Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara
What is it?
Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara' is one of the biggest and most keenly awaited multi-starrers of the year. Milan Luthria, who directed the first instalment of `Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai' and India's most celebrated film of 2011, `The Dirty Picture', has created this romantic drama shot partly in the Sultanate of Oman, and largely in Mumbai, recreating the 80s. In fact, it's Balaji's third film in a row with Milan Luthria (after `Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai' and `The Dirty Picture').
Rajat Aroraa, who wrote Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and The Dirty Picture, is the writer, and Pritam, who had scored a chartbusting soundtrack for the original, returns on the sequel.
Bad really is the new good as `Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara' sees Akshay Kumar (played by Emraan Hashmi in earlier version) make the transition from the role of an archetypal hero to a flamboyant bad boy, Shoaib. He is joined by Imran Khan (Aslam) and Sonakshi Sinha (Jasmine). For the first time, Imran Khan features in a Muslim character. He essays Akshay's protege, who is torn between duty and love.
The film also sees the return to the silver screen of Sonali Bendre (Mumtaz) in a cameo, after a hiatus of almost ten years. Abhimanyu Singh is playing the role of the cop in the film's sequel which was originally played by Randeep Hooda.
The Storyline
The film's story is of an underworld don, Shohaib (Akshay Kumar), who killed his mentor in the past (Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai) to gain supremacy and is now the ruling mafia king. His influence and power has spread right up to the Middle East, today. Shoaib is now a flamboyant, suave man who is feared and revered.
Shohaib's only confidantes are his best friend Javed, who oversees his empire for him and his former lover Mumtaz (Sonali Bendre) who is now his closest friend. He often visits the poor Muslim areas where he grew up and it is on one such visit that he meets Aslam (Imran Khan). He takes him under his wings and gradually Aslam becomes one of his favourites.
Shohaib wants to gain full control over Bombay and this is met with resistance from two existing gang lords - Vardha and Arun. Vardha and Arun join hands with a cop - Sreenu, whose only purpose in life is finishing off Shohaib's reign, for which he gladly joins hands with the gang lords.
While Bombay continues to be the object of their fancy, Shohaib stumbles upon a young actress - Yasmin (Sonakshi Sinha). He is immediately taken in by her freshness, beauty and candour. Slowly, but surely his attraction towards Yasmin goes onto becoming an obsession. This creates a rift between Shoaib and Aslam and results in the ultimate showdown between the mentor and protege.
The Arrival
`Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobara' is scheduled to release on August 15, 2013.