Monday, November 12, 2012

A Filmmaker's Dilemma



A fictitious dialogue between Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt (with apologies to both of them):

Opening scene: Mahesh Bhatt, sitting in his office. In front of him are two photographs, one of Sunny Leone in a bikini and another of Priya Rai in a bikini. Bhatt looks from one photograph to another, shakes his head and continues staring. Though the air conditioner is running, Bhatt's forehead is beaded with perspiration.

Enter Pooja Bhatt.

Pooja Bhatt: Hi daddy.
Mahesh Bhatt: Hello, beta.
PB: Why is it to cold in here, daddy? And why are you sweating like this? Your shirt is drenched.
MB: I have a major decision to take and I don't know what to do.
PB: What happened, daddy? Tell me.
MB: Well, you know that girl, Sunny...
PB: Yes, yes, I know her pretty well. She acted in our movie Jism 2, she's an adult star and you gave her a chance to get out of adult movies and into something more respectable--mainstream Bollywood.
MB: Yes, you remember how I had gone into the Bigg Boss house and promised to make her the leading lady of my movie and I kept my word.
PB: Yes, daddy, I remember. What about it?
MB: What do you think of this girl? (He holds up the photograph of Priya Rai and shows it to Pooja.)
PB: Whoa... she's got... are those real?
MB (looking quite puzzled): What? Is there something wrong with her?
PB (still staring at the photograph): Are her breasts real? She's got a huge pair!
MB: Now, how would I know that? Maybe they are, maybe they aren't.
PB: Ok. So what about her?
MB: Her name is Priya Rai, she also goes by Priya Anjali Rai. She's another Indian adult star in the US. She's coming to the Bigg Boss house soon.
PB: Oh... so?
MB: I am wondering, should I give her a role in a Bollywood movie?
PB: What are you getting at, daddy?
MB: You know how I gave Sunny a break? I am thinking I should give Priya also a break if she comes to the Bigg Boss house.
PB: And why would you want to do that? Haven't you had enough fun staring at Sunny's boobs?
MB: How do you know I was staring?
PB: Daddy, I've worked with you and I've seen you working with her. So, don't give me all of that. All you men are alike.
MB: No, we aren't. Randeep got to hold her, I didn't. He even got to touch her body while she was wearing a bikini.
PB: Oh please, daddy. Don't be so childish. Start acting your age. What are you going to say next, "Jao main nahi khelta?"
MB: Oh, I won't do that. I won't give up a chance to play with Priya.
PB: Uff, daddy, get a grip on yourself.
MB: Anyway, I am seriously thinking of casting Priya in my next movie.
PB: And what is the movie going to be about?
MB: I don't know. I'll figure out something.
PB: Come up with something that will sell and give you some good reviews and coax people to go see the movie.
MB: How does it matter. It's Priya Rai. Once people see her on Bigg Boss, they will come to the theatre to see her assets, which I shall make sure are put on display nicely. Not fully, but nicely. I will have to make something that those idiots at the useless censor board of ours will pass.
PB: Daddy, I think you are taking on more than you can handle.
MB: Oh, don't be silly. I can handle more than one girl at a time. See how I managed you and Alia?
PB: Daddy, don't be ridiculous. We are your daughters. Those two are porn stars.
MB: Trust your old man, child. I can handle more than it seems. I haven't lost the hair from the top of my head just like that.
PB: Yeah, I know. While you are at it, why don't you cast the two of them together? More assets to display and earn from.
MB: Fantastic idea. You truly are my daughter.
PB: You had doubts? Are you suspecting my mother of being untrue to you?
MB: No, no, I was just saying, baba. You take things too seriously.
PB: Well, of course, I have to. God knows what you might end up doing next. Who are you going to cast opposite Priya? Randeep again?
MB: Umm... no... I was thinking... I'll cast myself.
PB: Daddy, you've lost it. You can direct, but not act. You can't act. You don't have a single bone in your body that can act. Heck, you can't even act as if you are sick, talk about acting in a movie.
MB: Well, it was just an idea.
PB: Very bad idea.
MB: Ok, ok. You decide then.
PB: Ok. What are you going to call the movie?
MB: I have a fantastic name for her movie. One that will rock. It's out of this world, really.
PB: What is it? Surely, not Jism 3?
MB: Not at all. That's too mundane and I think Sunny owns that now. She bought the name out recently and I think her Sunlust productions is planning a series of movies based on name and the story.
PB: Really? How much did you sell the name for?
MB: Wel...
PB: What?
MB: I gave it to her free considering she was apt for the title... "Jism".
PB: At this rate you are going to drive us bankrupt.
MB: No, that was just a one-off.
PB: Ok. So what name have you thought for Priya's movie?
MB: Shareer.

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