Dolly Ki Doli mein Cricket Ka Mela

Arbaaz Khan-produced and debutant Abhishek Dogra-directed film Dolly Ki Doli has three relatively unknown male actors starring it, leaving actress Sonam Kapoor to carry it  on her delicate shoulders.
In a press conference organized by Dubai’s handlers of most Bollywood events, Dreams Advertising, it took a while for the media to get to the desired location. This was purely because it was in a relatively undeveloped area, albeit in a well-preserved hotel. But Arbaaz’s easy demeanour and crooner Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s stoic charm soon melted the hearts of the largely-female journalists.
The star attraction of the film, Sonam Kapoor spoke at length of how proud she was that 2014 was a watershed year for female-centric scripts in Bollywood.
Co-producer Malaika Arora Khan gave the impression she was the lady in charge, answering difficult questions with ease and directing the press to be prompt in their one-on-one interviews.
It did not escape the Pakistani press’ attention, however, that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan seemed a bit more subdued than usual. He enraptured everyone with a beautiful rendition of his hit song from the film, ‘Mere naina kafir hogaye.’ As always the musical collaboration between Rahat and Arbaaz Khan Productions, appears to have hit the target.

The most enjoyable part of the press meet, was when the ARY News crew requested a light-hearted cricket chat with Arbaaz and Rahat and they gamely agreed. Taking advantage of the moment, we asked if they ever get into a verbal spat with one another, during India-Pakistan matches. Laughing at our audacity but taking it all in good humour, they both insisted that their friendship overcomes all other confines.
Rahat did not appear to entirely believe that all-rounder Shahid Afridi will retire after the upcoming Cricket World Cup, but he did say that he would be supporting him wholeheartedly.

Arbaaz showed his sporting spirit by speaking glowingly about the Pakistani team’s chances in the tournament and saying that as Pakistan have won on those shores previously, India will have to be alert.
The camaraderie between the two and the subsequent talk of ‘On D-Day – February 15^th- the losing team supporter has to order the biryani,’ showed a professional comfort that goes beyond country contests or opposing film industries.
Dolly Ki Doli is releasing globally on 23 January and is being touted as the desi version of ‘Runaway Bride.’