Heroine

This shallow but well-meaning film exposes the dark inner reality of Bollywood from its female protagonist’s perspective. To her fans, No.1 heroine Mahi Arora (Kareena Kapoor) has it all: fair skin, a hot body, some acting ability. But Mahi’s personal life is a mess. She’s moody, insecure, an alcoholic and her career is nose-diving. Will delving into ‘arty’ cinema enable the ageing diva to regain her glory? Lest we forget, this is about the big, bad ‘film industry’ so every stock bolly-stereotype is here: gay male hairdressers, loud cops, bitchy gossipmongers, vengeful critics, bisexual filmmakers, cad actors. Kapoor is credible; she’s perhaps playing herself. This is a one-note film that never manages to break free from the limitations imposed by its own clichéd plot. Nevertheless, it’s camp fun. Meow!