RGV's love-hate story

Here's the latest in the Karan Johar-Ram Gopal Varma saga

It seems filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma will never stop taking digs (well, sort of) at Karan Johar - he has now started on Karan's latest production venture 'I Hate Luv Storys'.

"I hate 'I Hate Luv Storys' for being a big hit and I love 'I Hate Luv Storys' because its K Jo's (Karan Johar's) film, who I love to hate and hate to love and that's our love-hate story," Varma posted on his Twitter page.

Karan seems to have taken the message lightly, as he tweeted back: "Superb tweet Ramu!!! You couldn't have worded our 'story' better!!"

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Imran's surprised by response to 'I Hate Love Storys'

And what's he saying about those marriage date rumours?

'I Hate Luv Storys' has collected approximately Rs.21.5 crore in the domestic circuit in the first three days of its release and hero Imran Khan says he is surprised by the "grand opening" it has got.

"I feel honestly very surprised with the numbers. I had told (director) Punit Malhotra that it's a very good film and I was quite confident with the way it was promoted, but I didn't expect such a opening," Imran said.

Asked if he thought it was wise to release the film after 'Kites' and 'Raavan', he said: "I think everything went in our favour. There are things you can't plan for and everything happened by good fortune."

Imran has signed a film with producer-director Karan Johar and it was rumoured that he would be romancing Kareena Kapoor in the movie.

"See, I have signed another film with Karan, but until he announces it I can't talk anything about it," Imran said.

Imran is also wrapping up director Kunal Kohli's 'Break Ke Baad', in which he will be seen opposite Deepika Padukone.

"It's a romantic and coming of age film. It's multiple genres," the young actor said, unwilling to disclose anything more about the film.

Speculation was also rife that Imran may tie the knot with his girlfriend Avantika Malik in January 2011, but he denied it, saying that he would be shooting during that period.

"Actually in January, I will be shooting for Karan's film," he said.

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'I Hate Luv Storys' finds love at the box office

Imran Khan-Sonam Kapoor starrer takes in Rs 215 million in first three days of its release

Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor's romantic comedy 'I Hate Luv Storys' (IHLS) might be about a guy's hatred for mushy movies, but it has managed to bag just the opposite from reaction audiences. The film has done a net business of approximately Rs.21.5 crore (Rs.215 million) in the domestic circuit in the first three days of its release.

Co-produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Dharma Productions, the movie opened with net collections of Rs.6.5 crore (Rs.65 million) on July 2 with soaring business over the weekend.

"We have got a good amount with almost 85 percent occupancy during the weekend. People are liking the movie especially the younger generation. It has good cinematography and a contemporary story. We hope it does well during weekdays and has a second weekend run," Jayendra Banerji, vice president (Operations) of Satyam Cineplexes, said.

Said Amit Awasthi, senior manager (Programming and Operations) of Spice Cinemas: "The weekend for IHLS was very good with close to 85 percent occupancy and gross collection of Rs.2.3 million over the weekend with 26 shows per day. Imran and Sonam's chemistry is being appreciated and proves that Imran is a complete chocolate boy while Sonam is Bollywood's bubbly asset."

A source from PVR cinemas said: "The weekend was good and we had over 70 percent occupancy. We are running on an average 10 shows per property per day and hoping this one will get a second weekend run too. It has been enormously liked by college going audiences and the youth for its contemporary appeal."

"People are also liking the new pairing of Imran and Sonam." the source added.

Directed by debutant Punit Malhotra, IHLS revolves around Jay (Imran) and Simran (Sonam), who are complete opposites of each other in terms of romance. While Jay doesn't believe in love and condemns it as a cynic, Simran swears by it and has a very Bollywood idea of the emotion.

The movie is Imran's first hit after 'Kidnap' and 'Luck' did badly and Sonam's first ever hit after big-budget duds 'Saawariya' and 'Delhi-6'.

"The IHLS weekend went fairly well. Occupancy was a decent one with 45-50 percent. Youngsters are liking the movie. Even on Monday people are inquiring about weekday shows," said Deepak Taluja, senior vice president (Business and Operations) of Fun Cinemas.

"We are running around eight to 10 shows for three screen properties and around 12-14 shows for four screen properties. We are hoping for a decent show for IHLS in the next weekend as well," he added.

Amit Shah, chief manager (Programming) of DLF DT cinemas said: "Despite not so great reviews by critics, IHLS has done an exceptionally good business with an initial weekend of over 75 percent occupancy. In fact, our Chandigarh property had a 100 percent occupancy for all the three days.

"It is a completely youth centric film and hopefully it will sustain in the second week too," he added.

Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (Cinemas) of Wave Cinemas says the box office performance of the film met their expectations.

"The business for IHLS went as per expectations and has been above average. The movie has got youth appeal and since it had no competition at the box office in terms of Hindi films last Friday, it has done a satisfactory business with family support. We are running on an average 16 shows per day per property."

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MOVIE REVIEW: I Hate LUV Storys

The first thing that attracts you to I HATE LUV STORYS is its title. Let's face it, we adore love stories... at least I do. We idolise the characters decades after the movies have come and gone. The songs that come on our lips instantly while playing a game of antakshri are romantic songs as well. In fact, the biggest moneyspinners, let's face it, have been love stories, right? So how can we 'hate' a love story?

No matter how mushy or cheesy they are, we find love stories irresistible because of the tremendous rush we experience at the end. Some of us are big suckers for love sagas, aren't we? That's precisely the reason why this title [I HATE LUV STORYS] nagged me no end every time I watched the promo of this film.

Helmed by first-timer Punit Malhotra, I HATE LUV STORYS is typical candyfloss romance with a story that's not jaw-droppingly different, let me forewarn you. But if you're young at heart or a diehard and hopeless romantic, you'd lap up I HATE LUV STORYS like a kid laps up his fav candy.

Now to the vital question: If I HATE LUV STORYS rests on a thin plot, what is it that drives the film for the next two hours? My answer to that is, four factors: The fresh pairing and chemistry between the lead cast, tremendous youth appeal, terrific music and magical moments that make a love story work.

Final word? The makers have never claimed that I HATE LUV STORYS will change the face of Hindi cinema. Nor did they ever claim that I HATE LUV STORYS will change the mindset of the viewer towards romantic films. So let's sit back and enjoy the fun ride. This one's by the youth, for the youth. It's this age-group that would come out smiling, cheering and rooting for this prem kahani.

'I hate love stories' is the maxim Jay [Imran Khan] lives by. But as an assistant director to Veer [Samir Soni], the most famous romantic film-maker of Indian film industry, Jay has little option but to live with larger than life, glossy, cinematic love on an everyday basis. Things only get worse when he is made to work under the new production designer on the film, Simran [Sonam Kapoor], with whom he shares the strangest first encounter.

Simran loves love stories, so much so that even her life has begun to resemble one. With her ideal job and the perfect boyfriend Raj [Samir Dattani], she lives a blissful, dreamy life. One that is rudely interrupted by Jay's cynicism.

Writer-director Punit Malhotra wins Round 1 by casting the right actors in the roles of Jay and Simran. In fact, it wouldn't be erroneous to state that the casting is the trump card of this film. But what Punit ought to know by now is that every story ought to have a strong grip to keep your attention arrested for the next two hours. In this case, the film rests on a waferthin plot, with not much movement in the story in the first hour. In fact, the story barely moves in the first part.

Yes, post-interval, the story does gather momentum and though you're well aware of the journey and what the culmination will be like, you don't mind the ride because you can't take your eyes off Imran and Sonam. Also, a love story works if one pines for the on-screen lovers and in I HATE LUV STORYS, you genuinely want the duo to sort things out, which means that you're involved in their lives. Even the finale - it won't be fair on my part to reveal how this movie concludes - may be filmy or cliched, but let's face it, it works.

Let me draw parallels with another love story, also starring Imran Khan. Recall the finale of JAANE TU YA JAANE NA, which had Imran riding a horse to reach his sweetheart [Genelia] at the airport. I distinctly recall, a lot of people found the end bizzare and rightly so. Can you imagine anyone galloping to the international airport in Mumbai? But I was truly surprised when I learnt that the youth were whistling and clapping all through. The finale is different here [no horses, please] and you exit the auditorium with a smile on your face.

Director Punit Malhotra is heavily inspired by Mills & Boon novels and several Bollywood films... love stories all. But like I pointed out earlier, Punit needs to polish his writing skills, although the director in him bails the writer out and takes the film to a different level. The sequences between Imran and Sonam are well penned, but the ones between Sonam and her parents or Sonam and Samir Dattani are half-baked. Directorially, Punit shows super-confidence in moulding the two actors in their respective parts, so much so that you get sucked into Jay and Simran's world after a while.

A love story ought to be embellished with a lilting score - that's a compulsion - and Vishal-Shekhar are in true form this time. The score is trendy, energetic and beyond fantastic and what's more, it's already a rage. In fact, the musical score only takes the movie a step ahead. Ditto for Salim-Sulaiman's background score, which matches the mood to the T. Ayananka Bose's cinematography is awesome. The ace DoP proved his credentials in KITES recently and with I HATE LUV STORYS, he should find himself entrenched in the top bracket. The styling [Manish Malhotra] is top notch.

Imran enacts his part effortlessly. Though the role doesn't demand histrionics, you keep reacting to Imran because of the magnetism he radiates. The devilish streak in his character is sure to appeal to the youth. Besides, Imran has been photographed and presented very well. Sonam is a revelation. From salwars [SAAWARIYA, DELHI 6] to skirts in I HATE LUV STORYS, Sonam finally gets a role that does justice to her as an actress. The ease and class with which she carries off the glam look is fantastic. She's like a whiff of fresh air and you actually wonder, is she the same girl from SAAWARIYA and DELHI 6? In fact, I HATE LUV STORYS will only multiply Imran and Sonam's fan base manifold.

Samir Dattani is decent, although his role gets sidelined as the story moves forward. Samir Soni's character reminds you of a certain hi-profile director and he plays the part extremely well. Kavin Dave, as Imran's buddy, is first-rate and steals the show in several scenes. Aamir Ali is perfect, while Pooja Ghai doesn't get scope to deliver. Bruna Abdullah looks sensuous and adds to the glam quotient. Ketaki Dave [Sonam's mother] is wasted. Anju Mahendru [Imran's mother] is adequate.

On the whole, I HATE LUV STORYS is a young and vibrant love story with tremendous appeal for the yuppies. The fresh pairing and the on-screen electrifying chemistry, the lilting musical score and the magical moments in the film should attract its target audience - the youth - in hordes. If you're young or young at heart, this one's for you!

RATING: 3.5/5

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