Vidya Balan's sexy avatar, itsy bitsy clothes, cleavage-showing blouses and raunchy dance numbers in The Dirty Picture are receiving jaw-dropping reactions. Fans and trade pundits say the masala movie is expected to beat the musical treat Rockstar, the fun-filled Desi Boyz and the action thriller Don 2.
Directed by Milan Luthria, The Dirty Picture is said to be the tragic tale of a southern sex symbol's rise and fall and Vidya is playing the voluptuous woman who was loved and desired in the 1980s and 1990s.
Leaving behind the grace and charm she showed in her first film Parineeta and then again in films like Paa and No One Killed Jessica, Vidya has done everything - from wearing garish clothes to showing meat to making provocative dance moves - to make her character believable.
In fact, she has surpassed her own portrayal of a sexually charged woman in Ishiqya.
When launched, the film grabbed attention as it was touted as a biopic on southern sex symbol Silk Smitha who had committed suicide in 1996. But recently when the late actor's brother objected and filed a complaint against the content of the film, the makers said it's not based on anyone's life.
Vidya pulled out all stops at the music launch of the movie when she gave an adrenaline pumping performance along with co-star Naseeruddin Shah.
Criticism and complaints notwithstanding, the trade pundits forecast that amidst the four big releases - the Vidya starrer, produced by Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures, will take the cake when it hits the screen on December 2.
TN Kapoor, of Bharti Film Distributors in Indore, told IANS: " The Dirty Picture is likely to do good business as it has got mass appeal. Vidya's already generated a lot of buzz with the way she is presenting herself in the film."
Ranbir Kapoor's musical saga Rockstar is releasing Friday and TN Kapoor said: "Rockstar is for youngsters and caters to the audiences of bigger cities. It may do well."
Set in London, Desi Boyz, releasing on December 25, will see the hit team of Akshay Kumar and John Abraham. "Desi Boyz is good but whatever little I have heard about the story, I don't think the audiences will be able to digest it. But since it is a solo release, people would definitely go and watch it as they wouldn't have any other option to choose from," said TN Kapoor.
Ranbir and director Imtiaz Ali have rocked the nation with their promotional events and the promos of the film have generated curiosity among the masses.
But Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan, said, "Rockstar is for the multiplex audiences and I don't find anything extraordinary in Desi Boyz and Don 2. All the three films are made at a budget of over Rs 70 crore and it often becomes difficult to recover so much cost.
Set in London, Desi Boyz, releasing on December 25, will see the hit team of Akshay Kumar and John Abraham. "Desi Boyz is good but whatever little I have heard about the story, I don't think the audiences will be able to digest it. But since it is a solo release, people would definitely go and watch it as they wouldn't have any other option to choose from," said TN Kapoor.
Ranbir and director Imtiaz Ali have rocked the nation with their promotional events and the promos of the film have generated curiosity among the masses.
But Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan, said, "Rockstar is for the multiplex audiences and I don't find anything extraordinary in Desi Boyz and Don 2. All the three films are made at a budget of over Rs 70 crore and it often becomes difficult to recover so much cost.
"I feel The Dirty Picture will work more than other films as it has appeal for both mass and class. The Dirty Picture will not only work in the metros but it is likely to work in B and C class cities like Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar and Bareilly among others."
Vidya has been one of the few actresses who has spent most of her screen time looking old, unglamorous and now even vulgar to earn that highest spot in the creative field.
Her endeavour may be earning flak for her sexy avatar, but the actress was quoted as saying that she had a blast doing the film and that "I have given it my all".
Businesswise this year is said to be better compared to 2010. Some fell flat at the box office, some recovered the cost and some appealed to the public and spun profit.
Some big budget disappointments were Game, Thank You, Dum Maaro Dum, Rascals, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Mausam and Patiala House.
But No One Killed Jessica, Yamla Pagal Deewana, Tanu Weds Manu, Bodyguard, Ready, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Singham and RA.One set the cash registers ringing and bailed out the filmmakers by earning profit.
Don 2 will be the last big release of the year. Directed by Farhan Akhtar, the film will reach the theatres on December 23.
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