Trailer time! All of this are old and late, but I don’t care, I still want to hear what you have to say about them.
First and only real trailer, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. I was one of those people who got excited about Happy Bhaag Jayegi because it was a nice unexpected rom-com. And I am thrilled that we get a similarly nice unexpected rom-com sequel. A clever one that manages to use some of the same characters from the first film without continuing that story.
If I am following this correctly, Sonakshi is detained by accident in China, mistaken for the other “Happy”, Diana Penty from the first film. Sonakshi starts a romance with Jassi Gill, a Punjabi living in China, but Jimmy Shergill has shown up too. Continuing his karmic destiny to always be reborn, always fall in love, and never get the girl. Looks fun!
Jassi Gill is interesting, Punjabi singing star who has recently started a film career, and now is moving into Hindi film. Part of what made the first movie so good was the mixture of actors, Abhay Deol who is definitely A List, Diana Penty who was A List but not working for a long time, Jimmy Shergill who is Jimmy Shergill, and a variety of interesting non-famous actors from TV, other industries, etc. etc. And the sequel seems to be continuing that vibe, Sonakshi as the lead (definitely A List, although slipping), Jimmy Shergill, major star from the Pakistani area, and so on. Anyway, I’m definitely seeing it and I am excited!
That’s it for trailers, otherwise it is just songs. Nice songs though! “High Rated Gabru” from Nawabzaade, the whole concept of which puzzles me. First, it’s already a popular song (just like “Suit Suit” was before Hindi Medium). So, I’m not sure what is being added by this video? I guess just a new high quality video for it. Here’s the first video:
And here’s the second. With Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor. And the stars of the movie. Oh, that’s the other thing! Varun and Shraddha aren’t actually in the movie. Just this song. So…..what? Why is this a thing that exists? A song that already had a video and two actors who aren’t in the movie make a video of the song (that already existed) in order to promote a movie that has no direct connection to any of these things. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD?!?!?!?!
And then the last video that is popping up on my feed is the new Genius song. Which just confirms, again, that Utkarsh Sharma has a face that is made for innocent young love stories and if this turns into a total action film, I will be super disappointed.
dontcallitbollywood 
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China as a location? How does this play into the China/India film conundrum?
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I don’t know! I am really interested by this. So far only a few major major films have gotten Chinese releases, if this one gets a release there (despite being comparatively small and ordinary), and does well, then we might see a lot of Chinese set films in future.
On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 9:59 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I’m a bit worried about Sonakshi Sinha’s career, too. Akira and Ittefaq and Noor were all interesting experiments for her and then Welcome to New York (still haven’t seen it and I actually think I might enjoy it) and this one really don’t bode well for where she’s at right now. The problem has always been that she doesn’t pair well physically with the younger guys right now (no body shaming here…it’s actually more about height). Arjun was one that she looked good with but their film bombed. She and Ranveer worked but partly because of the premise of Lootera. She looks best with men like Salman and Akshay and that puts her at a disadvantage….plus she’s not the best actress out there and she’s got a lot of contemporaries to compete against. I’ve always been a fan and I’m definitely hoping this one is a hit for her sake alone.
The film itself looks annoying and probably full of problematic jokes at the expense of China and its people. I couldn’t get into the first one, but I need to rewatch because I need to figure out why they are doing another one. This is just going to be a Golmaal/Housefull type franchise, I guess. And the third one might be starring Kareena…which could work?
I’m just now realizing how odd Jimmy Sheirgill is…him going on Jaby Koay’s channel was just weird, but I just don’t get the whole Jaby Koay thing anyways.
Both Nawabzaade and Genius look like interesting time-pass films and I’m willing to give them both a try. Nothing I’ve seen yet has completely turned me off.
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I liked Happy Bhaag Jayegi, without thinking it was that good. But it was of a type of a film that we don’t get enough of, the lower budget pleasant happy comedies. Not the gross out comedies, or the rambunctious friends comedies (like Nawadzaade looks to be), but a variety of characters and misunderstandings kind of thing. Apparently it was a sleeper hit, which makes me think I’m not the only one who was excited at the idea of a nice pleasant little comedy.
I think Bareilly Ki Barfi and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan were bigger hits, but then they are less sequel friendly, so they don’t get the franchise. I’d love it if this turns into a legitimate franchise, female lead comedies about people making connections across borders and helping out true lovers are something that we need more of in the world. And hopefully with a slightly bigger budget and higher profile, the sequel makes up for some of the weaknesses of the original. For one thing, the original didn’t even really have a song, like they were afraid to spend the money/time on it because they had no faith in the audience. That can’t be the case with this one if they cast Jassi Gill, right?
This would also be a good fit for Sonakshi. Like you say, she doesn’t work well with the younger heroes. Maybe that is why she is trying so many solo films, and this is the most promising of them yet. I think Sonakshi has a really interesting vibe onscreen, and she is an actress who might, like Dips, turn into something really special if she is given enough films to learn from. She’s not there yet, but I also don’t feel like she is incapable of improving.
Oh, and I am hopeful about the China jokes, partly because the first film was so embracing of Pakistan, and partly because they might be hoping for a Chinese release.
I like your low standards for the other two, nothing that has actively turned you off yet.
On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 10:31 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I think you’re right that I shouldn’t be so worried about this one. Admittedly I just went back and watched it with subtitles and it worked better for me;) I’m always up for more Sikh leads and that Gill guy seems like he has a good screen presence. He will be inevitably compared to Diljit.
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I’m glad Happy Bhag Jayegi has a sequel, and I like this trailer. I will watch it for sure.
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Me too! I was a little worried that the trailer would be just so bad that it would kill all interest. It isn’t a shockingly brilliant trailer, but it is definitely fun and makes me remain happy about the movie in general.
On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 11:47 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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And it’s always nice to see Jimmy Shergill in comedy.
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It’s just always nice to see Jimmy Shergill in general.
On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 11:54 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I was going to say that but, oh my he was so scary in Mukkabaaz.
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I agree. I will die on the hill that Tanu Weds Manu Returns is a creepy crap film and that the only way it could have been saved is if she left Maddy’s awful character (who wasn’t that bad in the first) and ends up with Jimmy Sheirgill…a story where a jerk bully villain becomes the hero in the end!
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This is why I like watching Sleepless in Seattle and While you Were sleeping as a double feature. Finally Bill Pullman gets happiness!
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Okay, that’s the thing you said that finally makes me excited to see Mukkabaaz. I want to see Jimmy Shergill be scary!
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I remember having a crush on him in mohabbatein whereas everyone else was drooling over Srk
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I think for me Mohabbattein went:
Shahrukh
Jugal Hansraj
Jimmy Shergill
Everyone else in the film
Uday Chopra
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Amitabh
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I would put Uday Chopra last or not even on the list :p
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But Amitabh’s character is just such a pill!!!! If it was Uday versus Amitabh in Baabul or Baghban, then no contest, Amitabh would obviously be on top and Uday far behind. But blech to Amitabh the sadistic high school principal.
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oh yea obviously Amitabh’s character was a bum in the movie but I was talking about their physical looks like young Amitabh anyday and sorry I’m being mean to Udhay but I can’t with him
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If we are talking pure objective looks, obviously Young Amitabh > Old Amitabh > A concrete block > Uday Chopra
Also, you inspired my newest post! Check out and share opinions over here: https://dontcallitbollywood.com/2018/07/30/quick-discussion-post-multi-starrers-how-do-we-rank-the-heroes-as-potential-husbands-amar-akbar-anthony-to-kabhi-alveda-na-kehna/
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Bhahahaha with you on “A concrete block > Uday Chopra” and Thank you! I feel feel honored 😀
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