GLAM LAUNCH FOR BOOK ON BOLLYWOOD

Rajashree is not like Parvati, the lead protagonist of her debut novel, Trust Me. She is the quintessential Hindi film buff who stood in a queue for five hours to get tickets for the blockbuster film Sholay. This, she point out, is a stark departure from Parvati, who has a condescending attitude towards Bollywood. However, that does not stop Parvati from dabbling in films, encountering the myth called “casting couch’ and falling in love with the younger actor Rahul. Designed as a satirical take on Bollywood, Trust Me is replete with anecdotes and characters like Jumbo, that one may come across only in the world of Hindi Cinema. “Jumbo is a typical Mumbai filmmaker. He believes in white shoes, black money and the casting couch,” writes Rajashree. Even the romance between Parvati and Rahul emerges out of the formula Bollywood film, with Rahul holding Parvati’s hands on a moonlit night.

The launch of Rajashree’s Trust Me in Kolkata at Crossword on Tuesday carried its own sense of drama and glamour. While actor Rituparna Sengupta and actor – director Anjan Datta hiked up the glam quotient at the event, relentless questions from the audience kept the panelists busy throughout the evening. Ritupurna handled the queries on the casting couch in a smart manner. “It depends upon the perspective of the individual – how badly he/she really needs it,” she said.

Rituparna met Rajashree in Goa. “I was there for the screening of my films and it was there that Rajashree first told me about her book launch,” said the actor. Rajashree did not hesitate to shower Ritupurna with compliments. “She is one of the sexiest women in Indian cinema,” said the author. The book launch, with all its filmi moments, was appreciated by those present. Eminent personalities such as Gulzar and Kudan Shah have already put in a good word for Rajashree and Trust Me. If this transforms into good sales figures, Rajashree surely could not ask for anything more. Trust us.

– Ht City Correspondent