Khilona

After a great show with Saathi, Mukesh Duggal decided to cast Pancholi once again in a similar role (as he was the main thing in Saathi).

The film is a little mix of Koyla and Sadak and the script itself is nothing new. If the film was to be seen today you could almost predicate the next scene but the time it was made in, its not that bad. Into about 20 minutes of the film which is the best 20 minutes of the film you really feel geared up and ready for a 'second Saathi'. The director knows what he is making and doesn't waste time. The film has been made to showcase Pancholi's act again after Saathi as fans were crazy for his performance back then but its not Saathi film wise. After Saathi, Pancholi didn't showcase much but just did supporting roles, but Khilona has to be his second best. The role suited him to the T.

Ayub Khan is okay, the actor didn't make it huge even though he had the links he needed! Monica Bedi is wooden. Shakti Kapoor, is not the usual self, in fact he impresses.

Some of the songs like 'Yeh Sadak' and 'Kya Yaad Koroge' do strike a chord. But only if Nadeem - Sharvan filled in the blanks.

Director Deepak Pawar does a okay job, but way too many songs! Overall, a decent watch but not great. For Pancholi fans, its a must! 3 out 5

Khilona review :

Another Scarface inspiration with a dash of the regular Bollywood love triangle thrown in good measure; Mukesh Duggal's Khilona had a dashing Aditya Panscholi playing an aggressive don who 'keeps' Monica Bedi with an intention to marry her. Enter best friend Ayub Khan who falls for Monica and then all hell breaks loose...

To be honest, I found Aditya Panscholi's character to be an extension of his Saathi (1991) also produced by Mukesh Duggal and directed by the legendary Mahesh Bhatt. Curiously, Bhatt was supposed to direct Khilona as well but later, dropped out when the film got inordinately delayed and Deepak Pawar who had helmed Platform (1993) for Duggal was onboarded. This is one of the first films signed by Monica Bedi and she looked really charming in it. Overall, not bad for a one time watch but Ayub and Monica had no market value to bring audience to theatres and thus, Khilona came a cropper at the box office. This was last movie of Mukesh Duggal who was shot dead a few months later outside his office.

I had seen Khilona at Paradise Mahim. Don't remember in its first or second weekend. By end of 1996, the theatre had become quite dilapidated and the creaky ceiling fans were not allowing us to hear the dialogues properly. The unrestrained audience was also hooting and shouting loudly for no reason!! The way they were reacting to Monica Bedi's 'Panditji Panditji' song was as if it was Madhuri Dixit's 'Choli' dance number. Crazy, I tell you!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.