• 2. Daisy Shah. She was a chorus-line dancer before Khan spotted her, decided she had what it takes, and cast her as the lead actress in the film. According to Khan, the 28-year-old is not star-struck and couldn’t care less about showbiz or Bollywood. Khan is not called “Bollywood’s Launch Pad” for nothing – he has a history of introducing new faces in his films. Most famous is Katrina Kaif (Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya?, 2005), more or less the current reigning queen. Then there’s Sonakshi Sinha (Dabangg, 2010), who has gone on to act with everyone from Akshay Kumar to Ranveer Singh. And Zarine Khan, who starred opposite him in a period drama and has melted into obscurity. (Does anyone remember the name of that film? Anyone?) Courtesy Eros International
    2. Daisy Shah. She was a chorus-line dancer before Khan spotted her, decided she had what it takes, and cast her as the lead actress in the film. According to Khan, the 28-year-old is not star-struck and couldn’t care less about showbiz or Bollywood. Khan is not called “Bollywood’s Launch Pad” for nothing – he has a history of introducing new faces in his films. Most famous is Katrina Kaif (Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya?, 2005), more or less the current reigning queen. Then there’s Sonakshi Sinha (Dabangg, 2010), who has gone on to act with everyone from Akshay Kumar to Ranveer Singh. And Zarine Khan, who starred opposite him in a period drama and has melted into obscurity. (Does anyone remember the name of that film? Anyone?) Courtesy Eros International
  • 3. Danny Denzongpa. Bollywood’s go-to villain of the 1970s and 1980s, he might very well be one of the bad guys in Jai Ho. There are several other well-known names in the credits, including Tabu, Sunil Shetty and Genelia D’Souza, but there’s something about Danny. Now 66, the thespian was last seen in Boss (2013) and does a couple of films every year. Too few, we think, especially for an actor of his calibre. And handsomeness. Which brings up an important question: why didn’t anyone ever think to cast him as a hero? Courtesy Eros International
    3. Danny Denzongpa. Bollywood’s go-to villain of the 1970s and 1980s, he might very well be one of the bad guys in Jai Ho. There are several other well-known names in the credits, including Tabu, Sunil Shetty and Genelia D’Souza, but there’s something about Danny. Now 66, the thespian was last seen in Boss (2013) and does a couple of films every year. Too few, we think, especially for an actor of his calibre. And handsomeness. Which brings up an important question: why didn’t anyone ever think to cast him as a hero? Courtesy Eros International
  • 4. The censor’s certificate. A Salman Khan movie? Parental Guidance? No way, we say, but the censors were adamant. Apparently, some of the dialogue Khan’s character spews – he’s a “common man” fighting dishonest politicians – were thought to be a bit inflammatory. The film might be a sign of the times, with India’s political scene now being dominated by the new Aam Aadmi Party (common man’s party), spearheaded by New Delhi’s chief minister, the indefatigable, public transport-using Arvind Kejriwal, who has vowed to root out corruption and sort things out. AFP
    4. The censor’s certificate. A Salman Khan movie? Parental Guidance? No way, we say, but the censors were adamant. Apparently, some of the dialogue Khan’s character spews – he’s a “common man” fighting dishonest politicians – were thought to be a bit inflammatory. The film might be a sign of the times, with India’s political scene now being dominated by the new Aam Aadmi Party (common man’s party), spearheaded by New Delhi’s chief minister, the indefatigable, public transport-using Arvind Kejriwal, who has vowed to root out corruption and sort things out. AFP
  • 5. Salman Khan. Sallu fighting, singing, crying, laughing and dancing. And ripping off his shirt in every other scene. Isn’t that why we go to watch his films? Courtesy Eros International
    5. Salman Khan. Sallu fighting, singing, crying, laughing and dancing. And ripping off his shirt in every other scene. Isn’t that why we go to watch his films? Courtesy Eros International

The National

In pictures: the five reasons you need to see Jai Ho

Christine Iyer

January 22, 2014

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