Watch Bollywood Calling

Bollywood Calling is a comedy drama film directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. The movie was released in 2001 and stars Pat Cusick, Navin Nischol, and Om Puri in lead roles. The movie is a satirical take on the Indian film industry and its obsession with making musicals that are formulaic, melodramatic, and over-the-top. The movie revolves around an American actor, Michael Payne (Pat Cusick), who travels to India to land a role in a Bollywood movie. Payne is a struggling actor, who has been in India for a while, trying to make his way into the Bollywood industry. He is convinced that the only way to succeed in the Indian film industry is to make an acting debut in a Bollywood musical.

Once in India, Payne is faced with the reality of the Indian film industry, which is far from the glamorous world he had imagined. He soon realizes that making a Bollywood movie is not as easy as it sounds. He first has to learn Hindi and then compete with thousands of other actors who are vying for the same roles.

In addition to the language barrier, Payne struggles to adapt to the culture shock he experiences in India. He is forced to live in poor conditions, eat unfamiliar food and deal with a host of logistical issues. He also gets caught up in the cultural differences between the East and the West.

The movie also revolves around the lives of two veteran Bollywood actors, Kishan (Navin Nischol) and Shanti (Neena Kulkarni), who share a strained relationship. Kishan is a fading star who now only gets minor roles in B-movies, while Shanti is a successful dancer who has managed to maintain her popularity.

Om Puri plays the role of the flamboyant filmmaker, Chandra Prakash, who offers Michael a role in his upcoming film. Chandra Prakash is a stereotypical Bollywood filmmaker, who believes that the success of a movie lies in the number of songs it features. However, despite his quirky character, he is very much aware of the difficulties Michael and other foreign actors face in India.

The movie showcases the stark difference between the American approach to filmmaking and the Indian way of creating movies. Kukunoor uses humor to bring out the issue of cultural differences and draws attention to the unrealistic portrayal of India in Hollywood movies.

The movie features a mix of English and Hindi dialogues, which adds to the authentic portrayal of the Indian film industry. The music is upbeat and catchy, as expected from a Bollywood movie. The dance numbers are elaborate and feature intricate choreography.

Overall, Bollywood Calling is a light-hearted take on the challenges faced by foreign actors trying to make it big in the Indian film industry. The movie pokes fun at the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the Indian film industry but ultimately celebrates the love for cinema that unites people across cultures. It's an entertaining watch for anyone who enjoys the occasional Bollywood movie or is curious about the Indian film industry.

Bollywood Calling is a 2001 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.