With actresses from Kareena and Vidya to Anushka, Katrina, Deepika and Alia walking practically from the wedding mandap to the studio to report for work, and every celebrity family eager to contribute its daughter to the glamour world, it’s become kosher for every house to have a young girl chomping at the bit to make her debut.
It, therefore, wasn’t surprising when slim and pretty Paloma, daughter of actress Poonam Dhillon and producer Ashok Thakeria, was Rajshri Productions’ final choice for Avnish S. Barjatya’s directorial debut, in which Sunny Deol’s second son Rajveer will also take a bow. Avnish is the son of Sooraj Barjatya, whose debut film Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) and new hero Salman Khan became overnight blockbuster names.
So the coming together of three first-timers from three well-recognised families, the Dhillons, Deols and Barjatyas, will generate much excitement around release time next year. What most don’t know is that Paloma was not the only choice. Rumour has it that the one who’d have won this debut was sultry Alizeh Agnihotri, daughter of Atul Agnihotri and Alvira Khan, with the winning credential of being Salman Khan’s niece. But it was Paloma who beat Alizeh to it, which brings with it its share of surprises.
If one were to go by friendship and professional ties, Paloma should ideally have been launched by Yash Raj Films. That was her mom’s home ground — Yash Chopra got the studious beauty contest winner for Trishul in 1978. Although crammed with tall names of the day like Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, Raakhee and Hema Malini, no one was left unimpacted by the fresh young girl who danced with Sachin to Gapuchi gapuchi gum gum. Followed soon by Noorie, another runaway hit, she became an instant star who didn’t know the meaning of struggle. It led to a grateful and close bond with Yash and Pam Chopra, a friendship Poonam cherishes to this day.
On the other hand, Rajshri is a production house with which Poonam has never done a film. So one would’ve thought YRF would be the banner to launch Paloma. I do know that both Yash and Adi had taken a good look at her and were aware that she wanted to act. But a debut with Rajshri today is a terrific break for any girl, especially given that they don’t use the “stripsmooch-n-gay sex” route that has become so annoyingly routine. Paloma is assured of a glamorous and grounded launch from a family that still has its values intact.
Rajveer’s dad Sunny too has never been a Barjatya boy. Grandfather Dharmendra did have one strong connection — grand old man Tarachand Barjatya produced Jeevan Mrityu (1970). Mutual respect and congeniality have, thereafter, prevailed between the Deols and Barjatyas but no professional ties. Unlike Salman, granddad Dharam didn’t stay on to do more films with Rajshri and, as far as I can recall, Sunny never did one with them. But a launch from the Barjatya fold for his second son Rajveer is a blessing. A welcome change from the debut film of older son Karan, whose Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, produced and directed by Sunny himself, did not go beyond a charming title. But given the huggable bond between Salman and the Barjatyas, it’s an eyebrow lifter that his niece Alizeh was not the chosen one for Avnish’s first film. Salman has family member status with the Barjatyas, the gratitude and loyalty of the new hero of Maine Pyar Kiya unwaning with stardom. One only had to see him weep at Sooraj’s cousin Rajat Barjatya’s prayer meeting to know just how much anything that affects the Barjatyas affects Salman.
One does hear that the Barjatyas and Salman have big plans up their sleeves for Alizeh and that news should also tumble out soon. In the monsoon season, it is raining debutantes.
