'Triple Deol' treat for cinegoers next week

New Delhi, June 22: A 'triple Deol' treat awaits cinegoers next week with Anil Sharma's 'Apne', a film that for the first time will see the three Deols - Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol - share screen space, all set to release worldwide on June 29.

Being seen in trade circles also as a comeback film for the 'Garam Dharam', as Dharmendra is livingly known among the Mumbai film fraternity, 'Apne' is one of ther most awaited films of the year.

Featuring the three Deols along with Kirron Kher, Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif as their leading ladies, 'Apne' is the story of a disgraced boxer (Dharmendra) who wants to get back his honour by making his elder son (Sunny Deol) a boxer of international repute.

However, ultimately it is the younger son (Bobby Deol) who steps in to fulfill his father's dream when the elder one refuses to become a boxer.

Given the fact that it is the first film that features the three Deols together, 'Apne' has, naturally, evoked tremendous curiosity in the film trade circles. The level of curiosity for the film can be gauged by the fact that producer Harish Sughand recently managed to sell the satellite, music and overseas rights of the film for a whopping Rs 11.85 crore.

Further, some of the recent trial shows of the film held for the trade and the film industry have left them highly impressed.

In fact, trade analysts said that not only does the film have abundant action but heart wrenching emotions too.

They said the story of a disgraced boxer wanting to get back his honour with the help of his two sons was sure to strike an instant chord with the cinegoers.

The film has specially evoked huge anticipation among cinegoers in North India, particularly Punjab and Haryana where Dharmendra and Sunny Deol command a huge fan following.

The draw of the Deols, coupled with the fact that the film has a number of clap worthy sequences, will ensure the film goes on to be a winner at the box office, analysts feel. For the Deols too, acting in 'Apne' has been a memorable experience.

The recent IIFA award ceremony at Yorkshire saw Bollywood's famous 'He Man' Dharmendra and his sons Sunny and Bobby present a highly emotional picture on the occasion of awarding the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dharmendra.

Referring to 'Apne', Dharmendra described it as an ''unforgettable experience''. Terming it as one of the best roles of his film career, Dharmendra expressed the hope that cinegoers would also show their love towards the family by making 'Apne' a huge success.

"We were waiting for this moment for the last so many years and we were searching for a script to work together and got it," Dharmendra said.

The Bollywood "He Man" of yesteryears said 'Apne' had been created with his family in mind.

For filmmaker Anil Sharma, who has earlier made films like 'Hukumat', 'Tehelka', 'Gadar' and 'Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo', 'Apne' is a special film. ''Apne is not just another film because it is Dharmendraji's comeback on the big screen. The film is a representation of the stature of Dharmendraji and holds a lot of emotional value to him, his family and everyone associated with the film,''Mr Sharma said.

Talking about the subject, he said,''it is quite natural that parents do a lot for their children but when it is the other way round and children become self sacrificing and work towards their father's dream is when they become 'Apne'.

He said the onscreen chemistry between the Deols was amazing since it was a direct extension of their real lives.

''Dharamji, Sunny and Bobby are inseparable in real life and that translates to the screen as well,''he said.

The subject of 'Apne' is born out of the most important aspect of Indian life - Family. Indian men have time and again sacrificed their dreams of winning the world over to keep their families intact.

An ex-boxer Baldev Choudhary (Dharmendra) has had a stain in his boxing career. He wanted to wash it with his son Angad's (Sunny Deol) success, but times were hard and a financial crunch kept him from achieving this dream.

An opportunity strikes Baldev in the form of a TV Show. He trains a local boy to get into this media hyped boxing show, but is ditched for a better coach at the last minute. Baldev's younger son Karan (Bobby Deol) has just launched his first music album. Realizing his father is in crises of his life, he gives up his dream of a musical career to get into the game of boxing.

Karan works hard and wins all through thinking that his victory will bring the two pillars of his family together. After winning within the nation, he wins all over the world. The final match is with the current world heavy champion. The match goes fine, but Karan is tricked and he ends up paralyzed in a hospital bed. Ultimately, Angad steps in to turn the game upside down and bring his father the happiness of a lifetime.

UNI