Will Firangi Be Kapil Sharma’s Second Big-Screen Hit?
Kapil Sharma is neither nervous nor anxious. He is just curious as to how audiences will respond to his second feature film.
You see, Firangi is not what Kapil’s audience expects from him.
“It’s not a typical ‘Kapil Sharma’ laughathon. Hasee aayegi aapko zaroor, Lekin hamare character ke bholepan aur masoomiyat par(you will laugh for sure,but at my character’s simplicity and innocence),” promises Kapil
It’s a comedy, but not the in-your-face guffaw-inducing humour of Kapil’s first film Kiss Kissko Pyar Karoon.
Says the film’s director Rajeev Dhingra, “Kapil and I are friends from the time we ran around in shorts.We grew up together. We know each other too well to pretend about anything. When I decided to direct a film with him we were very sure we won’t do what’s expected from him. There is no point in extending his stand-up comedy act to the large screen. If that’s what he wants to do then he might as continue on television.”
Interestingly Rajiev wanted to start his directorial career with Kapil’s film.
“But Kapil wanted me to work elsewhere before coming to him.So I made the Punjabi film Love Punjab which did well,” says Rajiev.
There is always the fear of the unknown specially when a showbiz icon makes the transition away from his popular image and that too in a period film.
But Kapil is not scared. “When I started in my hometown Amritsar I had nothing but my dreams and parents’ blessings.Today with Firangi I feel am starting all over again.”
In the film trade there is much trepidation , what with all the recent releases falling to the ground.
Says trade analyst Atul Mohan, “Kapil Sharma has a solid fan base .All the negative stories surrounding him have left many disappointed with the media’s coverage of his stardom.No one is going to shun Firangi just because Kapil has stress-related health problems. If the film is good it will work otherwise no power in this universe can make a bad film work.Firangi looks like it will work.”
Critic Raja Sen feels there is way too much obsession with Padmavati in the public mind right now to pay attention to any other film. “People seem more interested in news channels talking about Padmavati than any film that releases in theatres.”
On its side is the fact that there’s no competition for Firangi at the boxoffice . This week’s other release Tera Intezaar features the grand starcast of ArbaazKhan and Sunny Leone.
Do we really need one more flop this year?