Shortkut is Copy of Bowfinger

Shortkut is Copy of Bowfinger

Shortkut is yet another cheating of the audience?Just when we thought, Bollywood filmmakers have finally decided to experiment with new subjects and give something fresh to their loyal audience, here comes a film that not only has a 'con' in its title but also actually aims to con the audience with its lifted plot line from a successful Hollywood film titled Bowfinger (1999) starring Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin and Heather Graham. But what is more surprising is that this film,  Shortkut – The Con is On is produced by none other than actor Anil Kapoor who is now Hollywood bound and has given a critically acclaimed film like Gandhi My Father.

The director of the Hollywood film is Frank Oz who's another film Death at a Funeral has been ripped off as Daddy Cool by Indra Kumar. Reportedly, the makers of Death at a Funeral had threatened to sue Indra Kumar after they came to know about the story lifting. According to tabloid reports, a settlement was then reached between them and Indra Kumar had to shell out a couple of crores to save his face. We can only imagine what Anil Kapoor's situation will be if the original producers in Hollywood find it out and slap a case of copyright violation on him claiming damages running into crores. He will not only get a bad lashing in Hollywood press but also in here. The very same critics who had heaped praises on his risk taking ability to make a brave film like Gandhi My Father will rip tore his copy cat production.

The Hollywood comedy released in 1999 and had a down on luck producer Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) after reading a script which a friend has written decides to take a last shot at fame and fortune. But the script is not that easy to sell, and a famous producer promises him to do it, but there is one condition: Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy), Hollywood's number one star, has to be in it. So, Bobby tries his luck with Kit - who says no - and then decides to shoot the film himself. Together with the cheapest team available in Southern California, an aspiring beauty (Heather Graham) from Ohio, a diva who is just a little over the hill, a key-holding gofer from a major studio and a goon hired away from burger-flipping, Bobby sets out to shoot the science-fiction-film starring Kit Ramsey - who does not even know he's being filmed. Now Shortkut has a similar setting with the film based in Bollywood town Mumbai and Akshaye playing the aspiring filmmaker roping in Arshad Warsi to play the lead role and Amrita Rao going ultra glam playing the wannabe actress just like Heather Graham.

A Bollywood insider tells us, "Shortkut makers may claim their film is inspired from a Malayalam film but the fact remains the plot lines are quiet similar. Even its poster reveals this fact. One wonders why most actors when they turn producers can't think of something original. Just last week news has leaked that Saif Ali Khan's first production Love Aaj Kal too is a lift from a Taiwenese film, Hao De Shi Guang (Three Times). One also fails to understand when these actors put in so much money in their productions why can't they spend some money more and come out with something really original and creative."

Shortkut is written by Anees Bazmee and directed by Neeraj Vora both successful scriptwriters of Bollywood so we are sure the copying must have been done masterfully. How much they are successful will be revealed on July 10th when their film releases! But one just hopes this conning the audience business should stop for once and all soon because like never before the West is looking at Bollywood.