There is no big movie release this Friday, presumably because no producer wants to take the risk when Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' has already been attracting huge crowds since last Friday and Aamir Khan starrer mega 'Ghajini' is waiting in the wings to hit the screens on December 25th. Besides, there were no major theaters available for any movie's exhibition. In spite of all this, a movie casting yesteryears' mega star Rajesh Khanna titled 'Wafaa' opposite a newcomer heroine was released this Friday, but in small towns only in the absence of major theaters' unavailability.
Item girl Rakhi's brother Rakesh Sawant has written 'Wafaa's script and got it funded though with great difficulty by a new financier Shambhu Pandey. The filmmaker wished to sign Big B for the lead role but in vain as it has a small budget. So, he chose Rajesh Khanna instead to do the lead role. Khanna was too happy with the script and readily agreed to give dates for the shooting. According to the producer's spokesman, Vijendra Nagar, they finalized Thailand for the shooting. The movie was completed within two months. Then arose another problem.
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There was a long duration bed scene picturized on Rajesh Khanna and the new heroine named Saara Khan in the movie. The Censors objected to its long duration and sought it to be reduced. The producer succumbed to the Censor Board's pressure and cut it accordingly. However, the movie took more time to be ready for release. As a result, the movie didn't get good theaters for its screening. Obviously, Rajesh Khanna's fans got disappointed, as it wasn't released in Delhi though it has been released with two-dozen prints in the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh territory, according to the movie's distributor Anil Malhotra.
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Incidentally, the other movie titled 'Raj Tilak' was also released simultaneously faced the same problem of theaters. This is the Hindi version of the already screened Hollywood action thriller 'In the Name of King'. The movie's distributor Sanjay Ghai claims that the movie has grossed a huge business in the USA and the UK. He says that the Mukta Movies has released it with more than thirty prints.
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While critically analyzing the movie, we wonder as to why a super star like Rajesh Khanna agreed to do it. It's a pity that he sports blond hair to look younger than he is and then marries with a relatively too young girl. The latter is sex hungry and cheats her husband by jiving with a driver. Though the movie is titled 'Wafaa', it could have better been called 'Bewafaa', meaning unfaithful. Rajesh Khanna is dumped by his unfaithful wife and only a cop played by Sudesh Berry uncovers this mystery. The movie is an eye opener for all - the producer, the director and the hero (Rajesh Khanna) to avoid thrusting roles on well-known stars with those they aren't fit for. Isn't it good that many people wouldn't see their once super star in such a shabby role?
