If your abiding memory of a Bollywood film is legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan weeping while clutching a cuddly toy called Jerry the Giraffe, you know something has gone drastically wrong. It's a shame no one bothered to tell filmmaker Vipul Shah that before he made Waqt, in which the Big B plays a father who spoils his son something rotten, only to realise the error of his ways. A far-fetched family drama, this makes the Osbournes look sane.
Bachchan plays the utterly unbelievable Ishwar, a millionaire toy maker whose ruthless business skills don't seem to extend to his extravagant son Aditya (Akshay Kumar). Whether it's chartering a private jet to fly junior to parties, or letting him pursue his pipedream of becoming a famous film star, for some reason Ishwar doesn't bat an eyelid. The bizarre plot leaves it to frustrated mother Sumi (Shefali Shah) to forsee disaster as the irresponsible heir not only elopes, marries and impregnates his girlfriend Pooja (Priyanka Chopra) but also decides to enter a Bollywood Idol-style talent contest.
"GOES AGAINST ANY GRAIN OF INTELLIGENCE"
As the sublime gives way to the ridiculous, you can't help but wonder why these celluloid parents don't just disown their foolish son instead of banishing him to the outhouse at the end of the garden. But that would only make sense. Going against any grain of intelligence, Waqt is an example of how an A-list cast and decent budget doesn't mean a thing if there's a ludicrous script and a poor director at the helm. If time is precious, don't waste it on Waqt.
Music: Anu Malik
In Hindi with English subtitles.
Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005)
