Jab they split: Shahid-Kareena

People are now curious to figure out what happened while the relationship was going all kaput
With news of Saif-Kareena being ‘together’ and Shahid annoucing his single status barely days before the release of Jab We Met, it seems that the film could well do with some efforts of retitling. Following news of the break-up, Shahid-Kareena onscreen pair which had never been a favourite with the big screen, now seems to be all poised to ride on the sympathy and curiosity wave. People are now curious to figure out what happened while the relationship was going all kaput and whether it has had any impact on the couple’s onscreen chemistry.

Vikas Syal, regional general manager of a city multiplex, anticipates that this controversy is surely going to boost the film’s opening. The controversy regarding the relationship has made the film a talking point. It will surely generate an initial hype. I can’t say for sure whether we are going to increase the number of shows now since such decisions depend on how the past movies have been faring at the box office. With Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag doing very well at the box office, I can’t commit on increasing the number of shows of Jab We Met. But yes, the timing of the announcement of the spilt will work to the advantage of the film, Syal said.

Does this then give reasons to the person in charge of handling JWM’s publicity to not slog hard to push the film forward? When CT asked JWM publicist Parag Desai whether the split news has rendered redundant all the other publicity attempts of Shahid boarding a local train at midnight to prompte the film, he said, We are going ahead with what we had planned. We don’t need to do any extra stuff now. Earlier the idea was to connect Shahid-Kareena’s real life relationship with the reel life chemistry. But now, we’ve done away with promotional events that were to have the two of them together.

What about the timing of Saif admitting to his relationship? Desai, expectedly, doesn’t admit to this being part of any strategy. We never planned this. Initially, we were worried that this news would harm the film. It was a shock for us. Then we thought, side mein chal raha hai to thik hai. But now, I can say that all this has only helped in generating a buzz.

When CT asked director Imtiaz Ali whether the timing of the announcement has helped him, he said, I don’t think one ought to write an article on the timing of the announcement and its impact on the film. It’s the actors’ personal decision and I have no authority to make inroads into that territory. The agreement that we have with actors doesn’t imply anything about them talking or not talking about their personal lives. There is absoultely no animosity between us. Personally, I wouldn’t know about the scientific planning that goes into whether such announcements can have an impact on the film’s box office prospects.

Statistics will finally have the last word but wonder whether the Shahid-Kareena film should now be called Jab They Split!

Courtesy :www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com