One Hit, All Else Miss?

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May 17, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): It all started with Helen grooving to the catchy song ‘Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu…’ and after that there was no end to it. Helen sure did make a niche for herself in the fickle Bollywood industry, but what about the rest? Every year there are foreign imports, who make it huge with one film, and vanish into thin air. So just what goes wrong?! Where do they disappear, when they hit the jackpot?

In 2001, Rachel Shelley made her Bollywood debut with Ashutosh Gowarikar’s critically acclaimed movie, Lagaan, opposite perfectionist Aamir Khan, and then there was Antonia Bernath in Subhash Ghai’s Kisna: The warrior poet, Ali Larter in Marigold, Annabelle Wallace in Dil Jo Bhi kahey, also starring Amitabh Bachchan. All have come and gone like the wind. Even Imitiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal had the Brazilian beauty Gisele Monteiro who initially was mistaken for an Indian. She came in with a big bang, walking ramps for major designers etc. Where is she now?!

So will this be the fate of “the talk of the town” Barbara Mori?

She has already been approached for quite a few movies after Kites, and is already considering one. Will Kites make or break her Bollywood dreams? We can only say that after the much awaited movie releases on 21st May.

These imports come with huge dreams in their eyes, but the industry is pretty much dominated by the blue chip brigade, not to mention the tough competition. Its just like the condition Indian actors face in Hollywood; they are just caste to fill the stereotypical slot. Though, we do have a few like Anil Kapoor and Frieda Pinto, who are enjoying hit innings in H-wood.

One thing is for sure, we love to watch them do the “Jhatkaas –Matkaas” in a Masala movie! It adds the much needed flavour to our otherwise monotonous Films, but what’s the point if we refuse to warm up to our western counterparts?

- Sampurn Wire