DUBAI // Their arrival was a little over the top ... but then, if reports of their coming movie are correct, it was fitting enough.
The stars of Rowdy Rathore, forecast to be this summer's biggest Bollywood blockbuster, arrived at their Dubai promotion session today in a pickup truck covered with the film's poster, led by dhol players.
Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha emerged as their characters Shiva and Priya, accompanied by the movie's director, Prabhu Deva.
Rowdy Rathore, less than two weeks away from hitting UAE cinemas, is unashamedly Bollywood to the extreme, from its brilliantly corny dialogue to its delightfully garish wardrobe.
The movie, which premieres on May 31, also marks the return of Kumar, the beloved 1990s action hero, from a long hiatus.
"I've just taken a break from action and stunts in front of the camera," he said yesterday. "Action has still been a part of my life for the last seven years. I practise my martial arts every day."
Rowdy Rathore is a remake of the Telugu film Vikramarkudu and tells the story of a small-time conman Shiva, who falls in love with pretty Priya, who he meets at a wedding to which he was not invited.
Shiva also meets Neha, a little girl who insists he is her father.
Then he finds himself at the receiving end of life-threatening attacks by a gang he knows nothing about.
Kumar's success in the film is pretty much guaranteed, but his leading lady has a lot riding on what is only her second feature.
Sinha's first movie, Dabangg – released in 2010 and co-starring Salman Khan – was a success, and a hit so soon afterwards would ensure she is offered more top roles.
In a white sari at the Dubai session, she stressed her one true love was for films and told of her conviction to succeed, despite the fact that her formal training was in fashion design.
Deva, who let his stars field the questions for most of yesterday's session, broke his silence to tell of the remarkable synergy he shared with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who was producing his first action film.
Bhansali has produced a portfolio of films including Devdas, Black and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
But the session was not all business.
An unsuspecting spectator, one of the sponsors, was dragged into taking a two-minute dance lesson before an impromptu dance performance alongside Kumar, Sinha and Deva.
After the meet and greet, the stars moved on to a promotional event at Ibn Battuta Mall, giving fans a chance to interact and catch a glimpse of the rowdiness coming soon to cinemas.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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