Seventeen smooches and more, promised Govind Menon's Khwahish. The film's lead couple, Himanshu Malik and Mallika Sherawat, also encouraged the belief that Khwahish was a 'bold' film.
But the first day second show crowd felt it had been taken for a ride. The frank dialogues did come as a revelation, but there were only as many steamy scenes as had been shown in the promos, give or take a smooch.
Did Menon and Malik's ploy to project Khwahish, a love story with a tragic end, as a steamy film boomerang? Dinesh Raheja has an animated discussion with Khwahish's director and hero.
How would you describe the opening for Khwahish?
Govind: The film got a bumper opening.
Himanshu: The critics have definitely been hard [on me] but people have liked me in quite a few scenes. For instance, they liked the scene where I purchase a condom. Or when I try to act normal after the doctor tells me that my wife is suffering from cancer. Or when I break down in Kerala.
Govind, why did you play up the sex scenes so much in the promos, since your film is an emotional love story?
There is a lot of nepotism in the industry. It is difficult for young filmmakers who make films with new actors and technicians to complete a film, let alone release it. We had to get an opening by hook or by crook, because if a film like this did not get an opening with all the bad reviews, we would be dead meat. So we did whatever we could to get an initial.
Himanshu, one felt you were flat in the emotional portions.
I was trying to be subtle. Govind and I took a call on playing the dramatic portions in a subdued, restrained fashion, but it did not work out as we had hoped.
It was a difficult role for a second film. I felt like I had been pushed from driving on the road to a Formula 1 race track.
Now that the crowds have smartened up to the fact that Khwahish is not a sex film, do you think they will reject it?
Govind: Well, the taporis are not happy with the end. They will slowly depart from the theatre, which is good news for me. I am confident that women will start coming in thereafter. In fact, they are already coming in after the opening weekend. They have realised it is not a sex film, but a women's weepie.
Any afterthoughts?
Govind: I think there are many places where I could have made changes for the better, but what matters finally is that we have been able to make a film. We surprised everyone, just like Kenya did in the World Cup.
The scene in the locker room, one felt, was incorporated for sheer titillation.
Himanshu: Some scenes might not be full of emotional content, but they project a slice of life. I had forgotten to bring my underwear that day and they decided to incorporate the fact into the script.
Do you think the film will make money?
Govind: My distributors are jumping with joy. I have sold the film for Rs 30 lakh [approximately US $64,300] in Mumbai and the distributor recovered the money in the opening weekend itself.
Himanshu: The film has got an excellent initial. I am happy with the response to my work. As for the flaws in my performance, all I can say is that I am learning.
