Hindi

An almost perfect concoction

Published

14 years ago

July 13, 2012

MUMBAI: Take a base of Archie, Betty and Veronica in their innocent (not so innocent here) early days, mix it with age-old 1960s films where the hero eventually falls for the girl embodying the Indian values and add a twist in the form of the other girl falling for him too. That is why this film, with London as its background, is called Cocktail; it is a combination of emotions, but a well-mixed and mostly enjoyable one.

Producers: Dinesh Vijan, Saif Ali Khan, Sunil Lulla.
Director: Homi Adajania.
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Diana Penty, Boman Irani, Dimple Kapadia, Randeep Hooda.

This Archie Andrews, Saif Ali Khan, meets Veronica, Deepika Padukone (which is her character’s name too). She is fun-loving and rich; her idea of fun loving being to accommodate any guy who will be ‘nice’ to her for a ‘few days, a week or a month’, according to her own definition.

Meanwhile, Diana Penty has been done in by one of those dowry-seeking NRIs, Randeep Hooda. He came to Delhi to marry her for money, went back to vilayat and forgot all about her. She landed up to spring a surprise on him but he was not the kind who wanted her to pile on to him. His justification is that it was a fair deal: he needed money and Diana Penty, an orphan under the guardianship of her aunt, wanted to be in UK.

Stranded in a foreign land with nowhere to go and no contacts, Penty is spotted by Deepika Padukone, a couldn’t-care-less type whose parents have been too occupied with their own lives to remember her existence. This Veronica has a humane angle too; she may look full of life but thanks to the emptiness within, seeks the opportunity for a companion. She picks up the damsel in distress, takes her home and they forge a bond of friendship. Both complement each other as Penty turns Deepika’s house into home and Deepika, in turn, teaches her how to dress trendily and to enjoy life. That is when Saif Ali Khan enters their lives.

Saif Ali Khan is a compulsive flirt and anything in a skirt is good enough for him to flirt with. He tried his lines on Penty at the airport as soon as she landed in London but failed to get anywhere. So Deepika decides to pay him back in his own coin when they spot him with his associates at a restaurant; she gatecrashes their party and uses the same cheesy lines he used on Penty, claiming to be his pregnant wife. The incident adds a third angle to Deepika-Penty equation as Saif charms Deepika enough to move in with the duo and into Deepika’s bedroom. Both are convinced that it is a temporary affair like earlier ones. But Penty is uneasy because she can’t stand Saif and is not used to the idea of temporary live-in relationships.

As Deepika initiates simple Penty into London life, the three of them pack in all the fun they can together. This is the fun part of Cocktail. Boman Irani adds his bit every time he is on screen, playing Saif’s mama who has made tall claims about Deepika to Saif’s mother, Dimple Kapadia. She is keen to marry off Saif to a nice, demure girl. Boman has told Dimple that Deepika is all that she wants for Saif’s wife. But Dimple drops in to London to meet Saif’s choice at the most inopportune time: Saif is dressed by Deepika in a see-through dress, lipstick and the rest. He is dancing as Penty is shooting a video when Dimple enters the scene.

It is time to introduce his choice of wife to Dimple and instinctively, Saif introduces Penty as the girl. Deepika, in her tail shirt and panties, is not really dressed for the occasion. But now the fun and games are over as the story turns into one of love triangles hereafter. She was always around but Saif really notices Penty now and love happens. After all, with Deepika it was meant to be only an arrangement sans romance. Things become mushy as Saif now loves Penty, Deepika realises she actually loves Saif and it is melodrama time.

Cocktail, a joyride in the first part, becomes dull after the interval. The scenes look stretched and almost sink the film when, towards the end, it makes up with a plausible and justifying finish. Love triumphs and friendship survives. What works for Cocktail is its no-holds-barred youth appeal. It is not pretentious in projecting love and relationships as they are defined now. The casting is intelligent as is choosing London as the backdrop. Music, which plays a huge part in any romantic film working, plays its part here. The songs are appealing and well choreographed; Yaariyan….,Daru desi … are among the better ones while Tumi ho bandhu promises to be popular on caller tunes circuit. Dialogue is funny where needed.

Performances are generally good since all the actors play what they are good at and are close to their real selves. However, Deepika tops the list with an impressive act throughout; Cocktail is her film all the way. Diana Penty adds freshness and is comfortable in her role. Saif Ali Khan has done such roles before and mastered them by now, so he breezes through. Boman Irani is very good and so is Dimple Kapadia in a brief role. Director Homi Adajania generally handles this love triangle well, only losing grip for a while in the second half, but otherwise blending its ingredients ably.

Cocktail is aimed at the multiplexes-going youth and will be lapped up by them. The film’s opening response is heartening at multiplexes.

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Hindi

Boney Kapoor acquires remake rights of Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil

Strong word-of-mouth turns Pongal satire into remake pick

Published

3 days ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: A Pongal release, a village satire and a theatre visit in Coimbatore have turned into Boney Kapoor’s latest acquisition. The producer has secured the remake rights to the Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil (TTT), a film that has been enjoying a strong theatrical run powered by word-of-mouth and praise for its sharp, rooted writing.

Set in a rural milieu, the story follows a panchayat leader thrown into disarray when a wedding and a funeral land on the same day. What unfolds is a swirl of satire and humour that skewers local politics, power games, bruised egos and family tensions, all anchored in the textures of everyday village life.

Kapoor first encountered the film earlier this year while in Coimbatore for the Celebrity Cricket League. With time to spare, he caught a screening at a local theatre. That viewing proved decisive. According to sources, the narrative style, performances and the film’s balance of political commentary and comedy caught his attention.

Interest quickly turned into intent. Kapoor reached out to the producers soon after to explore a remake. Talks gathered pace over the following weeks and came to a head last Friday at the film’s success party in Chennai, where Kapoor joined the celebrations and continued negotiations with the makers.

By the end of the evening, the deal was sealed, with Kapoor formally acquiring the remake rights.

For an industry constantly mining regional cinema for the next crossover story, the move is telling. A small-town satire with local flavour has found a national backer. And if Kapoor’s instincts hold, a tale born in one village may soon echo far beyond it.

Hindi

Fans take centre stage as Zee Cine awards turns the spotlight around

Published

4 days ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: When the applause gets louder than the dialogue, you know the fans have taken over. That was the unmistakable mood as Zee formally announced the Zee Cine Awards 2026, flipping the script to celebrate not just cinema’s stars, but the people who cheer them on the loudest.

The 24th edition of the awards marks a fresh chapter in Zee’s long-standing relationship with Hindi cinema, anchored in its fan-first philosophy, Fantertainment. This year’s theme, ‘Yeh Pal Hai Fans Ka’, reinforces a simple idea: cinema’s most powerful moments are shaped as much by audiences as by actors on screen. Presented by Maruti Suzuki, the awards aim to turn fandom into the main event.

The announcement, held in Mumbai, was anything but a routine press conference. Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Aparshakti Khurana, composer Mithoon and singer Palak Muchhal joined fans to kick off the celebrations, turning the launch into a high-voltage, participative spectacle.

Staying true to the theme, fans didn’t just watch the announcement, they drove it. Akshay Kumar took the lead, pulling fellow stars on stage and energising the room, before the unveiling of a live LED Fan Meter. Powered purely by audience cheers, the rising meter culminated in the reveal of the Zee Cine Awards 2026 ground event date, announced in unison with fans, blurring the line between performer and spectator.

The momentum continued as Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa and Aparshakti Khurana recreated iconic hook steps, joined by Mithoon and Palak Muchhal for music-led interactions. Games, spontaneous performances and playful banter kept the focus firmly on shared moments, underscoring the evolving bond between cinema and its audience.

Beyond the launch, the awards will roll out as a multi-platform journey across television, digital, print and fan-led experiences. The aim is sustained engagement from the first announcement to awards night cementing fandom as a cultural force rather than a footnote.

Commenting on the milestone edition Zee head of advertisement revenue, broadcast & digital Laxmi Shetty said the 24th Zee Cine Awards continue to draw strength from the network’s omni-channel ecosystem, reflecting how audiences consume content today across TV, digital and social platforms. She noted that long-standing brand associations, including Maruti Suzuki’s three-year partnership and support from brands such as Hell Energy, underline the platform’s scale, trust and cultural relevance.

As Zee Cine Awards 2026 gathers pace, one thing is clear: this year, the loudest cheers won’t just echo in the auditorium, they’ll shape the show itself.

Hindi

Prime Video to stream Don’t Be Shy, produced by Alia Bhatt

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Prime Video has found its next feel-good original, and it comes with a healthy dose of heart, humour and youthful chaos. The streaming platform has announced Don’t Be Shy, a coming-of-age romantic comedy produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt under their banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions.

Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film follows Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old who believes her life is neatly mapped out until it suddenly is not. What follows is a relatable tumble through friendship, love and the awkward art of growing up, when plans unravel and certainty gives way to self-discovery.

The project is co-produced by Grishma Shah and Vikesh Bhutani, with music composed by Ram Sampath, adding to the film’s promise of warmth and energy. Prime Video describes the story as light-hearted yet emotionally grounded, with a strong female-led narrative at its core.

Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the platform was delighted to collaborate with Eternal Sunshine on a story that blends sincerity with humour. He noted that the film’s fresh writing, earnest characters and infectious music make it an easy, engaging watch for audiences well beyond its young adult setting.

For Alia Bhatt, Don’t Be Shy reflects the kind of storytelling Eternal Sunshine set out to champion. She said the film stood out for its honesty, its coming-of-age perspective and Mukerji’s passion, which she felt was deeply woven into the narrative. Bhatt also praised Prime Video for supporting distinctive voices and bold creative choices.

With its breezy tone and familiar emotional beats, Don’t Be Shy aims to charm viewers whether they are rom-com regulars or simply in the mood for a warm, unpretentious story about life refusing to stick to the plan.