Friday, 16 August, 2002, 14:42 GMT 15:42 UK Mujhse Dosti Karoje: Your views
Kareena Kapoor: Long-distance love story
Mujhse Dosti Karoje (Will You Be My Friend?), just released in the UK, stars Hrithik Roshan, who falls in love with an old friend back in India after settling in England with his family.
The film is directed by Kunil Kohli and took £204,490 in its first three days of release in the UK, despite playing at only 32 screens around the country.
"Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee share occasional momemts of sparkle and promise, but add in the all too familiar climax, and you are left with a Bolly flick, full of the usual genre clichés and predictable plot twists," wrote Omar Ahmed.
But what do you think?
Is it a disappointment? Is Hrithik Roshan a promising actor?
BBC News Online users had their say.
I liked the film very much. I would watch it over and over again. I loved it it was the best film ever. I have the Audio tape, DVD, Video and VCD and SVCD. It's 100 out of 100.
Nisha, UK
It is a total disappointment. Hrithik Roshan is an average guy. He should go for supporting roles rather than lead roles. He has no ability to shoulder a film on his own except his first which was more of a marketing success. Some segments of media for reasons unclear are trying to portray him a one of the greatest in Indian cinema but the fact of the matter is he is just an average actor. As far as the film is concerned, the movie makers should think of some better ideas rather than unrealistic and predictable plots as such.
Ash, USA
Another film with hardly any story line, a typical Bollywood product. Most if not all from the Indian subcontinent do not fall in love with someone from India as there is a huge cultural difference.
ABCD, UK
The acting by Hrithik Roshan and Kareen Kapoor was pathetic, the only face saver was Rani Mukherji but not a great character to show her acting talent. The movie is being sold on the name of these three big actors. On the whole out of 10 this movie can be rated at 3-4 .
Chandresh, India
Last Saturday I went to this film with my friend. It's not one of the worst films I've ever seen but it's also definitely not one of the best. The storyline is not original (theme of a love triangle has been dealt with in zillion movies) and there are some things which don't add up (Rani has had the same computer for 15 years, but 15 years ago there was no email!). The film is also too predictable and I don't think that Hrithik is one of the best actors in Bollywood. He can learn a thing or two from Shah Rukh who in my opinion is still the best actor (together with Ajay Devgan) in Bollywood.
Gaitrie Goli, Netherlands
One may recall watching Hrithik Roshan play the reluctant sacrificial lamb in Subhash Ghai's Yaadein. In Mujhse Dosti Karoge, he does the same with renewed enthusiasm. He is competent and impresses with his dancing skills. Anyone who feels Roshan Jr has lost his hold on the audience needs to watch this film. The audience's excited whistles and claps at practically all his scenes is proof enough.
Anyway, Hrithik Roshan steals the show from the two petite ladies.
Farhan Ajmal, Pakistan
Can't Bollywood think of ideas other than love stories?
Tipu Sultan, UK
With regards to Hrithik Roshan, he is a disappointment. How can he call himself an actor when he's only willing to play the same character in movie after movie? As for promising, unless he's willing to take a risk and try challenging roles instead of always chasing after the $, I don't see a promising future.
Rohit, USA – India
Hrithik is best! No doubt… And yes, Sharukh sucks….. He does not act, he OVERACTS. Like in Navtankis. So, please guys, stop comparison. There isn't any!
Peter, USA – India
Hrithik and Kareena need to take a long vacation from films and attend some serious acting school. Instead of spending senseless hours in the gym only, they should really get some acting 101 classes.
Joe, USA
I was expecting something good from the director because he used to screw all movies left, right and centre when he was a show host come movie critic. I wanted to leave the movie within the first half-hour but decided to sleep in the AC, as it was very hot outside. And surprise … surprise… I still knew what happened with in one and half-hours when I was asleep.
Sandeep, England
Shame on the producer, the director, Hrithik, Karena and Rani for wasting their time and people's time by making a third class movie – has no value to anyone like most Hrithik movies.
Taurus Rome, USA
I will not recommend this film even to someone who is bored and has nothing better to do.
Rajesh Kumar, India
These absurd Bollywood movies are the biggest embarrassment to an Indian living abroad today. These film makers with little or no creative vision has done enough damage to our contemporary Indian culture and values. They have made enough cash with their trash by pandering to the vain desires of the proletariat. But what's more surprising is the fact that our so called educated Indian (middle-upper middle class whatever!!) with global views are actually paying to watch their ravishing stars gyrating around bushes in the Alps.
Coppola, India
Kareena's annoying and shrilling voice gave me a headache. Her facial expression is too absurd and comical.These young actors try to immitate American accents but most of them can't pronounce American words well. Kareena Kapoor dresses hideously.Only the school drop outs and trashy girls in dress so seductively in America. Most Indian producers and directors are laughing stocks among the NRIs.
Pradeshi, India
MDK is one of the best movies of Hrithik and Rani's careers (I wish I could say the same about Kareena's career). Sure, the story line is cliched and predictable, but these two actors did the best they could given the material they had. There is a definite media bias against Hrithik, who I think is a fine actor yearning for better material. Rani gives a subtle, yet poignant performance. Kareena has become typecast as the ultimate spoiled snob, which she appears to be in reality as well. I would recommend MDK to anyone looking for a typical Bollywood love story.
Tina, Edison, NJ, USA
Why do these directors/producers even bother making such third rate movies?!! Why do they waste so much money? Do they not see the poverty around them? I wish they would donate money to good causes within India, instead of making these poor people live in fantasy land.
Kirpal, USA
Having watched the film I felt what a waste of money, I seriously felt that I was entitled to a refund, but was persuaded by wife not to. What is the film about? Acting was poor, the story was just repetitive dribble, when are the Bollywood lot going to realise these kind of films will always be a flop if there is no emotive storylines, and no decent acting? Thus these kind of films are just good for those who are just don't like films to be mentally challeging.
Sandeep Magar, UK
Of course Hrithik is a promising actor. But if he is selling his talents for a movie like this, it definitely will pull down his fame. The movie, briefly, is much about nothing.
Jossy, Susmitha, Sulatha & Pramod, United Arab Emirates
I invited a few of my British mates to go and watch this movie encouraging them that it had a great star cast and that they will really enjoy it. But I was disappointed and felt bad when we left the cinema. I wish Bollywood would make great movies so that we can be very proud and invite foreign people to watch them. It's just the same old thing again and agian.
Seyed Jahangir, U.K
If Bollywood is the cultural face of the "emerging regional power", then there is a long, long way to go before the power finally "emerges".
Nausherwan Lahori, Lahore, Pakistan
For God's sake, Indian directors and actors should stop making fools of themselves. Hrithik of course does not have a choice; as it is he's had too many flops in a row. Honestly, he should take a break from those repetitive dance steps and fixed expressions. It's not happening. And Kareena could at least learn from her sister.
Rhea, India
Rithik Roshan should quit acting in movies and start taking lessons in acting. One more thing about Bollywood directors is that they should know that entertainment does not mean only Love Story with the hero and heroine dancing in the streets. They should know that movies should be based on reality and there should be some amount of creativity in a movie.
Kalyan, USA
I watched Bollywood's Lagaan after nealy 20 years of shunning commercial Hindi films. That got me interested again. But Lagaan apparently was an exception to the Bollywood rule – which is trash, trash and more trash. Thanks for the heads up on this another mindless movie. I fault the Indian audience more for desiring such nonsense movies. These far-fetched run-of-the-mill fantasies are made to meet demand. So why blame the maker?
TKS, USA
After just 30 minutes in the movie I fell asleep. It was THE most boring movie I ever saw. The movie was undoubtedly targeted for NRI audience with no story line and guess what, after the movie when my friend woke me I could predict the movie inside out! A complete debacle and shame to Bollywood.
Shantanu R, USA
I just want to say that the comment that Gaitri didn't correctly understood that the purpose of this movie was just for entertainment only (like most of the Bollywood movies). So for Gaitri, next try to sit back and relax and watch the movie as if you were a lot younger.
Rokesh, Netherlands
Hrithik is one of the best actors, and Bollywood is better than all other country's movies. In all Hrithik movies there is a story.
Edna, India
I think Hrithik should stop playing the lead roles. He does not have the calibre to make a move hit on his own. He should do more supporting roles like in K3G which was a hit.
Nirvan, USA
Just another attempt to cash Hrithik's heroic image (if threre is any). Weak story line, weak performances. There is a big difference between an actor and and a hero. Hrithik came into Bollywood as a hero, he wasn't an actor at all from his first day. But after his flop movies like this he has lost his ONLY heroic imgae too.
Shahzad, Pakistan
Tags: bollywood, critical literacy, entertainment, film video, hindi films, hindi movies, india, indie filmmaking, literary criticism, movies
