King of Bollywood
British journalist Crystal Chaurasia (Sophie Dahl) decides to make a documentary about a faded Bollywood star of yesteryear, Karan Kumar (Om Puri) or KK. She follows KK as he tries to make his comebac…
King of Bollywood
British journalist Crystal Chaurasia (Sophie Dahl) decides to make a documentary about a faded Bollywood star of yesteryear, Karan Kumar (Om Puri) or KK. She follows KK as he tries to make his comeback with a new movie. KK has been a Bollywood star since the 1970s. He has played a variety of roles including that of a street dance, a cowboy, and so on. Along the way, he has performed several impossible stunts such as catching a bullet by his teeth and spitting it at the villain with such force that it ends up killing him. Crystal gets funding from IFC (International Film Commission) for her project saying that this is a good way for western audiences to learn about Indian culture and Bollywood. The IFC panel is skeptical at Crystals claim's that KK is the King of Bollywood. IFC agrees to fund the project when they get a random India employee from the office into the meeting room and get her to recite dialogues from a KK movie. The employee is able to do narrate the dialogues verbatim. KK is truly the King of Bollywood as when there was a rumor that he passed away, thousands of women in India slit their wrists. Crystal lands in Mumbai. Even though she is a CNN correspondent, she is known as the "BBC lady". She can't find the address of KK's office (44 Gulmohar Street), but when she says she wants to go to KK's office, everyone knows where it is. Ratnesh / Ratty (Manoj Pahwa) is KK's secretary. Crystal adulates KK and tells him that his grandmother married an Indian and started watching Bollywood movies. That's how Crystal came to watch them and became a fan. KK was given a lifetime achievement award 3 years ago but hasn't done a film since. He is delusional about his popularity and rejected offers where he was asked to play the role of a father. KK tells Crystal that he had never given permission to do a documentary on him for all these years as he was not chasing any glory. KK says that he carries super stardom on his shoulders and manages the expectations of millions of his fans as well as the producers, and other staff whose livelihood depends on his films being a hit at the box office. KK is very vain and wears a long hair wig, even though he is bald underneath. Crystal's cameraman Jeremy installs spy cams in KK's office. There he finds that KK is not getting solo hero offers and Ratnesh suggests that KK convinces his son Rahul to join the film industry. But Rahul wants to be an architect. KK argues that there are many stars more senior than him, who are doing films as the primary protagonist and that there is no reason why he cannot do the same. Meanwhile, his son Rahul (Diwakar Pundir) disapproves of his efforts and thinks all of KK's trophies are bought for money and not earned. After a bird defecates on him, which KK considers to be a sign of good fortune, KK decides to launch a film on his own, starring himself in lead role. KK will be the hero, producer and the director of the movie. The name of the movie is Dhak Dhak. Writers are given instructions to create an NRI love story (as they are in fashion) and Punjab distributors won't take the film unless there are guns in it. So, some violence is introduced. KK wants to play a college student in London. Sunny is the assistant director and is livid that he has to work with old men like KK. Sunny wanted to make a marriage themed movie, but his ideas were shot down. KK launches the film in London. To get funding he has to take the daughter of a wealthy businessman as his heroine. His wife Madira is an alcoholic, which seems to be an open secret. At the launch party, KK also announces the title song for his movie and dances with the selected heroine. Mandira (Kavita Kapoor) doesn't like KK dancing with girls the age of his daughter. At shooting, the Guruji decides the position of camera, based on auspiciousness. KK is having sex with his young heroine. Mandira wants to leave but stays when KK calls Crystal to interview her. Crystal finds that Mandira was a bigger star than KK (who was a newcomer), when they met. Rahul is attracted to Crystal and starts meeting her more often. Meanwhile, KK's affair with the heroine becomes public and her father pulls financing. To avoid a disaster, Ratnesh finds another businessman who wants to launch his dumb son into movies. KK changes the script overnight to kill the old heroine and introduce a new side hero and a main heroine Madhu (a dancer whom he had met few months ago and signed her the previous day). KK actually assigns the role of the villain to the side hero, and this angers his dad, who walks away. Crystal steps in and suggest some brilliant script changes to make sense of all the mess. But now Madhu walks off the movie saying that she has been offered a movie as solo heroine with a young Bollywood star. She calls KK her father figure and walks off. Ratnesh finds new financing with another Gujrati businessman. Finally shooting is wrapped up and movies moves into post-production back in Mumbai. The love story between Crystal and Rahul deepens, but Rahul is still aloof with her. KK's financier wants KK to give a dance performance in Paris for his nephew's wedding. KK plants a story about terrorist threat to himself. Despite all the publicity, the film flops. KK tries to win awards for his movie by promising work to the judging panel in his next movie, but he loses in every category (he had got nominations in 7). Mandira calls KK a joke. KK convinces Crystal to sign his next movie. On that basis he convinces Rahul to join the movie industry. To placate Mandira, he casts her as Crystal's mother in the new film titled "Jollywood Bollywood". The circus continues.
King of Bollywood
Comedy,Drama
Film Details
British journalist Crystal Chaurasia (Sophie Dahl) decides to make a documentary about a faded Bollywood star of yesteryear, Karan Kumar (Om Puri) or KK. She follows KK as he tries to make his comeback with a new movie. KK has been a Bollywood star since the 1970s.
He has played a variety of roles including that of a street dance, a cowboy, and so on. Along the way, he has performed several impossible stunts such as catching a bullet by his teeth and spitting it at the villain with such force that it ends up killing him. Crystal gets funding from IFC (International Film Commission) for her project saying that this is a good way for western audiences to learn about Indian culture and Bollywood.
The IFC panel is skeptical at Crystals claim's that KK is the King of Bollywood. IFC agrees to fund the project when they get a random India employee from the office into the meeting room and get her to recite dialogues from a KK movie. The employee is able to do narrate the dialogues verbatim.
KK is truly the King of Bollywood as when there was a rumor that he passed away, thousands of women in India slit their wrists. Crystal lands in Mumbai. Even though she is a CNN correspondent, she is known as the "BBC lady".
She can't find the address of KK's office (44 Gulmohar Street), but when she says she wants to go to KK's office, everyone knows where it is. Ratnesh / Ratty (Manoj Pahwa) is KK's secretary. Crystal adulates KK and tells him that his grandmother married an Indian and started watching Bollywood movies.
That's how Crystal came to watch them and became a fan. KK was given a lifetime achievement award 3 years ago but hasn't done a film since. He is delusional about his popularity and rejected offers where he was asked to play the role of a father.
KK tells Crystal that he had never given permission to do a documentary on him for all these years as he was not chasing any glory. KK says that he carries super stardom on his shoulders and manages the expectations of millions of his fans as well as the producers, and other staff whose livelihood depends on his films being a hit at the box office. KK is very vain and wears a long hair wig, even though he is bald underneath.
Crystal's cameraman Jeremy installs spy cams in KK's office. There he finds that KK is not getting solo hero offers and Ratnesh suggests that KK convinces his son Rahul to join the film industry. But Rahul wants to be an architect.
KK argues that there are many stars more senior than him, who are doing films as the primary protagonist and that there is no reason why he cannot do the same. Meanwhile, his son Rahul (Diwakar Pundir) disapproves of his efforts and thinks all of KK's trophies are bought for money and not earned. After a bird defecates on him, which KK considers to be a sign of good fortune, KK decides to launch a film on his own, starring himself in lead role.
KK will be the hero, producer and the director of the movie. The name of the movie is Dhak Dhak. Writers are given instructions to create an NRI love story (as they are in fashion) and Punjab distributors won't take the film unless there are guns in it.
So, some violence is introduced. KK wants to play a college student in London. Sunny is the assistant director and is livid that he has to work with old men like KK.
Sunny wanted to make a marriage themed movie, but his ideas were shot down. KK launches the film in London. To get funding he has to take the daughter of a wealthy businessman as his heroine.
His wife Madira is an alcoholic, which seems to be an open secret. At the launch party, KK also announces the title song for his movie and dances with the selected heroine. Mandira (Kavita Kapoor) doesn't like KK dancing with girls the age of his daughter.
At shooting, the Guruji decides the position of camera, based on auspiciousness. KK is having sex with his young heroine. Mandira wants to leave but stays when KK calls Crystal to interview her.
Crystal finds that Mandira was a bigger star than KK (who was a newcomer), when they met. Rahul is attracted to Crystal and starts meeting her more often. Meanwhile, KK's affair with the heroine becomes public and her father pulls financing.
To avoid a disaster, Ratnesh finds another businessman who wants to launch his dumb son into movies. KK changes the script overnight to kill the old heroine and introduce a new side hero and a main heroine Madhu (a dancer whom he had met few months ago and signed her the previous day). KK actually assigns the role of the villain to the side hero, and this angers his dad, who walks away.
Crystal steps in and suggest some brilliant script changes to make sense of all the mess. But now Madhu walks off the movie saying that she has been offered a movie as solo heroine with a young Bollywood star. She calls KK her father figure and walks off.
Ratnesh finds new financing with another Gujrati businessman. Finally shooting is wrapped up and movies moves into post-production back in Mumbai. The love story between Crystal and Rahul deepens, but Rahul is still aloof with her.
KK's financier wants KK to give a dance performance in Paris for his nephew's wedding. KK plants a story about terrorist threat to himself. Despite all the publicity, the film flops.
KK tries to win awards for his movie by promising work to the judging panel in his next movie, but he loses in every category (he had got nominations in 7). Mandira calls KK a joke. KK convinces Crystal to sign his next movie.
On that basis he convinces Rahul to join the movie industry. To placate Mandira, he casts her as Crystal's mother in the new film titled "Jollywood Bollywood". The circus continues..