When I was younger, us filmy kids went to ‘trial screenings’ arranged by the cast or crew. The unwritten rules were: a) you couldn’t leave until the movie was over (even if the movie was really bad, leaving halfway was not an option) b) if you liked the movie, you said nice things and if you didn’t, you just smiled. You had to respect the effort the cast and crew put into the film. And you had to realize the movie was at the brink of release and pointing out flaws wouldn’t help. Yesterday, several phone calls, text messages and screening options later, I was at PVR Juhu watching Dum Maaro Dum. I was at the ‘press show’ though and the rules change from ‘trial screenings’. Most people were there to critically analyze the movie. At intermission point, we’re happily walking out to get popcorn, samosa and Pepsi and we spot the cast and crew waiting in the doorway. Abhishek Bachchan is greeting every press person he knows. Rohan Sippy, Prateik and Rana Daggubati are all happily smiling. It was surreal. One minute, you’re watching the movie and the next, the actors are alive in front of you. Rana Daggubati is so dishy! It was a good thing they came in the interval though because you don’t want to be facing the cast and crew right after you’ve watched the film. Post the press show, a special screening was held. Spotted: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Amole Gupte and Sudhir Mishra.
