The Romantics
Missing Parts & Actors
On the whole, Bollywood people are very smart now to not appear tone-deaf. They know how and when to say the right things, courtesy of the right training. AC was saying the right things but he couldn’t escape sounding like a control freak which explains why he wanted a studio, he wanted to be in control.
The Romantics – Produced by YRF
It’s an objective-driven documentary, they wanted to put their own narrative out there. A glossy narrative at that. They needed this documentary to portray them as geniuses and maverick filmmakers but the truth is so far from that. But hey, whatever floats their boat! It seems for them and their egos, image is more important than anything else. Aditya Chopra can play the episode where they all gush about him whenever he feels down because there is nothing better than reminding yourself how much of a genius you are when you are feeling down and low!
The Romantics
– What they didn’t talk about
So now that it’s over, there are so many things that they didn’t talk about. So many stars didn’t make an appearance. Where was Parineeti Chopra? How come Salman Khan wasn’t really there? He’s responsible for one of their biggest hits, ‘Ek Tha Tiger’? Speaking of ETT, where was Kabir Khan? Where was Kunal Kohli? They spoke about his films but didn’t interview the man himself.
Did Aditya Chopra not want them in the documentary? It sure looks like it!
Flop Films Series
– What happened there
Why is this documentary making it sound like there were only one or two flops when the list is not only long but expensive too? Big-budget films that flopped and were disasters, why did AC think they were good projects, to begin with? He should have shared that since he mentioned he hated producing Kunal’s first film.
Why did he put so much money into producing a film like ‘Thugs of Hindostan’ or even ‘Shamshera’?
What made him agree to produce a film like ‘Neal n Nikki’? ?
What made him think he could turn a teen movie ‘She’s the Man’ into Rani’s comeback vehicle ‘Dil Bole Hadippa’? Man, Amanda Bynes…What a talented girl!
If this Yash Raj Films is as big as he claims it is, then why not invest in fresh stories instead of copy-n-paste? And pay the writers or creative people well so they can afford to do good work.
The MeToo Era
Since Aditya Chopra brought up the Nepotism debate why didn’t they shed some light on the MeToo era? How did they create a safe environment post the MeToo era? They famously sacked one of their own staff when news came out that he touched an actress indecently. Subsequently, YRF also released news that certain MeToo creeps are not allowed to step into the YRF studio.
Missed out on so many Yash Chopra movies
Why did they not spend more time on the late Yash Chopra and his films? The reason why he did ‘Silsila’ and why he asked for such a cast?
What about ‘Veer-Zaara’? It was a big deal when it was released! Preity Zinta was not even interviewed. Rumour has it, it’s also the film where AC started paying special attention to Rani who also started bringing home-cooked food for him.
Here’s Rani with Adi’s first wife Payal at the premiere of ‘Veer Zaara’:
That’s why they didn’t bring it up!
Where was ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’? Where was Karishma Kapoor? The movie did wonders for her career, she even won prestigious awards for that performance.
The Leading Ladies Makeover
How did they not talk about what is required to become a YRF actress? Rani recalled meeting AC for the first time and he told her, a lot of people dissuade him from signing her since she didn’t fit in the YRF heroine image.
So what is that exactly? Being size zero? Fixing themselves through cosmetic surgery? Dieting? Why such an obsession when the usual Yash Chopra heroines looked healthy and were just fine and beautiful? Is it a Hollywood obsession again from the big boss?
Where was Kareena Kapoor to talk about her size zero phase?
From the online archives:
Vaani Kapoor:
What they pay their talent?
This is very important as YRF is known to be stingy. Who else would have the guts to pay Alisha Chinai peanuts after she sang their biggest item number?
And what about the royalty that YRF demands but refuses to pay the musicians and singers?
What about the people who work for them, the directors? Is that why they leave once the three-film contract is over?
From the online archives:
The Bachchan Ladies
– Where were they?
How come Jaya Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are not in this documentary? Was there space only for the men?
Speaking of, check out both AB and AB Jnr backgrounds in their clips:
We remember in a magazine a long time ago, someone asked Mr. Bachchan why he put his own pictures and his son’s pictures all over his house or his living rooms. He said these are pictures from fans that’s why they put it up. But these are professionally photographed pictures, not fan-made. He could have just said AB Jnr is his favorite child! + he likes to look at himself on the walls as well!
The Rani-Adi love story
Since they focused on Yash and Pamela’s love story in the first episode, why didn’t they do the same for Adi and Rani? We know, for obvious reasons, but it’s on most people’s minds! Rani didn’t even get that much screen time in this documentary!
Speaking of Rani, what was AC thinking when he decided to produce all those films that eventually tanked Rani’s career? Was he not thinking clearly then? Or was he going to use up all of Yash Raj’s resources to keep making movies for Rani until one eventually became a hit?
From the online archives:
The Romance and Cheating:
From Press Clippings:
From Press Clippings:
From Press Clippings:
From Press Clippings:
Wished she had THIS attitude back then when her YRF ventures were flopping left, right, and centre!
From Press Clippings:
Where was Akshay Kumar?
He was in one of their biggest disappointments last year. Why was he not invited? He should have spoken about how his experience working with YRF for the first time when he did ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’.
Right?
So the question is, with a genie (YRF) at his disposal why hasn’t Aditya Chopra created unique projects that the audience can relate to? Not copy the West or Hollywood or European cinema but invest in local stories that tug hearts. Why the Hollywood obsession he claimed to have thrown away in his early years in Bollywood?
Feel free to drop in your comments below.
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