The first movie was bad enough to stop the filmmakers from repeating the mistake, but, no. the filmmakers have repeated the same mistake 13 years later, and trust us, 13 has not proved to be a lucky number for them. Julie tries to bring home the message of a gruesome glamour industry that is ready to misuse its people every chance it gets. In a world dominated by men, an actress uses her physical prowess to reach a height no woman has ever been before. Presented by Pahalaj Nihalani, Julie 2 would definitely not passed the censor board clearance, had Nihalani still been the CBFC chief. Raai Laxmi is talented, but, unable to save this failing narrative. Pretty clear is the message of this review, Do Not Watch This Movie
From the super-sanskari to the shabbily sensory, Pahlaj Nihalani - he of the unbendable but amusing censor board chief fame - is back in the good old business of peddling trash. Julie 2 is a whole putrid pile of it. Wade into it at your own risk. Nihalani gets the exalted credit of 'presenting' this new adult drama that is obviously targeted at fans of the kind of cinema that he once espoused in his capacity as a film producer. But are there any left? With Julie 2, written and directed by Deepak Shivdasani, Mr. Nihalani stands to lose even the handful that are. This film is neither bold nor beautiful.
The film has no plot. The film makes no sense. It has some good actors showing up to collect pay cheques. For the benefit of the likes of Aditya Srivastava and Pankaj Tripathi, not forgetting Rati Agnihotri, we hope they were hefty. All Julie wants is love. And all she gets is betrayal. As our lecherous producer tells her, ‘madam, yahan acting nahin, sirf body chalti hai’. This film, or whatever this is masquerading as one, has received certification. And it’s out in theaters.
The Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment controversy exposed the grime behind the world of glamour, and Julie 2 hammers home the point that an ordinary girl who harbours dreams of becoming a leading lady in the film industry, cannot reach the pinnacle of success relying on her talent alone. Raai Laxmi, who has been an actress for more than a decade in the southern film industry, makes her Bollywood debut with this film. While she has an arresting screen presence and has the qualities of the quintessential Indian film heroine, the script lets her down. Director Deepak S Shivdasani must have wanted to make a film that tells the fictional tale of the rise of a female star in cinema, but midway he seems to have changed his mind and turned it into an erotic thriller. Ravi Kishan in the role of a Telugu superstar is unintentionally funny and one wonders, why a gifted actor like Pankaj Tripathi who has delivered stirring performances this year even agreed to be a part of this film. Give Julie 2 a miss, you won't be missing much.