1. Abu Dhabi landmarks
Earlier this year, the lead stars of Bang Bang, Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan, flew into the capital for a week and filmed on closed sets at several locations. One of these was Hyatt Capital Gate hotel, where The National managed to get photos of another main cast member – Jimmy Shergill. Sections of the Corniche were closed during that weekend to allow the crew and Roshan's stunt stand-in to film high-speed chases in an F1 car. They also filmed extensively at the still-unopened Hudariyat Bridge in Al Bateen, where Akshay Kumar last week shot a few action sequences for his forthcoming thriller Baby (due out next year). Sadly the Bang Bang premiere is being held in Mumbai, and not in Abu Dhabi as was widely expected.
2. Kat and Duggu
Kaif (also known as Kat) and Roshan, whose nickname is Duggu, have amazing chemistry, as seen in 2011's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. For an idea of how good they look together, check out the video promo and posters for Bang Bang. The two stars obviously enjoy an easy rapport and apparently are good friends off screen, too.
3. It’s a Hollywood remake
Bang Bang will be worth watching if only to compare it with the Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz action comedy Knight and Day (2010) that "inspired" it. While the storyline has probably been unashamedly lifted straight out of the Hollywood film, the desi version will definitely be louder, brasher and full of song-and-dance sequences – with a few sizzling numbers thrown in to rake in the crowds. All that music may make for a staccato viewing experience, but that's the way we like it.
4. The soundtrack
As is the tradition with Bollywood films, the music was released several weeks ago. The audience reaction to the soundtrack usually makes or breaks the film. But the producers of Bang Bang needn't worry. The musician duo Vishal and Shekhar have come up with a winner and the title track – a boisterous, disco-style dance number with the words "Bang Bang" yelled out a zillion times for good measure – has made it to the music charts in India and stayed there. It also figures at least once a day on Radio Mirchi's playlists in the UAE.
5. A Siddharth Anand film
Siddharth Anand usually thrives on dishing out lovey-dovey, feel-good fare – think Salaam Namaste, 2005's biggest hit with Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra leading an all-star cast, and Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), starring Ranbir Kapoor. Trivia alert: Siddharth is the son of Bittu Anand, who produced the 1988 hit Shahenshah, in which Amitabh Bachchan played a vigilante citizen who wore a suit of armour and deflected bullets (and other stuff) by a mere flick of his iron-covered arm.
ciyer@thenational.ae