Khudai

Khudai review :

Said to be influenced by legendary actor-director Guru Dutt's life, Khudai had an aging Rajesh Khanna as a sensitive director with the pretty Madhavi playing his muse. Their guru-shishyaa relationship is misconstrued to be an affair by the media which angers his son Brando Bakshi.

Next, Rajesh Khanna starts a film called Khudai and casts his son Brando opposite Madhavi. In a unique twist, Brando falls in love with Madhavi which upsets Rajesh and he stops his film midway.

An intense plot with some philosophical dialogues, Khudai was a delayed project and didnt find distributors for a theatrical release. It was finally premiered in 1994 on Zee TV.

Of the cast, Rajesh Khanna was earnest as the serious director who cannot conform to the mindless cinema which Bollywood had transformed in the 80s. Interestingly, Khudai mocks the lost and found formula as well as the sex and violence content which was synonymous with then Bollywood. In one scene, Khanna admonishes Madhavi for signing 23 films at a time - something common in those days.

Madhavi was the center of attraction in Khudai and though her performance is marred by the uneven characterization, the dusky beauty looks absolutely ravishing in most of the scenes. Deepika looked too young as Khanna's supportive wifey. Brando Bakshi failed to impress.

Overall, Khudai has its moments but doesnt impress in totality. As for its comparison with Guru Dutt's life, I seriously doubt the films authenticity.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.