A lot many actors and celebs become prisoners of fame and eminence, after attaining recognition. The adulation and the frenzy they incite in a public space is enough to award them with an elevated, superior feeling. Sadly, when you attain the much desired celebrity status, you also fear losing it all. It's well known that a vicious rivalry exists amidst movie stars and their aspiration to stay on top can make them resort to anything spiteful. Crossing all limits is one thing. But practicing black magic is blasphemous. Quite a few names from the era gone by have been accused of indulging in it [let me add, it's all unfounded information, there's no tangible substantiation of it]. That's precisely the theme of RAAZ 3.
Reportedly, RAAZ 3 is a blend of some authentic life incidents. Since black magic and voodoo are practiced even in the present day, it can be effortlessly explicated through a movie. But RAAZ 3 is not just a horror movie that has its share of chills and scares. It is not only about the envy and politics of Bollywood. A coherent human drama runs concurrently.
Vikram Bhatt has mastered the art of sending a shudder down your vertebrae. The horror quotient in RAAZ 3 is sure to make you break into a cold sweat at times, but what really catches your attention is the human element. In fact, RAAZ 3 takes the negativity factor in women to an altogether different altitude. Writer Shagufta Rafique amalgamates vendetta, jealousy, conflict, drama and sexuality to create a chilling saga.
One expects Vikram to tell a riveting story and that's what the franchise delivers. Also, unlike DANGEROUS ISHHQ, which received tremendous flak for its 3D, Vikram ensures that everything comes flying towards the audience in RAAZ 3. But 3D is last on the list for me. This time around, 3D is used more as a prettification or an embellishment. I'd rate the human story first, followed by the horror quotient and then 3D.
RAAZ 3 narrates the story of a top movie star, Shanaya [Bipasha Basu], whose domination is smashed to smithereens by the invasion of a younger actress, Sanjana [Esha Gupta]. Shanaya resorts to black magic to devastate Sanjana, who is depriving her of her roles and trophies. Shanaya uses her director-boyfriend Aditya [Emraan Hashmi] as a pawn, but, as luck would have it, Aditya falls in love with Sanjana.
The unwritten rule for horror films is uncomplicated: They ought to jolt you at the right places and also, the conclusion ought to be the paramount part of the narrative. RAAZ 3 thrives in giving you those joggles at several junctures [there are some indisputably unnerving scenes] and the culmination to the fiction, although a bit lengthy, keeps you caught up in the proceedings.
Vikram Bhatt, who helmed the blockbuster hit RAAZ in 2002, is back with the third installment. He pursues the journey of a fading superstar's vengeance against a rising star adroitly. RAAZ 3 is suitably atmospheric, full of character and sensibly spine-chilling. The film relies less on shock value and more on a well-told tale, leading to a stimulating finale. Besides, Vikram has mastered this genre by now. He knows exactly how to make a scene sinister without making it appear ludicrous. The Bhatts are known for presenting sex and passion aesthetically and this one is no different. The lovemaking scene between Emraan and Bipasha in particular is way too titillating.
Blemish? Yes, the music is not at par with the first two parts. Hummable tunes, yes, but chartbusters, nope. In fact, the soundtrack of RAAZ 3 is nowhere close to the haunting tracks of the first part specifically. Cinematography [Pravin Bhatt] is top notch and forms one of the high points of this enterprise.
It's very infrequent that a Hindi film heroine gets to illustrate such a commanding character and Bipasha seizes the opportunity with both her hands, coming up with a bravura act. Her audacious scenes, unabashed approach and oozing sex appeal set the screen aflame. Enacting the role of an actress whose career is on a downslide, Bipasha gets the character accurate. RAAZ was a turning point in her career and RAAZ 3 should mark the commencement of a fresh phase for this gifted actress.
Emraan surrenders to the director's judgment absolutely, shedding all inhibitions and delivering a restrained and an authoritative presentation. Undeniably, Bipasha has an even more challenging role, but Emraan's fans won't be disappointed either. Esha Gupta appears awkward and self-conscious in the initial portions, but holds a few sequences graciously in the subsequent hour. I'd like to single out a scene when she has delusions of cockroaches attacking her. Her act in that particular scene is super.
Manish Chaudhuri is excellent. Mohan Kapur is natural.
On the whole, RAAZ 3 is a story of staunch Indian beliefs and convictions in conjunction with a lethal combo of sex and horror in 3D, competent performances, an engaging human drama and most significantly, there's a gigantic brand value attached to it, which has worked extraordinarily well with the masses in the past. With this film, Vikram Bhatt raises the bar for horror films formulated on the home turf. If you are an enthusiast of supernatural thrillers/horror movies, RAAZ 3 should be on your list of 'things to do and watch' this weekend. Go, get ready to be spooked!
Rating - * * * 1/2
Source - www.bollywoodhungama.com
"I love Emraan. I was really scared of him during Jannat 2, where he used to give his shots like a piece of cake and I would just look at him tongue-tied. He is really sweet, quite like my mentor and he has given me a lot of tips," Esha said.
The Vikram Bhatt directed 3D horror film, also stars Bipasha Basu and follows the journey of a fading superstar's revenge against a rising star. Raaz 3 will hit theatres on September 7.
Source - http://entertainment.oneindia.in
This time the Actors goes International with his Kissing Streak..
Emraan Hashmi, better known with the tag of a serial kisser amazed everyone when he didn’t kiss in his last film ‘Once upon a Time in Mumbaai’ and yet it became one of the biggest hits of his career till date. But just after a sabbatical from kissing, Emraan is back to what he does the best and in a more grand fashion as he goes international with his kissing this time. The actor will be seen romancing in the film with a ‘Firang’ (Foreign Girl) and simultaneously Neha Sharma the co-star in his next film ‘Crook- It’s good to be bad’ which releases on 8th of October all over. However his track in the film with the blond girl has some real intimate scenes which are also very much visible in the promos that have been released so far. The Kisser boy is back with a bang and after romancing the Indian girls on screen, it seems that Emraan is now taking it a step further by spicing it up on the celluloid with the foreign actresses too. So can we say that a ‘Brand Kiss’ is what is Hashmi evolving? Well let’s wait and watch…..
“I know that it always raises questions when I am kissing on screen but now I am habitual to facing such questions. It is not that I always want to kiss in every film. If it is the requirement of the script I don’t mind doing it, otherwise I too get apprehensive about it. But in Crook, it was the real need of the hour at that point of the story and screenplay, because it is one of the trigger points which take the story further to another level. People will realize that when they watch the film.” Says the actor who has come a long way since his last few super hits like Jannat, Raaz- The Mystery Continues and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. On being asked how his wife reacts to his onscreen image, as Emraan is a married man, blessed with a seven month old baby boy now, Emraan says- “Well I do get slapped around by my wife always after she comes out of the first screenings of my films. Obviously I expect her not to understand but she knows that these are my professional decisions which I have to comply with. Well I am awaiting my quota of slaps after she watches Crook.”
Crook- It’s good to be bad is a Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt’s Vishesh Films production, a banner known vividly for its out of ordinary films and chartbuster music. Their films always had an issue to address but in a typical Bollywood Style. This time it is the issue of Racial Discrimination with the Indians abroad and especially highlighting the recent attacks on Indians in Australia. The film stars Emraan Hashmi and known for giving way to the newcomers in the industry, this time too, Vishesh Films is giving break to a new girl Neha Sharma in this film. The film also casts ‘Fashion’ Boy Arjan Bajwa. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film has all the elements to make it a masses’ film- Romance, Comedy, Action, Thrill and ofcourse an issue, which sums it all. The Music of the film is on Sony Music and has been scored by Music maestro Pritam, whose association with the ‘Bhatts’ has been very fruitful lately with hit albums like Jannat and Tum Mile.
Emraan Hashmi, better known with the tag of a serial kisser amazed everyone when he didn’t kiss in his last film ‘Once upon a Time in Mumbaai’ and yet it became one of the biggest hits of his career till date. But just after a sabbatical from kissing, Emraan is back to what he does the best and in a more grand fashion as he goes international with his kissing this time. The actor will be seen romancing in the film with a ‘Firang’ (Foreign Girl) and simultaneously Neha Sharma the co-star in his next film ‘Crook- It’s good to be bad’ which releases on 8th of October all over. However his track in the film with the blond girl has some real intimate scenes which are also very much visible in the promos that have been released so far. The Kisser boy is back with a bang and after romancing the Indian girls on screen, it seems that Emraan is now taking it a step further by spicing it up on the celluloid with the foreign actresses too. So can we say that a ‘Brand Kiss’ is what is Hashmi evolving? Well let’s wait and watch…..
“I know that it always raises questions when I am kissing on screen but now I am habitual to facing such questions. It is not that I always want to kiss in every film. If it is the requirement of the script I don’t mind doing it, otherwise I too get apprehensive about it. But in Crook, it was the real need of the hour at that point of the story and screenplay, because it is one of the trigger points which take the story further to another level. People will realize that when they watch the film.” Says the actor who has come a long way since his last few super hits like Jannat, Raaz- The Mystery Continues and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. On being asked how his wife reacts to his onscreen image, as Emraan is a married man, blessed with a seven month old baby boy now, Emraan says- “Well I do get slapped around by my wife always after she comes out of the first screenings of my films. Obviously I expect her not to understand but she knows that these are my professional decisions which I have to comply with. Well I am awaiting my quota of slaps after she watches Crook.”
Crook- It’s good to be bad is a Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt’s Vishesh Films production, a banner known vividly for its out of ordinary films and chartbuster music. Their films always had an issue to address but in a typical Bollywood Style. This time it is the issue of Racial Discrimination with the Indians abroad and especially highlighting the recent attacks on Indians in Australia. The film stars Emraan Hashmi and known for giving way to the newcomers in the industry, this time too, Vishesh Films is giving break to a new girl Neha Sharma in this film. The film also casts ‘Fashion’ Boy Arjan Bajwa. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film has all the elements to make it a masses’ film- Romance, Comedy, Action, Thrill and ofcourse an issue, which sums it all. The Music of the film is on Sony Music and has been scored by Music maestro Pritam, whose association with the ‘Bhatts’ has been very fruitful lately with hit albums like Jannat and Tum Mile.
