Director: Zoya Akhtar
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Konkona Sen Sharma, Isha Sharvani
Information: Contains one use of moderate language
BBFC certificate: 12A
Running time: 155mins
Release date: 30 January 2009 Adlabs
Rating: 4/5
A delightful drama focusing on the world’s biggest film industry - Bollywood. It tells the story of Sona (Konkona) coming to Mumbai to become a movie star.
Vikram (Farhan), a struggling actor has also left his father’s Delhi business to make it big in Bollywood.
Whilst Sona waits for opportunity to come her way, Vikram is smart enough to know when to demand it and manipulate it.
As they struggle for work, Sona begins to enjoy Vikram's attention and affections. But their relationship is short lived when Sona faces rejection after waiting for three long years whilst Vikram gets the lead role in a potential blockbuster.
With one foot in the door, a selfish but determined Vikram makes it to the top by sacrificing friendship and people he loves.
Zoya Akhtar makes a remarkable Bollywood debut as a director and scriptwriter. She handles the emotional scenes with great sensitivity striking the right balance between art house and commercial cinema
The opening song sequence strikes a cord in your heart as it cleverly pays homage to Bollywood technicians working endlessly to make it all happen.
Zoya’s ingenuous take on Bollywood also includes various characters ranging from frustrated writers, superstitious producers to spoilt star kids.
But it is the way she skilfully incorporates actual film stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerjee etc in the narrative that grabs your attention.
Rock On star Farhan Akhtar gives another spellbinding performance as Vikram who is willing to forsake all in the name of stardom but it is too late when he realises his folly.
Talented Konkona Sen Sharma is brilliant as the exploited starlet who finally succeeds in making a life for herself by starring in Hindi television soaps.
Luck By Chance is reality cinema at its entertaining best. With a galaxy of stars playing themselves, this one is worth watching!
Reviewed by Manish Gajjar
BBC Bollywood Correspondent
