Eklavya: have dysfunctional families ever been this gorgeous?

[dangermousie]

I rarely get excited about Hollywood movies any more. Bollywood ones though? Oh yeah, baby. I really need to make a post about all the Bolly movies I am excited about in 2007 because there are a LOT. But this post is not about that.

This post? Total eye candy. I bring you stills from my newest obsession, a Rajastani Shakesperean tale about family betrayal, love and murder. A.k.a. Eklavya.

No spoilers, unless you consider the fact that Saif Ali Khan is smoking hot a spoiler of some sort.

Saif Ali Khan as Prince Harsh. Just the way dangermousie likes 'em: intense, tortured, and hot. Side note: I was very amused to see Saif play a royal. Do you think he went Method? :D Let's hope his real family is a lot less dysfunctional. Seriously, the fact that the guy is a RL prince shall never cease to amuse me.





Larger version of the above:



Harsh looking angsty and amazing:



Harsh enjoying a brief moment of happiness with his mentally handicapped twin sister Nandini (Rimi Sen) and his OTP Rajjo, the chauffeur's daughter (Vidya Balan):



Rajjo and Nandini with kites:



Rajjo, luminous because of Harsh's return:



The aging Royal bodyguard Eklavya (Amitabh Bachchan) demonstrating his impressive knife-throwing skills:



The unstable King (Boman Irani) with his hungry younger brother (Jackie Shroff):



Eklavya in the desert:



Uday (Jimmy Shergill), the King's scheming, violent nephew:



Sanjau Dutt as an irreverent police officer, with a chip on his shoulder because of his family's former untouchable status:



The estranged Harsh returns home for his mother's funeral:



Eklavya in the elaborate, utterly enclosed palace:



The screwed up family at the table:



Amitabh as Eklavya, getting some guidance:



More directing:



Harsh falling apart:



Slightly larger version:



*stare, gulp* I am sick. The man is lighting his Mother's funeral pyre, but I can't help it...



I posted this one before, but I don't care. Harsh and Rajjo. How much do I love it that she is cradling him and he is looking up at her (that scene is actually one of my faves in the movie). Saif/Vidya FTW!



And a different version:



More Harsh:

Comments

[fivil.livejournal.com]

Dude, I love the fact he's a prince. If only because then I can tell the non-Bolly fans that one of my favourite Indian actors (who am I kidding? my *favourite* Indian actor) is a prince and they can be all "OMG seriously?!" at me. :D! When you top that off with "His mother is an actress and his dad was a cricket player", people will be superboggled.

Here's another delicious Saif-in-Eklavya shot if you want to add it as well: http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/1363/eklavyasite3lg4nt1.png

I have a feeling I'll like Sanju in this for some reason.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I just added a couple of shots after you replied (all Saif), and that one was among them.

It's interesting to me, because Saif is undoubtedly a very good-looking man, but he is not good-looking in a Hrithik 'I just want to stop and stare at you' way. So much of it comes from his charisma and his intense or charming demeanor on screen. A lot of it is the way he comes across as opposed to the way he looks (e.g. he could totally get uglified believably for Langda. I can't see anyone ever uglifying Hrithik for something like this. Not without a full body mask. I think being that beautiful is a mixed blessing actually. Anyway, sidetrack).

Saif is definitely one of my faves. Not as much as SRK, but he is definitely usually in the second place or so. And I have to say, as movies, I am usually more excited by his choices than I am by SRK's. He seems to do both fluffy, utterly commercial, probably-not-too-good stuff like Tara Rum Pum promises to be (who am I kidding, I'll totally watch) and arthouse movies and be equally good in both. Most Bolly actors are typecast and he is one of the few who isn't. I mean, I can buy him as Langda, and Harsh, and Karan, and Shekhar, and (blanking for a second on the name) the charming featherbrain of DCH. That's kinda awesome.

If only because then I can tell the non-Bolly fans that one of my favourite Indian actors (who am I kidding? my *favourite* Indian actor) is a prince and they can be all "OMG seriously?!" at me. :D! When you top that off with "His mother is an actress and his dad was a cricket player", people will be superboggled.

It's one of those things, that if it wasn't true and you made it up, people would say is entirely too far-fetched. It's like something out of a really bad romance novel (actually worse, fanfic :D) or a really really cheesy silent movie. It's just...boggling. And feels me with glee :D

[fivil.livejournal.com]

So much of it comes from his charisma and his intense or charming demeanor on screen.
Definitely. Though even the Omkara uglification fails in my eyes occasionally when I had to go "Okay, the character is disgusting but hot!Saif is still beneath there, omg." And since I've seen, hmm, like 8 or 7 of his older films, I gotta say, I have a soft spot for the dork he was back then, but mostly I just sit there going, "Holy crap, you look AND act like an idiot in this movie."

His film choices from 04 to today have been mostly excellent, yeah. I'm not sure about his future ones and I worry but eh, I'll see them they come out. Even TRP though I probably won't enjoy it much.

Most Bolly actors are typecast and he is one of the few who isn't.
I would say he plays a certain *type* of characters (young, very urban, rich asshole type characters) with the exception of Langda and maybe Cyrus, so he has his type but I think the great thing about it is that it's not always the same. You can look at characters like Shekhar and Karan from Hum Tum and Rohit from KHNH and see the similarities and they're there but in the end the characters and the way he plays them (and also the way they're scripted) couldn't be more different. Like, the characters are similar but never the same.

Hahaha, yes, it's quite a weird life story overall, to be honest, that background and then years of failure in the industry and then finally success and being hailed as one of the industry's best.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Nah, I found him repulsive throughout Omkara. Mesmerizing as hell, but repulsive (even the *ahem* sex scene).

mostly I just sit there going, "Holy crap, you look AND act like an idiot in this movie."

LOL. I know you don't care for it, but I rather like Hamesha, cheesy outfits/plot/hair and all. I just do :D

then years of failure in the industry

I can't see anyone other than SRK as Raj in DDLJ but it would have been interesting what would have happened if Saif ended up playing him, the way he almost did. I wonder if he would have hit it big earlier.

Oh well. I've liked all his movies since DCH except for Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (and he was the only thing I liked in that movie). I actually like his upcoming movies from what little I can tell of them. TRP sounds fluffy and silly and I don't mind because hey, S/N wasn't bad (if no masterpiece. Though I am biased by the hot HOT Saif/Preity scenes, I think) and I like Saif and Rani together, and the sheer thought of a Bolly take on NASCAR just glees me. Because? It's just TOO funny.

I would say he plays a certain *type* of characters (young, very urban, rich asshole type characters)

I guess, but I think what I was trying to say is someone like Shekhar is very different like someone like Karan from EHT *rats, shudder* Harsh is actually another not 'young, very urban rich asshole type.' Don't know what he is though...

My asshole meter must be broken though, because other than his negative roles (Karan, Langda, etc), the only ones of his I found assholish was his character in Kya Kehna and Nick in S/N. He is actually rather a sweetheart IMO in the rest of them (I'd so take Rohit over Aman in KHNH in a heartbeat. And as a SRK fangirl, that's saying a lot).

I am so amused, because he was the first Bolly actor I thought was hot. DCH was one of my earliest Bolly movies (my third one, I think, and the one that got me interested) and I had no clue who any of the actors were, but I remember at the beginning being annoyed that the story seemed to be Akash-centric when I wanted to watch more of the hot scruffy guy whose name I didn't know, and couldn't he play Akash, because he was the hottie (needless to say, I am an Aamir groupie now, and became one by the end of that movie, but that was then :D)

[fivil.livejournal.com]

The serpent scene really got me in Omkara. Yeah, he was gross. But I'd still do him. Canonically good in bed, goddammit.

but I rather like Hamesha, cheesy outfits/plot/hair and all. I just do :D
Dude, you're a bizarre but lucky case. Hamesha is one of the worst Hindi films I've ever seen. Saif's voice in it *kills* me, it's so nasal I just want him to shut up. He plays guitar in it but even that can't redeem the movie in my eyes, sadly.

Haha, I find the Saif-in-DDLJ/Saif-in-KKHH (in Salman's role) rumors so odd. Because as someone who's seen his earlier works, okay, he had comic timing down in MKTA and Yeh Dillagi but holy crap, he was *not* good. Why did Adi and Karan want him in their movies? It boggles the mind!

Well, the asshole thing's a total generalization. Shekhar's an asshole (but I love him), Karan in HT is kind of an asshole until he grows up, DCH and KHNH are exceptions of course, Love Ke Liye he's an asshole, then the negative/semi-negative, plus his earlier roles he pretty often played this sort of young Casanova type (read: manslut). KK and SN were definitely the biggest asshole roles, though, you're right. Both roles made me want to stab him in the face at times.

Bwahaha. That's cute! I don't remember when I went from "Haha! I like this guy!" to "OMG, I want him in my bed, pronto!" but I'm pretty sure it was Parineeta or something. Hum Tum & KNHN were love but with Parineeta it was just... Well, I think you know what I mean.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

still do him. Canonically good in bed, goddammit.

LOL. You have me there. Still seems a bit more rough than the usual preference. You'd probably need a long shower afterwards.

AHEM.

Dude, you're a bizarre but lucky case. Hamesha is one of the worst Hindi films I've ever seen.

If it's a romantic melodrama, I am a very easy sell. With the exception of HSSH, it's the only of Saif's pre-2001 movies I've been able to tolerate. No grass skirts helps. So does Kajol who I'd watch in anything. (It would be great to see them paired now, btw. She and Aamir got a second chance in Fanaa, post Ishq, would be fun to see this with Saif).

I went to a lot of trouble to get a copy of Hamesha, missy. I have to love it :)

so nasal I just want him to shut up

LOL. I generally prefer his serious voice to his 'funny' voice. It just goes all deeper and makes my knees turn to jelly (same is true with Salman who has an AMAZINGLY sexy serious voice but when he is being 'funny' it just goes up an octave).

He plays guitar in it but even that can't redeem the movie in my eyes, sadly.

Heeee. I went to Temptations, and he was all hot on stage with his guitar :D A man, (fake)playing a guitar can make me forgive a multitude of sins :P

but holy crap, he was *not* good. Why did Adi and Karan want him in their movies?

Maybe they saw some sort of potential? Or maybe he just worked cheap :D I mean, Farhan Akhtar cast him in DCH, and he was wonderful in it, but there wasn't any basis to assume he'd be (other than his awesome comic timing in HSSH).

Shekhar's an asshole (but I love him), Karan in HT is kind of an asshole until he grows up, DCH and KHNH are exceptions of course

It's funny, because I didn't think Shekhar was a jerk at all. He was actually rather sweet and I thought one of the streghts of parineeta was the screenplay where the misunderstanding was set up understandably. He wasn't unreasonable in assuming what he assumed and if what he thought was true, he had all the reason in the world to be pissed off. Before that, I thought he was bratty but in a charming, totally irresistable way. OK, fine, I am a fangirl, where do I sign up?

I thought Karan in HT was immature (and oh boy, I know so many guys like that) and then he grew up. My problem with S/N was that Nick didn't. Booooo. (Actually, my problem was that I thought his 'killllll the baby' thing came out of the blue, but whatever. I really need to rewatch and see how it comes across now I am expecting it).

Ke Liye he's an asshole

I really want to see it, but Nehaflix is out :( All the other rabid Saif fans bought all the copies or something :D

I don't remember when I went from "Haha! I like this guy!" to "OMG, I want him in my bed, pronto!" but I'm pretty sure it was Parineeta or something.

LOL! Yeah, I had no idea of any of the actor names, I just thought he was a hottie :D

[fivil.livejournal.com]

You'd probably need a long shower afterwards.
Yeah. It's like, there are three types of Saif characters - ones you don't want to sleep with, ones you do want to sleep with, and ones you want to sleep with, but would probably have to kill afterwards (Langda, Karan in Ek Hasina Thi). Those bastards are better off dead, but still worth sexin' up.

Ahem. That's the alcohol talking, sorry.

Hmmm, ditto on Salman's voice. Man. *rewatches SEI*

He can play guitar! He only fake-played it in Temptations? What a dud. Because the man can *seriously* play guitar. It seems I'm sharing my entire Saif link collection with you tonight, but yeah.

My problem with S/N was that Nick didn't. Booooo. (Actually, my problem was that I thought his 'killllll the baby' thing came out of the blue, but whatever.
It was probably meant to be one of those "he's a typical Western commitmentphobic male so he couldn't POSSIBLY want a baby, ever!" things. That's how I understood it, but it was still ass-y to me. He didn't even consider it, there was no "Wow, I gotta think this through!"-type of moment, it was just "Eh, kill it!". What a loser. Saif had some good comedy moments in the film but overall not something I'd rewatch. I do have the DVD for the out takes, though. They're pretty hilarious.

Try Netflix? If you do that at all... You might not like it enough to purchase it, and the DVD is kind of bad, though has a semi-cute making of where Aftaab is way funny.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

ones you don't want to sleep with, ones you do want to sleep with, and ones you want to sleep with, but would probably have to kill afterwards

ROFL. I think I'd like even my one night stand partners not evil. I might make an exception for EHT's karan though. OK. Eeee!

I don't think he fake played it in Temptations, but he had to have fake played it in the movies :D

he's a typical Western commitmentphobic male so he couldn't POSSIBLY want a baby, ever!" things. That's how I understood it, but it was still ass-y to me. He didn't even consider it, there was no "Wow, I gotta think this through!"-type of moment, it was just "Eh, kill it!".

The thing is, I wouldn't have even minded him being a shallow jerk except it so came out of nowhere. Prior to pregnancy Nick was an immature but rather sweet guy, a type of guy Ambar could fall for and we could see why. But then it's like a personality transplant happened. And then it happened back again at the end.

I wouldn't mind owning a cheap copy of it though for the sheer Saif hotness (bed scenes. Ahem) and the cute first hour and his radio confession at the end.

The Ke Liye dvd was dirt cheap at nehaflix, so I didn't mind risking. But yeah, Netflix seems like an option. Aftab is not my bag but I find him occasionally funny.

Hmmm, ditto on Salman's voice. Man. *rewatches SEI*

When it goes all low and semi-growly or whispery? *thud*

*THUD*

[fivil.livejournal.com]

might make an exception for EHT's karan though. OK. Eeee!
It's not worth going to jail for but I might take the risk. :P

His clothes and hair were odd in SN. Kissing with Preity was pretty damn nice, though. The comedy was cute but not really good in my eyes. The out takes were funnier than the actual comedy... Haha, there's this scene where Saif's character is on the phone with Arshad's and Saif just totally adlibs something about anal sex not getting you pregnant and omfg, I die. They should've let him improv the whole script, I swear.

Nehaflix sucks at stocking up on *good* Saif movies of the past. They sure make sure to have some crappy Saif-Suniel flick up from 1996 for 6 dollars but Love Ke Liye or the sort-of-cute Yash Chopra film Yeh Dillagi with him, Akshay and Kajol? ALWAYS out of stock. Pffft. And Love Ke Liye is nice. It's low budget and thus a bit rough around the edges but I like the humor in it a lot. To make up for your possible loss, jhana made some anims of it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Those anims are verrrrry nice :)

Haha, there's this scene where Saif's character is on the phone with Arshad's and Saif just totally adlibs something about anal sex not getting you pregnant and omfg, I die.

ROFL. *dies* OK, now I really must check out the DVD. I guess Nick should have followed that course and the movie would have had no plot :P

Actually, that reminds me. I really want to find that video where he and SRK hosted the Filmfares (?? I think it was Filmfare) because I remember seeing a very small bit of it before and ROFL.

They sure make sure to have some crappy Saif-Suniel flick up from 1996 for 6 dollars but Love Ke Liye or the sort-of-cute Yash Chopra film Yeh Dillagi with him, Akshay and Kajol? ALWAYS out of stock. Pffft.

It's probably because they have only thee copies of each but no one wants the Suniel movie :D Never fear, if I tracked down Hamesha, I'll track Love Ke Liye down.

I thought his hair was nice in S/N. But maybe anything that isn't mullet is nice for me. Isn't it shocking that he would *gasp* kiss in movies. LOL. Actually, he gets points for nice kissing scenes. S/N might not have been a masterpiece but it had some of the best Bolly kissing around. I really don't get why so many Bolly movies are bad at it. I'd assume all those people have kissed in RL. I mean, they are anywhere from midd 20s to 40s. Surely they should have learned by then.

P.S.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, Sanju was awesome in this. It's a small but pivotal role and he was awesome in it. Loved every bit of it (but then I thought all of the casting was spot on). The only pity was that Sharmila and Saif didn't get to share the screen. Booo! :(

P.P.S.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

OK, this is getting ridiculous, but whatever.

Re: Saif being a Prince. In Marigold, the Salman-Ali Larter flick which is supposed to come out in March (but which I saw at a prescreening), Salman's character is supposed to be a choreographer who is also a Prince. And at first I was 'WTF? Isn't it too over the top.' But then I remembered Saif and went: 'hey, I guess it isn't :D' I love the crack that is Bollywood, movies and filmi people alike.

I wonder what the populace of that place Saif is going to be Nawab of thinks of their heir cavorting around in grass skirts with Akshay in Keemat? :D

Re: P.P.S.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

I'm wonder if they even care! Pataudi seems to be *one* town and I couldn't even find it on the map... And there are a LOT of these Princely states in India: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Princely_States

Re: P.P.S.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL! So he should be free to don all the grass skirts he pleases.

I am still so impressed you actually watched Keemat. OMG. Just looking at the pictures of it scarred me for life.

Re: P.P.S.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

Well, it's total cheese as comedy goes, and very stupid, but in all honesty I do think Akshay and Saif have one of the best comic chemistries I've ever witnessed in Hindi movies. Their timing goes together so perfectly it makes for some killer comedy scenes. MKTA and Keemat have some surprisingly fun intentional humor, though mostly they're just unintentionally funny crappy films. :D

And there's nothing hot about Saif in mullet films but occasionally one does get a glimpse of the hot guy beneath all that dorky hair and 80's fashion... Oh those precious few moments. Like okay, your hair fucking sucks but I can still see you're the same guy I'm hot for in Ek Hasina Thi. Or is that just my Saif pagaliness speaking? :P

Re: P.P.S.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

My tolerance for cheese as pure cheese is pretty small (says the girl who loves Hana Kimi). By that I mean there has to be something more than 'mock mock mock' appeal. A part of me has to love it.

I am not the hugest Akshay fan (I like him but don't adore him) and the only actor I will literally watch in anything is SRK (though even there, I found the hard way he can't save a movie that is REALLY bad), so no Sakshay for me. The only pre DCH movie of Saif's I like (because Hamesha amuses me but it's not a good movie) is Hum Saath Saath Hain. I know it has no plot, but it's so sunny and sweet, I don't care.

Re: P.P.S.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

Heh, I guess here's where we part ways in all things Saif related - I hated HSSH, despite the pretty cute Karisma-Saif jodi, the sweetness made me want to stab myself, too sugary. And yet, Keemat, Yeh Dillagi & Main Khiladi Tu Anari just work for me on some levels.

As far as Sakshay cheese goes, well, I suppose what could give you an idea of whether it'd be funny or just too much for you would be to watch the clips I linked to this poll: http://www.bollywhat-forum.com/index.php?topic=16251.0

They're WTF-y but also contain some (IMO) genuinely funny humor you *might* enjoy.

Re: P.P.S.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Re: HSSH. It's an odd choice of a movie for me to love, because you know me. Normally all-about-fictional-angst girl. Also, I don't like the more famous HAHK at all. But this is a weird exception, and not just because Monish-Salman-Saif make a heck of a hot brother trio. After a really hard day, sometimes it's pleasant to sink into a fairytale where everything is wonderful and nothing bad happens. I am now watching Vivah by the same people and getting the same reaction.

I'll check out the poll. My tolerance for WTF comes and goes...

[plazmah.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen the movie yet but am DYING TO. I love my hot little Chota Nawab. ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It is so so SO amazingly good, and Saif has rarely looked hotter and that's saying a LOT. He really gets hotter as he ages, same with SRK, Hrithik, Abhi and Salman, Is it something in the water?

But the movie is wonderful regardless of the Chota Nawab hotness :D

[smartylibrarian.livejournal.com]

No spoilers, unless you consider the fact that Saif Ali Khan is smoking hot a spoiler of some sort.

That just made me laugh so much!

Saif being hot is never a spoiler - it's to be expected!!!

(Also, he's in the hospital right now! Oh no!)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

(Also, he's in the hospital right now! Oh no!)

Overdose of hotness?

OK, I am evil. Chest pains aren't anything to be glib about. But he does seem to be fine. *crosses fingers*