanding that any grievance/outrage will last forever. Not worth holding.”
Reverse. Once upon a time Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif were very good friends. The two friends were often seen hanging out together, especially during gym workouts. The talk is of those days when Kaif used to live in live-in with Ranbir Kapoor. There were reports that Katrina and Ranbir would soon tie the knot when suddenly someone heard that they had broken up and Ranbir developed feelings for the ‘Student of the Year’ actress. There was buzz, hell then broke loose and Katrina and Alia stopped talking to each other. While Katrina struck up a relationship with Deepika by accepting her wedding invitation with Ranveer Singh, there was no immediate episode that she got in touch with Alia and all that passed. Time passes but as they say, time is a healer. Katrina broke the ice with an Instagram story featuring the poster of ‘Gully Boy’ and showered love on Alia. Before you could blink, Alia had reposted the story with a thank you caption, even referring to Katrina with her nickname Katy. A month later, Katrina happily greeted Alia at the Filmfare Awards function.
Also rewinding. There hasn’t been much face-to-face talk between Priyanka and Katrina. Reportedly, the two wanted to enter the final stages and be showstoppers at an award function a few years back. It was whispered that this did not go down well with either of them.
All this and much more on the internet may just be loose talk but it is still fascinating that the trio has shown no sign of insecurities and agreed to do a multi-starrer together.
Absolutely, says trade expert Taran Adarsh, “Jee Le Zara is a multi-starrer. If ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ from the same stable, a road film Phir Se, was a male multi-starrer, which was- then ‘Gee Le Zara’ is a female multi-starrer. I am also excited by the fact that Farhan is returning to directing after almost a decade (Don 2 was his last). Add to this the fact that the super talented Zoya Akhtari And Reema Kagti It is written. I would like to see this film on the first day of its first show in the theatres.”
Another trade expert, Amod Mehra, welcomes the film and says that it is probably the lockdown that did the trick. “Lockdown has taught everyone to depend on each other. Whatever the so called differences were, there is no time for animosity. I can feel the positive vibes in the industry as I am going out recently and everyone wants to grow up. To get back in the thick of things on a scale. Most ego battles are a thing of the past.”
‘Jee Le Zara’ may be 2 years away from hitting theatres, but Gaiety-Galaxy-Maratha Temple owner Manoj Desai also appreciates it and says, “I am just waiting for the theaters to open.’ Movies like ‘Le Zara’ are the most welcome and will act as a big incentive for businessmen like us who have lost a lot of money in the COVID phase.”
Leading financier Narendra Hirawat, who has worked in films like ‘Tubelight’, appreciated Farhan and Riteish’s announcement saying, “Farhan will be able to handle the equations of Alia, Katrina and Priyanka under one roof. Also, This is a healthy thing to hear. The industry which has been pushed on the back foot since last year and still shows no big signs of recovery. Sometimes just dream casting happens (sometimes things fall and You get the same actors you thought of) and this is definitely one such example.”
light! Camera! Work! Time to rejoice! Farhan, there couldn’t have been a better day to announce this film. ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ was released on this day 20 years ago. You actually had ‘Afternoon, Dispatch and Courier’ on your lap while going to see it. Film critic then and now producer Tanuj Garg gave it 5 stars. I thought he was deluded. But I was wrong.
.