Baazigar is inspired by the Matt Dillon flick A Kiss Before Dying, which itself is a remake of the 1956 near-noir classic of the same name. The film revolves around 2 sisters, Shilpa Shetty and Kajol, and the men that come into their lives. Both men are played by Shahrukh Khan, so you can imagine the complications that will create. The first one's the typical Indian college student: perfect grades, dead father, sick mother......The second one is a race car driver (the cool one). Each has his own reasons for being with the girl and it's these motives and their repercussions that form the crux of the film. Now if you LOVE Bollywood movies, then stay away from this one. There is no happy resolution, or songs in the Swiss Alps, or Designer Clothing for the hero. In fact, the wardrobe and makeup departments seem to be on strike during this movie. But that's really a blessing because the actors' "natural" look complements the film's dark tone. Baazigar is a twisted tale of revenge with much tasteless violence, so you wouldn't want your hero cleaning blood off his GAP shirts every ten minutes (of course we wouldn't have such concerns if Salman had accepted this role). That reminds me, the acting in this movie is ...... well, it varies. The supporting cast doesn't impress: Rakhee's okay, Shetty's pretty weak (as are the two fathers), and the inspector is just sad. ON the other hand, Kajol gives a sincere performance that's a hint of things to come. She breathes life and brings restraint to a character that's usually butchered by over-the-top Indian actresses who substitute crying for acting. She's only 17 or 18 but her confidence and chemistry with the Rukhster are quite evident. But this is Shahrukh's movie. After Salman wisely turned it down, Shahrukh saw this as his big chance and capitalized. From studying for his exams and manipulating Shilpa Shetty, to racking up the body count and bringing down the house with Kaali Kaali Aankhen, the man held nothing back. He was still an actor at this point and played the dual role well. You're always able to tell which character's onscreen. This movie is like Darr - which was released a few months later - in the sense that whether you like it or not has nothing to do with the film itself and everything to do with the lead's performance. The film could have spent more time in the editing room as many portions drag, and some scenes feel flat due to the aforementioned lack of funding. In the end, Baazigar may or may not be good filmaking but it's a must for Shahrukh fans.
