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Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 19, 2016)

Enlarge ImageA drugged, doped, delusional rock star is what Shahid Kapoor plays in Udta Punjab. Can’t help but wonder if this is supposed to be a take-off on Yo Yo Honey Singh, who had recently gone into hibernation allegedly for alcoholism, among other afflictions. While the film’s team officially denies any resemblance between Shahid’s Tommy Singh and Honey Singh, a source from the film admits there are similarities between the two.

“The whole cult of the wild raunchy Punjabi rock star was spearheaded by Yo Yo Honey Singh. Toh kahin na kahin usski chabbi to aani hi hai. I’d say Shahid plays a much wilder and far more aggressive version of Yo Yo.” Shahid is cast as a Punjabi musician in Birmingham, who is brought by his Tauji (Satish Kaushik) to Punjab to become a rock star. “It’s a wild character who indulges in rampant substance abuse.” says the source.

This rock monster is not a character seen on Hindi movie screens before. Except in Anurag Kashyup’s Paanch, which never released.