Bollywood's dream merchants have churned out sleaze offerings this Valentine's day, giving romantic films the go by.

For people keen to watch mushy stuff with someone special, cinema halls were certainly not the place.

Indian theatres unveiled dampers, sex-thriller "Chahat: Ek Nasha" and sex-drama "Sheesha". "Finding Neverland" and "The Aviator" from Hollywood are the other movies released over the weekend.

Indian viewers were treated to an over-sexed Neha Dhupia in "Sheesha" and an over-weight Manisha Koirala in "Chahat...".

In her second film after "Julie" where Neha had exposed a lot but also showed some acting ability, the former Miss India loses more inhibitions but gains no acting prowess. Neha has a double role opposite Sonu Sood in "Sheesha".

In "Chahat...", a talent like Manisha is wasted away as a flabby, swollen and knocked out fading pop star. She is cast opposite Aryan Vaid with the girl-next-door-turned-wannabe diva Preeti Jhangiani thrown in for a good measure.

While established stars will have no time for good old love stories, some newcomers will try and keep the flames of love burning with little success.

The only so-called romantic film to be released was "Humdum" with new entrants Romit Raaj and Rrutu Joshi. The college flick requires its leads to enter a game show in which they are required to fall in love.

This is Kushan Nandy's second film after "88 Antop Hill". The film may not have much going for it but it is heartening to see producers and directors daring to think differently.

But for the average Hindi film fan who has for long savoured the opulence of Yash Raj Chopra's romances, "Humdum" was no match.