DIL KA RISHTA: Love Traps a Widow

          NEW DELHI: The first home production of Aishwarya Rai, one of the most popular actresses, opened across theatres in New Delhi on Friday, January 17. 'Dil Ka Rishta' (relationship of heart), co-produced by brother Aditya and scripted by mother Vrinda, marks Aishwarya's foray into production and the film's success is important so far as the future of her newly-formed company, Target Productions.

          A typical romantic melodrama, the film explores the emotional trauma that a young widow, Tia (played by Rai) goes through when she falls in love with the man who had caused the death of her husband. The presence of Bollywood's latest heart-throb Arjun Rampal in the lead is expected to give the much needed twist to the film's otherwise jaded story. The biggest USP for 'Dil Ka Rishta', however, is the timing of the film. Aishwarya returns to the screen for the first time after the hugely popular 'Devdas' which was the only film to have hit box office bonanza last year and shot Rai's popularity to unprecedented heights.

           "I have come here basically to watch Arjun Rampal and Aishwarya Rai, who are a hot pair right now in the industry. And then it is Aishwarya Rai's first film after Devdas. That's why I have come here to see this film," said Akhilesh Mittal, a cinegoer. Suchita Sharma, another film buff, says it will click mainly beacuse of its star cast. "I decided to see this movie basically due to Arjun Rampal and Aishwarya Rai. I think it will be a great movie and it will definitely be a success and Arjun Rampal will be on top," she said.

           Aishwarya's mother Vrinda Rai, a new entrant into the industry, is equally hopeful of the film's success but adds that she doesn't like the excessive media scrutiny. "I am not into hype, I don't like to be under scrutiny. I do not want to be in the limelight, it just happened. Everybody thought to just give it a try," she remarked.

           But despite the initial response, 'Dil Ka Rishta' is not going to have it easy. The former Miss World is pitted against the sensuous Bipasha Basu who is getting down to body basics with 'Jism' (The Body), an erotic thriller which also hit the theatres on Friday. 'Jism' tells the tale of a mysterious young woman who uses her sexuality to trap an alcoholic lawyer to murder her middle-aged husband. Many critics have termed the film as the first adult love story of our times. The competition notwithstanding, director Naresh Malhotra is confident of his movie. "I know it's very scary but a good film always runs. I think I have made a good film and I hope it runs. I am praying to God for it," said Malhotra.

January 17,  2003