Deepak Shivdasani’s Julie 2 (yes, that’s the name of the film, to avoid copyright troubles) proves yet again how viewers in this country are being cheated in the name of erotica. Last week, it was Aksar 2 that proved to be a damp squib and now after Deepak Shivdasani’s Julie 2, it’s difficult to decide which one is worse. It is a poor man’s The Dirty Picture and Heroine. In the end, Julie who only wanted love in this world that lusted after her suddenly turns anti-corruption crusader for no rhyme or reason. There are plenty of such foolish things that happen in this film and it’s shocking that the makers though it’ll work. Even the ones in B and C centres are going to reject it. For trashy film lovers, it’s pure gold! Talking of performances, Raai Laxmi is quite nice and probably the reason why this film is bearable. Here’s hoping the supreme debacle of this film gives a much-needed jolt to the makers of ‘sleaze fests’ so that this genre gets the much needed change!

My rating - * out of 5!

JULIE 2 GETS A SOLO RELEASE!

A lot of changes happened in the last eight days with regards to movie releases. The Hindi version of Justice League that was to release last week couldn’t arrive in theatres as it didn’t get a Censor certificate in time. The Hindi along with Tamil and Telugu versions of this Hollywood film will now release tomorrow. The English version has got a mixed response and this is bound to affect the business of the dubbed versions.

Moreover, Padmavati that was to release on December 1 has been pushed ahead indefinitely. The decision was taken after the protests didn’t stop and it became bigger by the day. Also, it was submitted to the Censor Board but they returned the film, citing incomplete application. The Censor Board would now want Padmavati to be in queue and won’t give it priority.

Also, the Censors have brought an old, unfair rule that states that a film will take around 68 days to get a certificate. The rule was never followed for obvious reasons but now it has come to haunt films up for release. Two of the films that were to release tomorrow – Kapil Sharma-starrer Firangi and Arbaaz Khan-Sunny Leone starrer Tera Intezaar – also didn’t get Censor certificates on time, just like Justice League, thanks to the new 68-day rule. With Padmavati not releasing on December 1, Firangi and Tera Intezaar makers were able to postpone their film by a week.

So this week, the only major Hindi release is Julie 2. It is the part two of Julie, which released in 2004 and made Neha Dhupia a sex siren. The director of both Julie and Julie 2 are same – Deepak Shivdasani. But the second part features Southern siren Raai Laxmi. The trailer is super-sizzling and it can work at the B and C centres. The cost of the film is also limited. Obviously, it won’t have a big opening on the whole as multiplexes will be poor. But still, the costs are reasonable and hence it can benefit the film. Surprisingly, this erotic film is presented by ‘sanskaari’ ex Censor Board chief, Pahlaj Nihalani. The film was to earlier release on October 6 but it had to be pushed forward thanks to a copyright infringement case filed by the producer of Julie, N R Pachisia. The court case was settled in the favour of Julie 2 makers and it was a blessing as now they have got a solo release.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE JULIE 2 AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Manishaa R (DNA; November 1, 2017)

After Priyanka Chopra, Richa Chadha and Dia Mirza, who voiced their opinion on the sexual exploitation of women, it is South actress Raai Laxmi, who has come out and spoken about how the likes of Harvey Weinstein are a common occurrence in the Indian film industry. Laxmi who is set to make her Bollywood debut Julie 2, said, “Men in power like Harvey Weinstein are dime-a-dozen in the industry. They get more strength to do and say sick things because they know that the top brass of people are doing it. Not everyone is like him but the fact remains that girls are often exploited in the entertainment industry more so because everyone is beautiful and well turned out,” she said, adding that not all filmmakers were like him, “There are some wonderful kind-hearted producers as well who work with utmost respect towards women,” she revealed.

‘I knew how to handle the situation’
When asked whether she had personally come across such people, Laxmi replied, “I have met quite a few, too, but I knew how to handle the situation diplomatically and walk out,” she said. According to her, the presence of social media today had made it difficult for people with a “Weinstein mindset” to get away unscathed, “With the social media boom, men like him will think many a times before asking for sexual favours,” she said.

Get the right team
The actress further states that a majority of young aspiring actresses found themselves at the receiving end because they did not have an able manager to handle their work, “If you have the right manager and team to handle your portfolio from the onset, the information never gets to you. Your team blocks all such people for you. The problem happens for those who don’t have a manager and personally meet everyone. Quite expectedly, a few people they meet do turn out to be rotten apples,” she said, adding that it was also important for actresses to make sure that others did not fall in the same trap, “I have always warned my friends from the industry every time I have encountered a lecherous man,” she said.

Laxmi, who will be seen in a bold avatar in Julie 2, said that the role excited her despite the skin show, “It is a bold film with a lot of skin show but one of the reasons I opted for it was its woman-oriented subject and the hard-hitting way it tackles this very issue, exposing this hidden aspect of the glamour world,” she said.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 9, 2017)

Pahlaj Nihalani’s erotic drama Julie 2 will release on November 10. He says, “We lost our original date of October 6 because of a court case. After that, we couldn’t come in the pre-Diwali week when the entire nation’s eyes are glued to Aamir Khan’s Secret Superstar.”

Nihalani says competing with Aamir would have been a foolish exercise. “I am scared of Aamir’s clout at the box office. We all are. No producer will dare to bring his film anywhere close to an Aamir film. This Diwali belongs to him.”

However, the thought of competing with Anurag Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz on November 10, doesn’t intimidate him. “We are not scared of Kashyap’s cinema. He has always tried to generate interest in his films by raking up censor issues. Now that I’m no more the CBFC chairperson let’s see how he generates interest in his films. Hamare paas Julie hai.”

DNA (September 24, 2017)

Former censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani believes he was removed from the top post because of lobbying not in favour of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) but against him.

To bolster his argument, Nihalani said no objections were raised now when the board asked directors to make cuts in their films.

"Even after my exit, the functioning of the CBFC is still the same; films are still getting cuts as the guidelines are the same even today. But there is no noise about the number of cuts and no one is calling the CBFC 'sanskari' today," he said, referring to allegations of moral policing that he faced while he held the office.

"The lobbying was against me and not the CBFC," Nihalani told PTI.

The government last month replaced Nihalani with songwriter-adman Prasoon Joshi.

According to the reports, under the chairmanship of Joshi, the makers of "Love Sonia" were asked to make 45 cuts in the film starring Freida Pinto and Richa Chadha. The board reportedly ordered five cuts in Varun Dhawan-starrer "Judwaa 2". Kangana Ranaut's recently-released film, "Simran" got 10 cuts.

"There were a few people who wanted me out of this position and I am happy I am no longer the chief of CBFC. I don't think I have lost anything on being removed from the post. I have come back to films. It is an honourable post," he added.

The producer-distributor said a Hindi film faced more trouble while getting clearance in international markets than in India.

"When a film goes to Dubai, Malaysia or Pakistan, they (the makers) have to cut a lot of things but they don't make noise or talk about it," he said.

"In India, 'Kaabil' got a U/A certificate, he said, but in international markets, it got a 15 plus rating. In London, 'Baahubali 2' got a 15 plus rating and in India, it had a U/A certificate. I think India is the most liberal country when it comes to censorship," he added.

Nihalani said during his tenure as the CBFC chief, he recommended a rating system according to age brackets, which the government did not consider.

"I had suggested a six-rating system but they did not consider it and because of all the controversies they appointed the Shyam Benegal committee.

"I don't agree with the recommendations made by the Benegal committee. I feel the 1952 Act was better, it's just that we need a rating system in place," he said.

Nihalani added that before he joined the board, there were charges of corruption, delay in certification and problems in clearing English and dubbed films but he worked towards resolving such issues.

"We made it a broker-free environment. I tried to bring in transparency, I tried my best to make things better. The officers used to work till late at night on Saturday and Sunday as well so that there was no delay in certification," he said.

But that was then. Nihalani is now busy promoting "Julie 2", which he is distributing. The film, directed by Deepak Shivdasani and featuring Raai Laxmi in the lead, is slated to be released on October 6.

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 23, 2017)

One would assume that Pahlaj Nihalani was done with his share of controversy during his term as CBFC chief. Over a month after his ouster, the filmmaker continues to court controversy — this time around, the bone of contention is his upcoming film, Julie 2. Nihalani, who is presenting the Raai Laxmi-starrer, and director Deepak Shivdasani have been sued by producer N R Pachisia for trademark and copyright infringement.

Pachisia, who had produced the Neha Dhupia-starrer Julie in 2004, is aghast that Shivdasani is taking the Julie franchise ahead — this, when the former owns the rights to the film as well as the title in question.

Pachisia said, “Back in 2012, I had heard that Deepak was planning a sequel to Julie. I immediately wrote a letter to him saying that I hold the rights to the film and the title, and didn’t have intentions to make a sequel. He assured me in writing that he would not make the film.”

The producer felt cheated when he learnt that the director went back on his word. “He registered the title as Deepak Shivdasani’s Julie 2. He is also promoting the film as a sequel, which is unethical and petty.”

Pachisia knocked on the doors of IMPPA (Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association), who supported the producer and served a notice to the makers of Julie 2. “They felt that Deepak is misleading the public by associating his film to mine, to gain publicity.” He also filed a suit at Mumbai High Court on Thursday, demanding a stay on the film. “The matter will be up for hearing on Monday. I don’t want monetary compensation, I just want justice,” he said.

When we reached out to Nihalani, he refused to take onus. He said, “I am just the distributor of the film, so I don’t think it has anything to do with me. Also, I haven’t received any notice yet.”

Upala KBR (DNA; September 8, 2017)

Former Censor Board chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani has returned as presenter with the erotic-thriller, Julie 2. An ironic move, considering Nihalani, during his 31-month-long tenure as the CBFC chief, came down heavily on content that he deemed 'bold'. However, he doesn't understand the brouhaha over being associated with Julie 2. "When I was the CBFC chairperson, everybody questioned why I was following the guidelines. But, I did not make ad hoc rules; these were the guidelines that were provided to me by the government. Julie 2 will be subjected to the same guidelines. So, why are people asking how a sanskari man like me has become asanskari with Julie 2," he says.

Elaborating on how he still remains sanskari at heart, Nihalani says he is certain that the Raai Laxmi-starrer won't warrant any cuts. "There is no objectionable content -- no obscenity, no vulgarity, no double meaning or cuss words in Julie 2. As a producer, distributor and more importantly, a man with experience in Bollywood, I am aware of the CBFC guidelines. I have been going to the CBFC since 1967 for my productions, so I know the rules like the back of my hand. There should not be a single cut in the movie."

Having said that, Nihalani adds that he will happily accept the certification provided by the CBFC. "I am expecting an A certificate, I don't want a U/A certificate. But, there will be no controversy over the certification; neither will I create one as a producer," he says, alluding to a few filmmakers who objected to the cuts that the CBFC ordered during his tenure.

DNA (September 2, 2017)

In early 2000s, eroticas turned out to be a reasonably popular genre in Bollywood. The likes of Murder and Jism were the trailblazers and films like Julie and Aksar followed suit. In a matter of a few years, however, the genre died down though the only franchise that is still being popular is Hate Story.

Promotion spree
While one looks forward to the fourth installment of Hate Story, in a coincidence of sorts, two erotic films from the past — Aksar 2 and Julie 2 — now making a comeback, and that, too, on the same date. Both films are releasing on October 6. “In fact, the promotion has kick-started at the same time as well. While the theatrical trailer of Aksar 2 has just been unveiled, the teaser of Julie 2 was revealed on the very next day,” observes a trade expert.

Franchise facts
Incidentally, none of them feature its original cast. Aksar featured Emraan Hashmi and Udita Goswami. However, Aksar 2 has Zareen Khan and Gautam Rode. Similarly, Julie featured Neha Dhupia in the lead, but the second part has Raai Laxmi as the central protagonist. The directors are the same though. Ananth Mahadevan directed Aksar and Deepak Shivdasani was the man behind Julie. Both are coming up with the sequels now.

Music minded
Though Julie didn’t really have any chartbuster songs, Himesh Reshammiya’s music for Aksar, especially the track Jhalak Dikhla Ja, was the highlight of the film. Makers of Aksar 2 and Julie 2 are expected to emphasise on the music,” an insider comments.

What would stay on to be the key attraction though is the erotica quotient. After all, Zareen had shown that she can be uninhibited in Hate Story 3. On the other hand, Raai Laxmi has been known for her sensual act in Akira last year.

Box-office battle
“Clash of the two erotica is interesting since it gives the makers of both the films a good platform to publicise their films. It benefits both, since the films would be in news, now, and benefit from all the talks surrounding the sequel as well as the genre factor,” a trade expert opines.

Meanwhile, one wonders what would Saif Ali Khan be thinking currently, considering the fact that his Chef is slated to arrive on the same date as well.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 30, 2017)

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 14, 2015)

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; April 1, 2014)

In 2004, Deepak Shivdasani, directed the Neha Dhupia-starrer Julie which was produced by N R Pachisia. The director is now returning with a sequel but with another producer Bhola Malviya, who earlier made Joe B Carvalho.

Says a source, “The director may be keen to revisit Julie, but getting the title may prove to be difficult as it is producer N R Pachisia’s property.” Pachisia says, “I had put out a public notice in the trade papers that the Julie franchise belongs to me and anyone who plans to make a film without permission will be infringement of copyright. The titles Julie 2 and Julie Returns are registered with me and the producers will have to get a clearance from me.”

Pachisia adds that Malviya did come to meet him about the title. “He met me and I will think about it only after he tells me the details.” Meanwhile Shivdasani is looking at casting a fresh face for the title role. Music composer Viju Shah returns to Bollywood after a gap of eight years with this film. He said, “I did compose music for Joy Augustine’s film, but the film got stalled.”