Kareena's powerful performance in naked look at Bollywood shennigans

Film: "Heroine"; Starring: Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Randeep Hooda, Shahana Goswami, Ranveer Shorey, Govind Namdeo; Directed by: Madhur Bhandarkar; Rating: ****

Somewhere deep within the corroding flamboyance of filmdom, there is a tale of heartbreaking compromises and immorality tucked away from the naked, tearless eye. Madhur Bhandarkar nearly gets to the nerve centre of that world, and then pulls back just before he's really gotten there.

"Heroine" is an intriguingly unfinished film - partly in the rapidfire mood of a game show and partly like an elegiac melody played gently on an antique piano with immaculate fingers. It lacks a centre, sometimes even a focus as it tries to cram in too many incidents, episodes, scandals, controversies and plain absurdities that are an integral part of Bollywood, so much so that the first hour or so gets suffocatingly airtight.

And then you realize towards the end, that the world of the superstar Mahi Khanna traps the star, makes her a puppet of success, traps her in a web of deceit and finally throws her into a whirlwind of vaporous deceptions.

The closing moments have that gut-wrenching element which made Bhandarkar's "Chandni Bar", "Page 3" and "Fashion" among the more sensitive dramas in recent times.

We see Mahi, shattered forlorn and bereft, trapped in a car surrounded by merciless television journalists. As the haunting background score by Salim-Sulaiman builds up to a shattering crescendo, Mahi's hands fold together in a plea of mercy. In moments our hearts bleed for Mahi.

God help those who are cursed with stardom. They first have to struggle to get there. And then they must continue to fight to cling to their place. And then, as Govind Namdeo playing Mahi's quietly faithful secretary tells her: "An actress' life-span is by its very nature limited".  More

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Kareena ready to tie the knot!

It's been a while, but Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan seem to be going strong. Kareena seems to have marriage on the brain. “I do not have marriage plans right now but yes, like other girls, I also want to get married. I will soon be a bride but before that, I will let everyone know about it. I do not have any traditional jewellery with me to wear at my wedding. My mom has given some of it to Karisma, but not to me because she feels I am not responsible! She sees me too busy with my work and feels that I cannot handle it well, but I wish to get it soon,” says Kareena.

She describes the rivalry between the sisters. “Since childhood Karisma and I have treasured small pieces of jewellery for our weddings. My dream is to wear a big diamond necklace on my wedding with a red and green outfit. It will be a big day for me,” she says excitedly.

Kareena also wishes she received more gifts. “I do not receive many gifts. I would love to have a big diamond necklace as a gift on my wedding,” she says, and already has a mental map of wedding plans. She says, “I would like to keep my wedding simple. I love the food and drink at the wedding; that day I will forget all about size zero and enjoy every bit of it!”

She shares a secret about Indian brides. “Indian brides want to be seen as more beautiful and attractive than any other guest at the party. The bride always pays more attention to what she wears and what others wear, rather than the groom -- the groom becomes her second option that day! She begins to compete with the other girls,” smiles Kareena. Well, she's obviously given this much thought. Hope everyone on her guest list is picking out presents!.

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