Two best friends. They want the same thing for different reasons. One wants to perform live to a packed Wembley Stadium, while the other wants to succeed through whatever means. One does it for the love of music, the other for fame. But on the way to realize their dreams, they would have to make sacrifices.
London Dreams, starring Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan as two friends who dream of becoming rock stars, is a film about friendship, music, love, trust, ambition, fame and sacrifice. Asin forms the common love angle between the two friends.
Don’t miss the film’s rocking trailer here:
Director Vipul Amrutlal Shah has styled Devgan’s rockstar character on the Irish rocker Bono, the frontman of U2.
Slated for release on October 30, the film has been shot in Punjab, London and Paris. It has a song that was especially shot on Salman and Asin in front of Paris’ famous Louvre Museum.
‘London Dreams’ has music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. Costumes are by Sarah Tapscott.
Loud and boisterous, he is the loveable rogue who chases women, drinks heartily and is heavily into debts. He is an absolute devil, who happens to sing like an angel. His only redeeming feature is his absolute belief in his friendship with Arjun. But naive Mannu doesn't know that this friendship will plunge him into morasses of drugs and destruction, where death may be the only way out.
Ajay Devgan: Arjun
Intense and darkly brooding, he is a complex man burdened by guilt, jealously, and the belief that God has abandoned him. But he's also deeply committed to making the dream that has haunted him since childhood into reality. Such is his obsessive compulsion to fulfill his dream that he won't hesitate to manipulate and destroy the one human being who has implicit and total faith in him - his friend Mannu.
Asin: Priya
She's this conservative South Indian girl weaned on Carnatic music and Bharatnatyam, whose heart secretly yearns for hip hop and rock. When she meets Arjun, she's impressed by his intensity and love for music. And then she meets bold, bad Mannu who declares his love or her at first sight. She laughs him off, little realizing that she's going to be the catalyst who will turn dreams into nightmares.
Rannvijay Singh: Zoheb
He is blindly loyal to Arjun and only sees the world through the prism of Arjun's eyes - and so Arjun's joy is his joy, Arjun's pain is his pain, and Arjun's perceived enemy, he makes his own too.
Adithya Roy Kapoor : Wasim
He may be Zoheb's brother. He may be as loyal to Arjun. But he isn't as blind and retained the capacity to tell right from wrong... good from bad...
Synopsis
They were childhood friends. But they had little in common except their family's vague connection with music. While Arjun's life was consumed by a passionate drive to get on stage and realize his grandfather's unfulfilled dream, Mannu had little interest in his music tutor father's instruments and was content with remaining a child at heart with no higher ambition than enjoying the good things in life. But little did they expect music to strengthen their friendship and then test it with catastrophic results...
Arjun diligently pursued his dream, at the risk of running away from an uncle who was his only family in an unfamiliar land and roaming the streets of London before taking shelter in a music shop and priming himself until he's ready to make his foray into the world of music and showmanship.
As Arjun forges a band with Zoheb and Wasim, two brothers who'd duped their relatives in Pakistan to travel to London in pursuit of their musical aspirations, and Priya, a music enthusiast from a conservative South Indian family, far away in Punjab, music becomes a survival tool for Mannu, who takes to playing in wedding bands in his village.
But when he gets Mannu to London and makes him a part of the band, Arjun soon realizes he's created the biggest threat and obstacle to his own ambitions.
For, Mannu, with his inherent musical gift and irreverent style of performing, becomes an instant darling of the crowds. What has taken Arjun years to achieve, Mannu does overnight. It causes Arjun to feel betrayed by the God to whom he'd surrendered everything in return for eminence in music.
Arjun's unbearable pangs of jealously and insecurity only worsen when Mannu also unwittingly woos and wins his secret love, Priya. As he battles his inner demons, Arjun slowly devises a sinister plan to destroy his best friend. Over a three city tour spanning Paris, Rome and Amsterdam, Arjun sends a naive Mannu on a downward hurtling rollercoaster ride of sex and drugs that almost breaks Mannu's spirit and his love life days before a show at Wembley, a venue where Arjun hopes to have his moment of glory. A venue where his grandfather had failed before a crowd of 25,000 people!
But a rude shock awakens Arjun at Wembley at the expense of his band, his friendship and his credibility - a humbling experience that teaches him the true meaning of acceptance in life.
Same time last year, Vipul Shah with his entire cast and crew was busy filming a song from his yet another ambitious film, London Dreams. Jimmy jibs operators, steadicam operator, the choreographer having a word with Vipul, Ajay Devgn and Salman Khan in their shady tents trying to escape the unusually surprising London heat on a busy Sunday London Bridge location. Then I spot her. She looked a loner. I dream about London and her. Me and her walking hand in hand besides the quiet waters of the river Thames. Here's the thing: She is clad in stretchy skin-tight black from neck to ankle, wearing shoes that blend the architectural with the glossy and ephemeral. Her legs are coyly folded underneath her body. Her long hair is tightly pulled back from her face, which is expertly made up to conquer tiredness and appear fresh. Her skin glows with success. There is no hint of any dubious celebrity tightening or enhancing around the eyes, nose, ears and mouth. Her figure implies that a certain amount of almost surreal attention has been paid to maintaining that body. She ain't the celebrity defined by cliched magazine covers, glamorous videos and spiteful internet gossip. She is as real as it gets after your wishful dream comes true. It's just that mine didn't. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent Devansh Patel gets dreamy about Asin in London, and maybe that's the reason she got a comfortable seat all to herself. Then I hear someone say, "Excuse me dreamer". But here's a dream come true all the way from the receiver end of the telephone...Asin dreams about London, her filming days, her shopping spree, her food habits and hopes her second dream comes true - she hopes it's her second blockbuster hit after Ghajini. All the way from London, here's Asin, my dream girl!
Vipul Shah likes to play a lot with cultures, emotions, sentiments. Is London Dreams any different?
No. London Dreams isn't different from any other Vipul Shah film except that it's a musically inclined film. Yes, you're right. Vipul likes to play with emotions and I wanted myself to get into a project, a film, which is like that and kind of different from Ghajini. I wanted to do a commercial Bollywood film and London Dreams is much bigger in scale than my previous outing.
The first theatrical promo of London Dreams reminded a lot of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam where both Ajay and Salman acted together.
(laughs) There is a parallel there now. There is a lot of drama and emotions like the film you've just mentioned and the theatrical promo reveals that too. I don't think one will be thinking of a Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam when you see London Dreams, except for the fact that both Ajay and Salman are again together. People should take Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam out of their minds and go and watch our film.
Ajay is a prankster, we all know that and Salman not far behind. How many times did they pull your leg?
Seriously, never. Yes, they were trying to make a plan for a prank on me and also tried to work it out in London while we were filming. It just happened once. On the sets is always a fun filled atmosphere when you're working with pranksters like Ajay and Salman. I'm sure both had to think of something even more devious to try and make a 'bakra' out of me. I did wish them luck for a better next time but nothing happened.
Is London Dreams an out and out musical journey? Last year same time, Rock On created quite a stir in the industry too.
Even though the premise of the film is related to music, concerts and performances, I basically don't think it moves in the similar path as Rock On did. I want people to go and see London Dreams and figure out themselves whether they find any similarity between Rock On and London Dreams.
Second film and already worked with the three big and best actors of our industry - Aamir, Salman and Ajay. How mature and experienced have you got today?
I think I mature with every shot that I give and every film that I complete. Working with actors who've got so much experience behind them is a boon. You don't consciously think about it but in your subconsciousness, you do think about it. I really come with a clean mind and do not come with a certain image of every different people I'm going to be working with, whether be it media created or public perception. I'd like to get into a person from my own personal experience. I never felt intimidated with either Aamir, Ajay or Salman because when you're working with seniors like them, it is they who create a good atmosphere and they did just that. They never had starry ego problems or a star power syndrome.
Did you ever dream of going to London to shoot a film?
It wasn't my dream to shoot in London but the shoot in London did become a dream. For sure, this has been the best shooting experience of my life, whether the film is a hit or not. I do cherish my moments of working in this beautiful city. Most of the film was shot in London. There was never an instance where each actor would retire to their respective vanity vans and stay there till the next shot was ready. We all used to hang out together, we would talk about our experiences throughout our lives, all the films that we've done, have stories to share, jokes to crack and pull each others leg. The fact that all of it happened in London makes it even more special.
I've never given a compliment like what I'm going to give to any actor. This one goes to you - You're the only actor I've seen on-screen who looks so damn beautiful when you cry.
Oh! (laughs). Wow! That is quite a compliment I must say. Thank you so much and let me grab this compliment before anyone else does (laughs). I am not a very conscious actor as in terms of look or probably as much as my contemporaries are. I am not the one who constantly gives a shot and checks the monitor. I let the director 'ok' my shot. It's nice to hear from your director when he says that you look good in the shot. But it's equally nice to hear that I look beautiful when I cry from critics like you.
What about your shopping spree and junk food experiences of London?
(laughs) Eating experience and that too junk food was not much because I had to keep an eye on whatever I was eating because I had to work towards the look of Priya, the character I'm playing in London Dreams. Not only me, but everybody on the sets were food conscious, Ajay and Salman included. Both had to look into their fitness regime quite a lot as they were working towards building their bodies. Ajay had to work out extra as he had to remove his shirt too. Everybody was into diet food. The only thing we consumed quite a lot was coffee as it was quite freezing while we were shooting. As far as shopping is concerned, it's a very put-together look for Priya. Me and Ashley Rebello, the stylist for our film went out shopping when we got free time from the sets. Forget the branded stores, we shopped from the streets too. I will not say that I did not shop from the branded ones. So here it is - Harrods, Topshop, Selfridges, etc. We did shopping not for me, but to create the look for Priya.
The name London is really lucky for Vipul. His last outing Namastey London was a huge success worldwide. The time has come to be second time lucky?
I hope so because and I pray because it's not just the second time for Vipul, it's my second film too. So we both hope our dreams to come true (laughs). The film has shaped up quite well and I completely trust Vipul when it comes to understanding the Indians in London and the whole scenario out there. He taps into a lot like the way people live in London, their relationships, their dreams, etc.
This sure must be your dream come true - to shoot a film in the world famous Wembley Stadium.
Yes it was. Oh my God! I haven't been a part of any live concerts at Wembley Stadium but it was a dream come true. We did shoot for a day in Wembley however, the major rock concert in the film was shot in Mumbai by building the sets. But the scenes leading to the song and after that were shot in Wembley. I am a music person, yes. I would love to be a part of live concerts. Although Priya is an exaggerated version of certain traits of my personalities. She has got these two aspects to her personality. One, she is very conservative, traditional girl who is born to a conservative South Indian family. She wants to see herself in the field of music and dance. At home she is traditional but when she steps out, she becomes a rock chic when she joins this band called 'London Dreams'. I have a similar passion which is in Priya.
Sampurn Media First Published : 20 Oct 2009 10:44:00 AM IST
Asin opens up about her roles and the fun she had on shooting sets.
How did London Dreams happen?
I was still shooting for Ghajini but Vipul had seen some of my South Indian films. So I got a call from him and he said he had a role of a headstrong talented girl in his next directorial venture after Namastey London. Obviously I was excited at the sound of it! (laughs) I love Vipul’s cinema, he showcases emotions really well and his films always have strong music. So it was actually a no-brainer that I wanted to be a part of this project immediately on hearing its script. In a way, this is my first authentic Bollywood film even though Ghajini released first. That's because I had already played Kalpana in the south version of Ghajini before doing the Hindi remake with Aamir (Khan).
Tell us the experience of working with Vipul Shah!
Fabulous! Vipul is very organized, he does his homework really well so when you reach the sets the shot break downs are done, he knows exactly how he wants the scene done. And I am a complete Director’s actor. It’s important for me to understand my director’s vision and in that sense Vipul is very giving. I’ve been spoilt by him because now I think I will always want all shoots to be as planned! (Smiles)
Tell us something about your character in London Dreams?
I play a south Indian girl, Priya, who is emotional but strong willed and ambitious at the same time. And she has two radically different sides to her. At home she’s a traditional girl clad in Indian outfits but the minute she’s out with friends, she’s a fire brand, and that shows in the way she dresses. And she’s also partly responsible for the conflict between Salman and Ajay’s characters. So it was a wholesome character to play.
This is the first time you’re working with big names like Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan. What was that like?
When I came on to the sets of London Dreams I didn’t know them. I knew they were way senior and was anxious just like any newcomer would understandably be. And then I'd heard so much about them from different people. Salman has a ‘bad boy’ image. Many told me that he was very temperamental and erratic! Having worked with him I dispelled all those myths. I got to see a sensitive actor who had an absolute ball on the sets and went out of his way to make everyone comfortable. Both Ajay and Salman are also great off screen friends and that shows on celluloid. Ajay, contrary to popular belief, was not reticent at all. He was very helpful and friendly! I realised that you find out the truth about people only when you work with them and get to know them better.
Tell us about the music of London Dreams!
Oh! There’s so much that I can say! (smiles) London Dreams has a backdrop of a rock band so it’s only right that the music should be an arterial part of the film. And I think that Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy have done complete justice to the film in that sense. The music is melodious but remains true to the essence of the film. It’s a very holistic album- there’s the masti of Punjab and the edge of contemporary music. I personally love Man Ko Ati Bhaave and Tapke Masti; they’re fun songs!
Everyone is waiting for London Dreams with bated breath. Tell us why we should watch it?
It's an absolutely stunning looking commercial entertainer with emotions, humour, music and drama! It's a big one for the families! We had a blast shooting it in the UK and I took back some really fond memories with me. The fantastic time we had on the sets and the chemistry between all of us will show on screen!