Julie 2 Movie Review: Raai Laxmi’s Bollywood debut sinks untraced!

Pahlaj Nihalani, who was recently sacked from the post of Chairman of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) few days ago, is back in the film industry. Nihlani, often criticised for censoring the content of the films, this time presented the ‘bold, beautiful and blessed’ sequel to the 2004 Neha Dhupia's erotic film, Julie.

Released on November 24, Raai Laxmi-starrer Julie-2 is not performing well at the box-office and sunk untraced.

Here’re some of the reviews for Julie 2 by some leading daily:

Times of India - 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. The rise to stardom is a path riddled with 'compromise' and though initially Julie (Raai Laxmi) resists, she soon gives in to the casting couch as she realises that it's the only way to go up the ladder. While fame and money come her way, what she looks for constantly, is love from the men who cross her path. She seeks redemption in Christianity but a film offer from a politician to star in his wife's biopic takes her down a dark path. 

Indian Express - Turns out, Julie 2 takes its description of ‘erotic thriller’ very seriously indeed. Ms Laxmi’s wannabe movie star hides no voluptuous curve, freely baring back and legs and other body parts. Because her name is Julie, her ornament of choice has to be a cross. And the name of the lord is taken in vain, several times. A lecherous producer fingers her photos, lingering suggestively over her chest, while he explains the intricacies of the word ‘compromise’. Somewhere, in the depths of a mysteriously unnamed country populated by sheikhs, she sways, scantily clad, in front of shifty eyed men.

Firstpost - Julie 2 is a film full of scenes involving kissing (and much more), falling bras, and songs which call a woman ‘tandoor garam’. Just from watching the trailer of this movie, one may tend to think that Nihalani’s talk about sanskaar was nothing but a stinking pile of rubbish.

Hindustan Times - When Julie (Raai Laxmi) wakes up in the morning with make-up on and yawns seductively right in the first scene, you understand she believes in the film’s tagline: Bold, beautiful, blessed. Even then, you don’t anticipate what’s coming for you till she breaks the fourth wall (doesn’t look intentional though) and says, “I am the best.” Ok then. We still believe you, for the next 20 seconds maybe, because you have already promised a helluva lotta fun. Of course, everybody wants Julie’s body. Still, to remove any iota of doubt, Julie speaks in public interest, “Sabko Julie ka sharir chahiye lekin use sirf pyaar chahiye.” I don’t think anybody other than her in the entire film actually understands it. You’re in the wrong film, Raai Laxmi.