Goldie Behl’s attempt at making a fantasy adventure film was not accepted kindly by film critics. The screenplay was certainly sketchy in places. And what really nailed the coffin were the songs. It broke the web of fantasy that was being created. Everytime I entered the world of Drona, there would be a song to break the illusion. And therein lies the failure of such a film.

While most of our metro audiences would accept films like The Mummy, the Harry Potter series, The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings as works of art and describe it as great cinema, they are not so patient with Hindi films. When I saw Wanted as well as The Mummy part 3 – Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, I thought they were really crappy. What would you say about a bullet that travels at a 360 degree angle, kills six people before knocking off the very person who fired the gun?

Do our audiences suffer from a Hindi film complex? Why could we not praise a director who has dared to make something different? Why could we not find words to describe the efforts taken to shoot the action sequences or for that matter the special effects?

Inspite of Drona’s various drawbacks, it was a brave effort. Behl has dared. Most prefer to play it safe and use the same premises of love or situational comedy to make a film. And for that I stand up and applaud Goldie Behl and also so that future film makers are not compelled to stick to the said formula and give us the same wine in a million different bottles.

While the debate continues amongst the smokers and now-smokers relating to the ban on smoking put forward by Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, actor Shahrukh Khan said he would try his level best to quit smoking.

King Khan has welcomed this ban to make India a smoke free country, “It is a good step to make sure that the country is smoke free. Better step would be to ban cigarettes, make them illegal and hang any one who is smoking. We cannot do that as we are a democratic country.”

The superstar further hopes that the smokers take this ban seriously, “I hope everyone call upon their good self to do it. I myself would try my best.”

The Bachchans and Shahrukh Khan always have friction in their relationship. When it just looked like Shahrukh had patched up with the Bachchans by attending the premier of Abhishek’s Drona there was a twist in the tale. This time it involved Bachchan bahu Aishwarya who did not want to answer a question related to SRK. A journo asked if SRK was back in the Bachchan camp to which Ash replied that she cannot answer such a ‘ridiculous question’.

On her career front Aishwarya said she would soon start shooting for a Mani Ratnam movie which will also feature hubby Abhishek Bachchan. Aishwarya and Shahrukh were said to be close to each other have starred opposite each other in Mohabbatein and Devdas. But with the Bachchan surname added, Aishwarya does not seem to be too fond of Shahrukh khan