We all have those days when we forget things but, stay on your toes ladies and gentlemen, because December 25 is the date when Ghajini will no doubt leave you with a lasting memory. DEVANSH PATEL finds out more from London fans of its star, Aamir Khan
WE ALL know that Aamir 'the perfectionist' Khan does not settle for second best because he is the best and, after the super success of his last film Taare Zameen Par, the actor is back again with an all-new commercial look next month in his film Ghajini which has already started to create a lot of attention in London.
Ghajini is a story of a highly successful businessman (Aamir Khan) who has suffered a brain injury in an attack on his wife that has destroyed his short-term memory. He doesn't have amnesia, but he can't store any new memories - in other words, if you meet him now and then see him twenty minutes from now, he won't know you.
In order to survive he leaves himself notes, takes Polaroid photos, and even tattoos his body with the information he needs in order to know where he is, who he can trust, and how to find his wife's killer. Of course since he has no short-term memory, anything he's written (or tattooed) becomes gospel truth to him, with surprising and devastating results.
But there are even more surprising results when I asked avid Aamir Khan fans in London why they would prefer to go and watch this film. Only one of the many answers I got was because of the actor's six pack.
Mohammed, a newsagent from Harrow said: "I cannot understand why is this six-pack phenomena the talk of the town in Bollywood.
"Local newspapers here have got Aamir Khan's body all over their front pages, calling him the best body in the business".
Yes, it is true that Aamir has worked for nearly a year and a half to perfect his physique for this role to look as convincing as possible.
Audiences who live near the Indian cinema Safari in Harrow told me that Khan is looking his youngest and the best in Ghajini.
Rita Gandhi, a local resident near the cinema, said: "Dard-E-Disco is out and Guzarish is in. Aamir has indeed got the best body in Bollywood after Hrithik Roshan.
"First I thought it may be because of special effects and technology but after seeing the first song promo by getting closer to my television, I was convinced!"
What an observation Rita, you made your point. But Aslam Khan, a local cab driver, thinks the complete opposite: "All this show off of the actor's body is only for a scene or a song and that's it. It's a good marketing strategy and will always work but what makes Aamir Khan films worth watching is that he keeps his promise and not only entertains us but educates us too."
Rajni Venkatesh, owner of Sangeetha Restaurants in Kenton Road, made another interesting comment: "I am from Chennai and have seen the original film Ghajini which was released in the south of India a couple of years ago.
"It was an instant hit and I am sure the remake in Hindi will also be a super duper hit, especially when it's got Aamir Khan in it".
No doubt, Aamir rules the hearts and minds of Asian Londoners. But why? I mean, his films are released only once a year in cinemas.
"It's not the number of films Aamir does but how he does it makes the difference," said J D Patel, a Wembley resident. "Me and my family loved Taare Zameen Par and Rang De Basanti. But honestly speaking, I cannot understand why I remember Aamir Khan films. On the flip side, I am also worried how Ghajini will fare. The road to success is not all that smooth."
Well, it's just not the bodylicious gossip about Aamir Khan which is the hot topic at the moment, it's his hair style which is creating quite a bit of buzz in the business as well.
Some of the Bollywood reporters in London have told me that the new look of Aamir is bound to bring the style statement back to Bollywood.
Geetha, who is the editor of Henna magazine and runs a dedicated Bollywood page, tells me: "Aamir loved experimenting with his looks right from Dil Chahta Hai days. But of late, it seems like he has developed a strange fascination with his hair style too. And this time he has gone for six different hairdo's in one song alone in Ghajini. That's quite a feat!"
The grapevine hears that Aamir is going to go all out from December 15 to promote Ghajini in the run up to the release date on 25 and will give it his usual personal touch.
But the one question everyone is asking is, will Ghajini prove to be as memorable as it's original South Indian version?
What say Mr Perfectionist?
