The Xpose
The Xpose Produced by Vipin Reshammiya and directed by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, 'The Xpose' is an ode to the glamorous albeit scandalous 60's era. Bold, beautiful and entertaining, each character is based on famous personalities from the big screen of the 1960's.
Himesh Reshammiya is Ravi Kumar, the suspended cop-turned-superstar modeled on the brooding Raaj Kumar. Popular songwriter and rapper Honey Singh makes his acting debut as a scheming villain based, naturally, on Pran. Who can forget the sultry Zeenat Aman from Satyam Shivam Sundaram? Sonali Raut brings her to life as Zara. Her on screen rival is played by Zoya Afroz who brings Parveen Babi's oomph to the screen. Adil Hussain is Rajan Anna, based on the formidable don Vardarajan. Look out for a special appearance by Irrfan Khan, who essays the role of Alec D'Costa, one of the biggest black marketeers of the 60's.
The Storyline
This is a dramatic chain of events in the most glamorous, swinging era of Hindi films - the 1960s. It was a decade when film stars tasted success and carried their larger than life screen image on to real life with unbridled pomp and splendour. It was during this time that two ambitious films were made...Ujwal Nirmal Sheetal and Reena Mera Naam. The latter became a runaway hit while the former was struggling at the box office.
And then the crucial night came. It's one of those star studded bashes at a five star hotel. Suddenly the still of the night is pierced by the fall of a girl from the fourth floor. The film world is shocked at the death of the sensational sex symbol of Ujwal Nirmal Sheetal - Zara Fernandes....accident, suicide or murder?
At the solemn funeral next day Inspector Grover declares that he has proof that Zara was pushed by someone on that fateful night. The suspects are all present at the burial. Chandni Roy, a ravishing star, leading lady of Reena Mera Naam and Zara's bitter rival. Star Ronnie Mukherjee, Chandni's leading lady and Virman Shah, her ex-boyfriend who never got along with her. Subba Prasad, the film magnate from the South who openly boasted of creating Zara and Bobby Chedha a rival producer, now gloating over the success of Reena Mera Naam after deviously sabotaging Ujwal Nirmal Sheetal's box office prospects. K.D. also known as Kenny Damania, was a composer who hit all the special notes. He had this great affair going with Zara, but the opportunist in him saw him netting his biggest catch; parallel cinema's reputed director Shabnam Rai.
And finally Ravi Kumar, brash, bold, stylish superstar with an emotional baggage. He was an ex-cop, discovered by Subba Prasad as star material and turned into filmland's biggest success story. Ujwal Sheetal Nirmal is his first Hindi film but he had cold vibes with his leading lady Zara. Ravi Kumar had one secret desire...Chandni Roy and Zara did not take well to that. Ravi Kumar is at the helm of answering the riddle. But was Ravi Kumar the key to the mystery or the mystery itself??
The XPOSE....is a film that transports you to a world of Hindi cinema and beyond. The XPOSE is a pulsating human mystery with a love story at the core set to a fabulous music score with songs designed to become the biggest chartbusters of the year!
CHARACTER SKETCHES:
Ravi Kumar: Himesh Reshamiya
A man with a past, an ex cop who took the book of rules too far. His unorthodox ways result in the death of a convict and his dismissal from the force. But the baggage of his brashness and arrogance holds him in good stead, for the characters he portrays on screen when he switches professions as a film star. The style and pride with which he conducts himself become his trade mark and his colleagues and co-stars know that they have to keep their distance. Along with his star status, he carries an emotional baggage...his estranged brother Rajan Anna. But his sentiments, whether they be love or remembrances are hidden behind that mask he prefers to don all the time. Ravi Kumar, with his final act of divine interference, underlines his image of a riddle wrapped in an enigma.
Subba Rao: Sabyaschi Chakravorthy
A successful actor cum filmmaker in the big bad world of Hindi cinema, Subba Prasad has seen it all. He holds all the cards that drive the situations in THE XPOSE...His tenacity and worldy-wise approach have paid rich dividends and he now plays the game of creativity and commerce with dexterity. He had the foresight to pick up a dismissed police officer Ravi Kumar and turn him into a star. Presenting Zara as a sex symbol was his idea but he had not bargained with the wolf like cunningness of a rival producer Bobby Cheddha whose ploy destroys his film at the box office. It is a setback he cannot take and despite the critical acclaim, he cannot face a commercial failure. This state of mind drives him to a fateful decision and he tries to thwart destiny with his own hands.
K.D.: Honey Singh
Kenny Damania sings his own tune as a composer. A double edged sword, he is one who will not shy away from peddling the same composition to two different production houses and bask in the aftermath of the controversy it generates. He has a roving eye too, leading Zara on, on one side while wooing the off beat film maker Shabnam Rai on the other. An opportunist to the core, his two timing ways finally prove to be his nemesis, when he finds himself trapped in the Zara murder case...K.D. is one of the smooth operators, notorious in the film world of the late sixties, early seventies. A charmer, the girls find it difficult to resist him and he has no qualms exploiting this talent of his to the fullest. He is the maverick who gives the film its wicked comic edge.
Zara Peter Fernandes: Sonali Rawat
Fiercely independent, Zara is the symbol of the star hopefuls in the early 70s who flaunt their ambition openly. She would not hesitate to give a piece of her mind to a rival actress Chandni or succumb to the advances of a rich businessman for the big bucks. Zara has it in her to reach the pinnacle of success and she pursues those dreams relentlessly. Of course she doesn't realize that her actions could put her on self destruct and that the perks of this life style could be shortlived.She is like the proverbial moth that is drawn towards the flame and then dies a tragic death.Her advances however fail to attract Ravi Kumar and this is one hurt that she nurses till the very end.
Chandni Roy: Zoya Afroz
Chandni never had it easy. Her humble beginnings as a sister and a heroine in stunt films put her on the back foot. But she isn't the one to give up. When push comes to shove, she agrees to be a sex symbol and takes on a role that could be career making. But she is steadfast about her terms in life and will not let Zara upset her applecart of rules. Or let her lecherous co-star Vikram Raj too close for comfort. A broken affair with Virman Shah the actor, finds an escape in Ravi Kumar's silent love. And though she eventually becomes successful, the effort and system have taken their toll. One moment of impulsive hate and envy destroys what she had built up patiently over the years.
Bobby Chadha
It was his brain wave to turn a simple, household image into a bikini clad sex symbol. Chandni Roy plays into his hands and Chadha revolutionizes Hindi cinema of the early 70s.&