King of Bollywood: Good for a few laughs
 

They should have named it "Clown of Bollywood".With our desi Elvis Presley Om Puri gyrating to raunchy tunes in outlandish outfits, the movie scales new heights of buffoonery. Touted as a satire on the life of a Bollywood actor who is past his prime but refuses to face the reality, it turns out to be nothing more than a slapstick comedy.

It's the story of Karan Kumar,better known as KK (Om Puri), who, in his heyday, was the top Hindi film actor.With one smash hit after another, he was once called the "King of Bollywood".Not any more.With his sheen fading, he is now nothing more than a shadow of his former self. But KK still lives in a world of delusion and has big notions about himself.

Comes Crystal Chaurasia (Sophia Dahl), a 24-year-old NRI documentary film-maker from the UK, who wants to make a documentary under the aegis of the International Film Commission on KK. Finally, KK is convinced that he is over the hill and tries to persuade his son to become an actor to carry forward his legacy.

Except for a few clownish antics of Om Puri and ravishing looks of Sophie Dahl, the film contains nothing substantial to make it measure up to the standards of a rollicking comedy. (TNS)