When two brothers fall for the same girl
A tiny, tacky-looking book of quotable quotes reads, 'A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.'
And in the movies, more often than not, share the same object of affection too.
Be it Hollywood's Sabrina, which had two brothers -- a somber Humphrey Bogart and flirtatious William Holden vying for the lovely Audrey Hepburn's attention or the soon-to-release Sorry Bhai where Sharman Joshi develops a huge crush on his bade bhaiya Sanjay Suri's fiancee, Chitrangda Singh.
Eventually, one gets the girl while the other nurses his broken heart and walks with all the audience sympathy.
Let's take a look at Bollywood's other reel-time siblings who've committed similar folly.
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Saajan
Technically, Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan aren't related in Lawrence D'Souza's super successful Saajan. But after the latter's affluent parents adopt Dutt, playing a physically challenged poet, their bond is thicker than blood. Meanwhile, Sallu plays the skirt chaser to the hilt. Until love at first sight hits him with a thud thanks bicycled babe, Madhuri Dixit.
Only MD is already soft on a certain, anonymous poet. No rocket science needed to guess who might that be. After playing an exhaustive game of musical chairs, the brothers decide to give the audience a break and make a final decision.
Luckily for its stars, everyone got a fair share of audience empathy, the songs became a huge rage and Saajan became one of 1991's biggest hits. Sometime ago, there were talks of D'Souza wanting to remake the love triangle with John Abraham, Shahid Kapur and Kangana Ranaut but nothing came out of it.
Yeh Dillagi
In Yash Raj Films version of Sabrina, a bespectacled Akshay Kumar embodies credibility and plays the protective big bro to a wavy haired -- Saif Ali Khan, not nearly convincing as Mr Lady Killer (well, not in the nineties anyway!).
As it happens, Akki harbours a secret crush on his chauffer's daughter, Kajol while Saif snubs her at every given opportunity. A glamorous makeover in Mumbai helps her cause and before she knows it Saif's eating out of her hands.
In other words, another emotional romantic triangle looming large on our heads. God bless Karisma Kapoor for showing up in the end and saving the world from witnessing yet another heartbreak.
Spontaneous performances from the cast coupled with convincing camaraderie did Yeh Dillagi and the box office a world of good.
Chal Mere Bhai
What happens when you spend too much time with your brother? You begin to have the same likes and dislikes. Atleast that's what happens in the case of Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan in Chal Mere Bhai.
They gym together. They sing together. And expectedly, want to marry the same garishly dressed girl (Karisma). Again, on discovering the truth, the brothers go on a Let-me-be-the-martyr spree.
Instead of recreating the magic of Saajan, this melodramatic mockery of emotions grates on the nerves, which is neither funny nor engaging.
Dillagi
Like most big movies, Dillagi came with its share of hype as well. For one it marked Sunny Deol's directorial debut. Secondly, it paired him and kid brother Bobby, essaying real life roles on celluloid, opposite Urmila Matondkar, fresh after the success of Rangeela, under papa Dharmendra's banner, Vijeta Films.
While Sunny plays the responsible, caring types, Bobby stands for everything brash and bratty. After Bobby toys around with a gullible Urmila's feelings, Sunny steps into the picture to mend her broken heart.
Although Dillagi was rather harmless and not too bad for a first attempt, it failed to make any connection with its audience.
Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin
Dillagi's failure is often attributed to another Sunny Deol starrer Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin, which was released a few months earlier. The two movies share a pretty much similar theme. Deol is, again, the reliable, subdued, family-oriented big brother in contrast to his flamboyant, frivolous chota bhai, Apoorva Asrani.
Trouble brews when both of them fall for Mahima Chaudhry. Even as they indulge in voluntary sacrifices in turns, the audiences cry aloud, Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin.
For all its display of brotherly affection, the film bombed.
Race
Nothing is what it seems in Abbas Mustan's super convoluted, Race. And so even if it's strictly deceptive, the viewer is made to believe, step brothers Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna have lost their hearts to the same supermodel, Bipasha Basu.
Realizing that his stepping out of the picture will rid Akshaye off his drinking habits, Saif makes a hasty exit from smoldering Bipasha's life.
That Race has a nasty twist at the end of every reel is another story. Even so, the short-lived love triangle had its moments, good enough to make it to our list.
rediff.com
Edited by surkikhani - 15 years ago