Belly This

In Lucknow to promote the film with director Mohit Suri and lead actor Emraan Hashmi,Bhatt insisted that in spite of the sleazy promos and steamy subject that deals with prostitution,the film is socially relevant and thought provoking.

“Yes,the story is about girls who pawn their bodies for money,but it also shows what kind of perverts pass off as respectable citizens in the society,” said Bhatt,defending the overt sexuality his productions exude.

“I have been battling with criticism since I made Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain,my first film in 1970. Everybody appreciates and showers awards on films like my own Saaraansh,Tamanna and Zakhm. But they choose and pay to watch only erotic films…like my very own Jism and Murder. What a paradox! Even when you are shredding my films to bits,it is stills from these films that you are using as props for the stories,be it in the elec tronic media or any other,” he argued.

Hashmi is only too eager to shrug off the sex-machine tag. “I am irritated when referred to as ‘serial kisser’ or something similar,” he said. “Why can’t people remember me for the other dimensions of my character in films like Once Upon A Time in Mumbai or the lovely songs picturised on me,” he said,adding that his type of character is never a hero,nor villain,rather somebody in the grey area.

“I seldom use songs in situations and they are always a part of the soundtrack playing in the background.” said director Suri. “I let Harshit Saxena of Lucknow to compose and even sing one of the songs.” Suri,who has directed other Bhatt productions,including Kalyug and Zeher,showed scant interest in Maria Susairaj,who was left off by the court after trial in the murder case of her boyfriend. “I was moved to make Kalyug after reading a newspaper report about a similar incident,but this case doesn’t inspire me,sorry,” he said.