Excel Entertainment’s ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ is all geared up to hit the theaters. The flick has been well in news from the outset due to its catchy storyline, cast, the makers and the mammoth hype spread everywhere in the media. Produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, the film is a directorial debut of Reema Kagti who has been associated with many blockbuster movies as an assistant director. This offering of Excel Entertainment features the huge star cast including the coveted names of the Bollywood industry ranging from Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Amisha Patel, Karan Khanna, Raima Sen, Kay Kay Menon, Minissha Lamba, Abhay Deol, Sandhya Mridul, Vikram Chatwal, Diya Mirza, Ranvir Shorey, Darshan Jariwala, Chandan Bist to Naved Aslam. The popular musicians’ duo Vishal-Shekhar has been roped in to stockpile the tunes for the film’s album.
A Cursory Look at the Producers:
‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ is a joint production of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. Both have their strapping position in today’s Hindi filmdom since the two have always produced the flicks together and bestowed the Bollywood with the smash hits so far.
Started off his career as an assistant director in Pankaj Parashar’s directed venture ‘Himalaya Putra’ in 1997, Farhan Akhtar (the son of the legendary lyricist, scriptwriter & Urdu poet Javed Akhtar and famous screenplay writer-film director Honey Irani) has blockbusters in his kitty from his directorial debut ‘Dil Chahta Hai (2001)’ to ‘Lakshya (2004)’ and now to most recent release ‘Don (2006)’. This multi talented young blood has tried his dexterity in almost every genre of cinema from direction to screenplay writing to dialogue penning. He has proved his mettle to the moviegoers utterly. Now Farhan is all set with his socks pulled up to confer the cine aficionados with his chewed up enterprise ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’.
Ritesh Sidhwani’s companionship as a producer with Farhan Akhtar right from ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ to the forthcoming ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ has been lucky not only for him but also for Farhan and the cinema lovers as whenever they have masticated any project, it got huge acclaims and churned out profits at the box office. Although a few of their flicks could not turn out to be as successful as expected but nonetheless they stayed with the audiences. And there is absolutely no doubt in saying that the movies oozed out from their banner certainly leave an impact on the viewer. And when the viewer comes out of the theater, carries the film with him to home. And this is called the luminosity of the intelligent filmmakers – Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani.
Succinctly Pouring Light on the Director – Reema Kagti:
From an assistant to a full-fledged director, Reema Kagti has been working with the notable names of the Hindi film industry from Ashutosh Gowarikar, Mira Nair, Rajat Kapoor to Farhan Akhtar. Before forming a junction with the entertainment fraternity, Kagti was rejected thrice by The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). A passionate movie buff, Reema then decided to doll up internship under a filmmaker instead of the television production house. She approached Rajt Kapoor (the eminent actor, model turned filmmaker cum script writer) who gave her an opportunity to be under his shadow of guidance in the movie, ‘Private Detectives’. And there her journey with the cinema began to budge. After that, there was no looking back for the intelligent young gal who had only the movies as a career on her mind. She has showcased her prowess in filmmaking as an assistant director in the flicks like Ashutosh Gowarikar’s critically acclaimed Oscar’s nominated ‘Lagaan’, Farhan Akhtar’s blockbuster ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and Farhan Akhtar’s another mega hit ‘Lakshya’. Reema once again teams up with Farhan Akhtar this time around with the forthcoming enterprise, ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ where she will not only be making her debut as a director but also using this platform to launch herself as a screenplay writer. Reema Kagti wanted Farhan Akhtar to act in this film but could not succeed in doing so since Farhan was busy making ‘Don’. Finally Abhay Deol landed in to perform this character.
A Fleeting View of the Cast:
Shabana Azmi, the daughter of the famous Urdu poet-Hindi film lyricist late Kafi Azmi, needs no praiseworthy words since her colossal amount of works speak by themselves. Getting laced with above 100 films to her name and spending years and years in the film industry, the queen of parallel cinema Shabana Azmi is like an ivory tower for the artists of today’s entertainment abode. The virtuoso of acting and highly experienced actress of class not only has worked in Bollywood but also traveled across the globe to show her histrionics. She has acted in Hollywood flicks as well. When the name of this internationally reputed actress is attached to any movie, the viewers get bound to appear in the cinema halls. Married to the celebrated film lyricist-screenplay writer Javed Akhtar, this charming lady who is always bestowed with awards for her splendid performances, is now appearing in a leading role as Nauheed playing Boman Irani’s wife in her step son’s Farhan Akhtar’s film ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’.
Boman Irani, the photographer turned an adroit actor, though did the movies like ‘Josh, Everybody Says I’m Fine and Darna Mana Hai’ earlier in his career but got noticed with his superb piece of acting enacting the character of Dr. J. C. Asthana in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s everlasting comedy ‘Munnabhai MBBS’. Until today, he has prettified his spellbinding jobs with almost every noted filmmaker of the industry doing the smashits like ‘Munnabhai MBBS, Main Hoon Na, Lakshya, Veer Zara, Page 3, Kal, Lage Raho Munnabhai, Khosla Ka Ghosla and Don’. His forthcoming projects are Vidhu Chopra’s ‘Eklavya’, Sajid Nandiadwala’s ‘Hey Baby’ and Ram Gopal Verma’s ‘Sholay’. ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ is ready for release where he is adorning the role of Oscar Fernandez – the husband of Shabana Azmi.
Amisha Patel, the ravishingly gorgeous actress who knows the art of acting appositely, has been making waves in Bollywood for last many years delivering the goods aptly on the screen. Although the stunning actress with innocent smile has worked in a number of movies so far but what enticed the audiences were her power packed performances in the films such as ‘Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai (her debut vehicle)’, ‘Anil Sharma’s Gaddar Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Abbas-Mustan’s Humraaz’ and ‘Ketan Mehta’s The Rising’. In ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’, Amisha is playing Pinky – the wife of Karan Khanna.
Karan Khanna, the nephew of the yesteryear’s celebrated actor Vinod Khanna, made his debut with Govind Menon’ comedy ‘Bachke Rehna Re Baba’ but failed to allure the moviegoers’ souls. Then came Naseeruddin Shah’s ‘Yun Hota To Kya Hota’ but again the actor did not try to please the cine buffs. Now let’s see how he will do in the upcoming ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ where he plays Vicky - Amisha Patel’s hubby.
Raima Sen, the sister of Riya Sen and the daughter of the gorgeous actress of past Moon Moon Sen, has appeared in many films but mostly in a second lead. And unfortunately she could not fetch a good place in the industry even after working with the big banners like Vinod Chopra Corporation in ‘Parineeta’ and Rituparno Ghosh in ‘Choker Bali’. Once again, she has been signed by Vinod Chopra Corporation in ‘Eklavya’. She is embellishing the role of Kay Kay Menon’s better half in ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’. Will she raise the spirits this time…? Better to wait the release rather chipping in any remark…!
Kay Kay Menon, a brilliant actor who earlier filled the viewers with massive pleasures on TV front and later in films, is widely known for his classy acting in Ram Gopal Verma’s ‘Sarkar’ and Sahara One Entertainment’s ‘Corporate’. A number of famous banners’ movies to his credit, Menon is appearing in ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ as a husband of Raima Sen playing Partho Sen.
Minissha Lamba, the beautiful actress, has joined the Bollywood a few years back and is laced with only four releases to her name – ‘Yahaan’, ‘Corporate’, Anthony Kaun Hai’ and ‘Rocky – The Rebel’. Although she can act well, as she has displayed her histrionics in her debut film ‘Yahaan’, but could not go pertinently as per the movie aficionados’ expectations in the later movies. She is Zara – Abhay Deol’s wife in Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.
Abhay Deol, the nephew of yesteryear’s macho actor Dharmendra, made his debut two years back in Imtiaz Ali’s romantic voyage ‘Socha Na Tha’ and sank along with the film at the box office. Then did Shivam Nair’s ‘Ahista Ahista’ and he fell flat as an actor and the same happened with the movie too. A flop actor is once again ready to appear in ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ as Minissha’s husband playing Aspi. Hope, he will do better this time…!
Sandhya Mridul, the TV hottie turned Bollywood actress, lured the viewers in Madhur Bhandarkar’s critically acclaimed ‘Page 3’ is all set to sizzle as Madhu (Vikram Chatwal’s wife) in ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’.
Vikram Chatwal, not a famous star and even not known much amongst the cinegoers, has a few films to his name. Let’s wish him good luck in Reema Kagti’s ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’.
Diya Mirza, the former Miss Asia Pacific turned actress, though has done many films in her ongoing career but she does not have any film where her character can be talked with big words. Nonetheless, the pretty lass is on high heels. Wait to see her in the upcoming ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ as Shilpa playing Ranvir’s wife.
Ranvir Shorey, the VJ turned actor, started off with the controversial movie ‘Ek Chothi Si Love Story’ and then shoved to his career onwards. He is playing Diya’s hubby in ‘HMTPL’.
The dashing hunk of Hindi cinema Arjun Rampal is giving his guest appearance in the flick.
Film’s Saga:
A feel-good comic outing, the movie is about newly married couples who are on a package honeymoon tour to Goa. The film talks about love, relationships and marriage. There are many short stories, which tread along simultaneously and the reels end up with a message that life is hard but honest personal relationship can give you comfort and relief in the difficult world. Exciting and cheerful, this vacation is a subsidized option for a lot of dreamers on the edge of their new life. ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ is knitted around six couples, a guide, driver and a handyman riding in a bus from Mumbai to Goa. All are on a hectic four days schedule. A jockey on the bus plays the role of an omniscient narrator and discusses individual characters revealing secrets about them and their past.
The narrative unzips the different stories very humorously. And the stories then explore the nature of love and human relationships. The moment the bus leaves Mumbai for Goa, a man riding on a bike wearing a helmet dressed in black leather garments, chases them…who is he…? For an answer, wait for the release.
Prediction:
Expectations are high keeping the success ratio of the makers in mind. And along with the good star cast, interesting storyline and the intelligent director on the credit list – the viewer can safely go to watch it in the theaters. Apart from the high expectations, nonetheless the film has one drawback and that is its urban feel. The film has been targeted mainly to the urban audiences so it might do good business in the metropolitan cities but cannot work in the small and remote areas of India.
Release Date:
The movie is slated to hit the screens all over on 23rd of February, 2007.
WRITTEN BY GOHER IQBAL PUNN (Bollywood Analyst)