Heroine

Heroine-an overdramatic, lengthy and dull script from Bhandarkar

After a remarkable run of movies from Chandani Bar, Page 3, Corporate to Fashion Madhur Bhandarkar comes yet again with his standard format of a female protagonist - “Heroine”. In this film he focuses on the film industry, in which he portrays how the heroine’s shelf life is shorter than their male co-stars who dominate the showbiz world.

The movie is based on the life and times of a heroine who has to constantly struggle to be a superstar in Bollywood. The movie is glamorous, scandalous and audacious but has a repetitive story which reflects what really goes on behind closed doors of makeup rooms and vanity vans. Where our country audience are fans of films and stars it gives a chance to see the real practical glamour world behind pretty faces, sweet smiles and politically correct statements.

Heroine is not very innovative but is more about the stunning wardrobe and edgy make up Kareena wears in the movie. Kareena stars as Mahi Arora, a superstar who is truly in love with a married actor (Arjun Rampal) and has a bipolar disorder. However, with his rejection she pops pills, takes psychiatric treatment, is addicted to alcohol but tries her best to recover her miserable state.

She then tries to retrieve her lost fame, by hiring a ruthless smarter than average PR agent (Divya Dutta) who helps her out of her shambled life. A new romance develops between her and the cocky cricketer (Randeep Hooda). However, she tries to regain her stardom with a role with the top actor but fails to in the disgraceful attitudes of co-stars. She learns the ropes of real acting from a Bengali filmmaker and actress but to no avail.

Helen, who is an old superstar, gives us the moral of the story: that selling your soul for the glitter of glamour will always end badly. Kareena gives her best to give Mahi profundity. She looks marvellous and yet is bold enough to risk being ugly literally and figuratively. After a certain point the movie seems lengthy with the constant scandals, jibes, conflicts, sleaze, alcohol and drugs.

At some point during the film, Mahi asks the mirror a life-asserting question, “Kya main achchi actress hoon?” Though the mirror won’t respond but as lifeless objects don’t speak, silence speaks louder than words. 

Bhandarkar’s storytelling desperately needs more creativity and reinventing as he loses grip on the script.