‘Crook’ about racial attacks on Indians in Australia (IANS Preview)

NEW DELHI - After making horror film “Raaz - The Mystery Continues”, director Mohit Suri returns with “Crook: It’s Good To Be Bad”. Releasing Friday, the film deals with the sensitive issue of racial attacks on Indians in Australia.

Produced by Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt under their banner Vishesh Films, the film stars Emraan Hashmi as Jai, a middle class Indian guy who goes to Australia in search of a better life. His character has grey shades and at times he uses unfair means to achieve his goals.

“I play a character who is aggressive but at the same time he is endearing and funny. He believes in this weird motto that it’s good to be bad because he feels that good guys finish last,” Emraan said of his character.

Known for introducing fresh faces in Bollywood, the producers — for this film too — have roped in new girl Neha Sharma who plays Suhani, a girl born and brought up in Australia. The film also stars Arjan Bajwa of “Fashion” fame and Gulshan Grover.

“Crook” revolves around Jai who has a knack for getting into trouble. His father was a gangster who wanted to reform. On assurance from his friend, a police inspector, Jai’s father agrees to rat on his evil bosses. Inspector Joseph (Gulshan Grover) fails to save his friend. After his friend’s death, Joseph adopts Jai and tries to make him a good man. But despite repeated attempts, he fails. Finally, Joseph arranges an alternate identity for him as Suraj Bhardwaj and sends him to Australia.

In Oz, Jai meets Suhani. He knows if he could make Suhani fall in love with him, he could eventually attain permanent residency by marrying her. But her brother Samarth (Arjan) is too much of an obstacle.

However, trouble starts when Jai witnesses the cold-blooded racial assault on Samarth. Going to the police would mean an investigation on Jai’s credentials. Jai finds himself at a crossroad.

Emraan, who has been given a tag of serial kisser, after he locked lips with his co-stars like Mallika Sherawat, Udita Goswami, Kangana Ranaut and Sonal Chauhan, will be seen kissing again on screen, but this time a foreign actress.

Mahesh Bhatt insists the film has all necessary elements - romance, comedy, action, thrills and, of course, an issue - to make it a film for the masses.

Music composer Pritam Chakraborty, who is a favourite of the Bhatt camp, brings forth another likeable soundtrack in the film. The foot-tapping, Punjabi number “Challa sung by Babbu Mann and Suzanne D’ Mello is already a rage among music lovers.