Who's the latest item girl?

She grooves to a remix of the classic song 'Apni Toh Jaise Taise' in 'Housefull'

Jacqueline Fernandes' career as a heroine didn't start off with a bang (we're still reeling from her turn in 'Aladdin'), and she's stunned us with her single smiley expression in 'Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai'. But she might just have found her niche now. Jacqueline features in the remix of the classic song 'Apni Toh Jaise Taise' in the upcoming Akshay Kumar starrer 'Housefull', and we have to admit she looks quite stunning. She goes all out-glam in the song and dances with Akshay and Riteish Deshmukh. The music's by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, and the choreography is by Farah Khan. So we hope to see a dancing side of Jacqueline that's more fun than watching her act.

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B.O. update: Excellent start of 'Prince' takes industry by surprise

I've always said, box-office is most unpredictable and that's the beauty of this business. The industry was confident that Kumar Taurani's PRINCE, starring Vivek Oberoi and directed by debutante Kookie Gulati, would embark on a thanda start at the ticket window, but its excellent start caught the industry completely unaware. The opening shows were in 50% to 70% range and at places, even better [packed to capacity].

After MY NAME IS KHAN, not a single film had registered a bountiful start at the ticket window. But Kumar Taurani's superb promotional strategy and Vivek Oberoi's perseverance seem to have paid off.

The second release, JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI, had a tepid start. However, the reports are decent and the film should gather momentum from Friday evening onwards.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai

Love stories seem to be the fav genre of dream merchants here. I've a hunch, if we ever do a count of romantic films made in Bollywood, it would easily score over other genres. The question is, how innovative can a love story get in today's times? Milap Zaveri provides the answer: Man from Earth, woman from Venus.

Having penned some likable comic capers in the past [MASTI, HEYY BABYY], Milap's directorial debut JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI has liberal doses of light moments dominating the first half of the film and heartache and reunion following soon after, in its post-interval portions.

JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI works for its light moments mainly. It's bizarre to think of a love story between a human and an alien, but Milap garnishes it well with assorted characters, sets the story in the film industry and has several laugh-inducing moments. Resultantly, the first half is paisa vasool in filmi lingo.

But the problem arises when the focus shifts to the prem kahani in its second half. For, the story follows the trodden path [it becomes a love triangle] and embarks on the same old route that all love stories usually embark upon. If Milap had the courage to think out of the box, he should've ensured that the film remained true to its essence. Why didn't he think of an equally wacky second hour?

Notwithstanding its predictable second half, JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI is a decent watch that provides ample laughs.

JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI is the story of Rajesh [Riteish Deshmukh], a simple Gujarati boy who's been looking for love since he was a baby. Thoroughly unsuccessful in his endeavours, he nearly gives up till he meets Natasha [Sonal Sehgal].

Desh [Ruslaan Mumtaz] is the youngest superstar in the country. Mothers want to adopt him and their daughters want to marry him. But when will he find the girl of his dreams? Their worlds turn upside down when Tara [Jacqueline Fernandez], an alien from Venus, lands on Earth in the search of true love.

Milap tickles your funny bone at the very outset. The story of a loser, his search for true love, his 'naughty' father, his 'oversexed' friend and his experiences at his work place [on a film set] bring a constant smile on your face. In fact, one of the key factors why the first half works is because the casting is just right and the actors carry off the assigned roles so well.

But the second half fumbles because the story gets very old-fashioned. If the alien could travel all the way to earth to find love, why couldn't she profess love to the man she loves the most? Why develop human emotions all of a sudden?

This is Milap's directorial debut and he clearly shows a flair for comic entertainers. Sajid-Wajid's music is pleasant, with the title track standing out. Attar Singh Saini's cinematography is perfect.

Riteish enacts his part efficiently. That he's at home in comedy is well-known by now, but the actor is equally at ease in emotional moments and also romantic sequences. Jacqueline is easy on the eyes. In fact, she seems more comfortable this time. Vishal Malhotra is superb and contributes enormously in making the proceedings lively. Ruslaan carries the teen heart-throb look very well. Sonal Sehgal is competent.

Farah Khan is a complete natural. Satish Shah is excellent. Supriya Pilgaonkar does well too. Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Sajid Khan and Amrita Rao make special appearances in the film.

On the whole, JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI is a light-hearted entertainer targeted at the youth. It has a thoroughly entertaining first half, but a routine second half. A decent watch!

RATING: 2.5/5

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Jacqueline has two back-to-back films with Ritesh

Sri Lankan import Jacqueline Fernandes makes her B-Town debut with Sujoy Ghosh's Aladin. She has also completed Milap Zaveri's Jaane Kahaan Se Aayi Hai.

Both films have Riteish Deshmukh as her co-star. "Riteish was one of the few people I know since my early days in Mumbai. He is a gem of a person; one of the nicest guys I know. Two movies down with him and I know I can do anything for him. And he can do anything for me."

The actress has been waiting for Aladin to release for long. "Every time I hear that the release date is changed, it is like, "Oh no, please don't do this." But now the film is releasing in October- end, she feels everything takes its own time and place."

The newbie had no clue about Bollywood and was not a keen watcher of Hindi films even though for her dad, it is a familiar territory. "When I told him who were my co-stars were for Aladin, he was more excited than me!"

Jackie is not allowing her lack of knowledge of Hindi be a deterrent. "I have been taking Hindi classes and have improved a lot. When I auditioned for Aladin, I was terrible. Later, at Sujoy's behest I enrolled at Barry John's acting studio.

I also had acting coach Vinod Tharani on the sets helping me with the dialogues and scenes."

As Milap was a constant visitor on the sets of Aladin, she bagged Jaane Kahaan Se Aayi Hai and having Ritesh as her co-star helped. "Now I am only waiting for my films to release."

Jackie who?
Jacqueline Fernandes is a Miss Sri Lanka who did her schooling in Bahrain where her father Elroy and mom Kim, who is a Malaysian, are based. She studied media communications in Sydney and returned to Colombo where her aunt Fredericka Jamsc, a political journalist, introduced her to the TV world. Jacqueline anchored a telly show for a while till she reached Mumbai on a modelling contract which ultimately led her to a role in Aladin.

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