Book Blitz: LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! (Bollywood Bros #3) by Sundari Venkatraman

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)

Publication Date: October 9, 2024

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Language: English

Genre: Contemporary Romance

STORY-IN-BRIEF

HE is the tall, hot and handsome Uday, the youngest and third son from the renowned Bollywood family of Chandhoks. Uday has always aspired to be behind the camera, and these days, he has made a name for himself in the film industry after three award-winning films under his belt.

Into his life walks Yamini Gupta from Ranchi. SHE is not only young and beautiful, but extremely intelligent and career driven. And she wants to work in Bollywood, behind the camera. She feels her dream has come true when she gets the opportunity to become Uday's assistant director.

But can the two stick to only a professional relationship when sparks fly the moment they begin working together?

Sundari Venkatraman is an Indie Author who has 71 books to her credit, the latest book being LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Though it is the third book in the Bollywood Bros trilogy, it can be read as a standalone romance novel. Her books have consistently featured in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.

These days, the author is independently publishing her novels in paperback format under her banner Flaming Sun, printed and distributed by Notion Press. 

Even as a child, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome and she grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, Phantom comics and Mandrake comics. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy ending after the protagonists surmounted all unexpected obstacles.

Once she entered her teens, Sundari switched her loyalties from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to local heroes and heroines. And of course, the joy of vanquishing the ubiquitous evil villains! Her imagination soared and she happily ensconced herself in a rosy romantic cocoon for many years.

Then came the writing—a true bolt from the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.

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Film Review: HOUSEFULL

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Ritesh Deshmukh, Boman Irani, Lara Dutta, Deepika Padukone, Jiah Khan, Chunky Pandey, Randhir Kapoor, Lilette Dubey, Malaika Arora
Director: Sajid Khan

The Story: Arush (Akshay Kumar) leads a jinxed life in the United States of America. He appears to bring bad luck to everyone around him. A casino employs him for the sheer bad luck he brings along to ensure that customers lose. He is in love with Pooja (Malaika Arora) and believes his marriage to her would change his luck overnight. But she wants out as he has brought nothing but ill luck to her. The sad Arush takes a flight to London to visit his friend Bob (Ritesh Deshmukh). Bob is married to Hetal and it is on their second anniversary night that Arush lands up at their home as a surprise (shock). He almost gets thrown out but Bob is too fond of his friend and takes him back in. Hetal and Bob introduce Arush to their employer Kishore Samtani (Randhir Kapoor) who is a billionaire. His daughter Devika (Jiah Khan) agrees to marry Arush the moment she sees him. Arush is thrilled to get married to Devika and they become owners to 500 million pounds from Devika’s father. Arush goes on his honeymoon but is heartbroken to find out that Devika loves an Englishman and had agreed to marry Arush to escape her father’s clutches. Arush jumps into the sea to commit suicide only to be saved by the beautiful Sandy (Deepika Padukone). The story continues with the luck changing in Arush’s favour. Don’t want to say much more and give out spoilers….???

My Perception: This is Sajid Khan’s second film and considering what I thought about the first one – Heyy Babyy (“boring” in one word) – I should not have gone to this. But what with the dearth of Bollywood films, I went to see it along with my husband and daughter in a kind of desperation. Of course, I made sure that I left my brain back at home. Even then…

Akshay Kumar has taken to acting a fool in all his recent films. Does that mean that it is less of an effort and that’s why he is taking on such roles? He is a very good actor and why he would continue to take such dumb roles is beyond me. He works hard (?) to create forced comedy that is not funny at all.

Ritesh Deshmukh was very good in his role and so was Lara Dutta, but nothing outstanding in either case. Deepika Padukone was sizzling hot. She looks gorgeous and her acting skills are improving day by day. Arjun Rampal looked hot too and was excellent in his role as Major Krishna Rao. Boman Irani brought on a number of laughs as Lara’s father. Chunky Pandey’s acting and dialogue delivery is definitely worth a mention. Jiah Khan looked and acted like a slut. I wonder whether the role demanded that. Lillette Dubey had a blink-and-miss role that did not demand much of her acting skills. Randhir Kapoor was in a drunken stupor in all his scenes. That maybe came naturally.

I need to mention here that a part of the film – where the partners are interchanged to fool the parent and uncle with a large home and a fake baby – is a rip-off from the Kamal Haasan-Prabhudeva starrer Kadhala Kadhala. The Tamil film was far superior to this flick.

Yes, I did laugh a lot during the film. But ask me what I laughed about – I know not and I care not.

May be Sajid Khan does not care either.

Verdict: I am sure anyone who watches Hindi films will see it as there are not many offerings from B-Town.

Rating: **Shaky

* Silly
** Shaky
*** Smart
**** Snazzy
***** Super