Most of us are starstruck by the quality of life film stars lead. It's all hunky dory at first and from the outside it shines and glitters like gold. But there's more to it than meets the eye. Like many things in our lives we too are ignorant of what goes inside. Author Komal Mehta in her latest book "Spot Girl" ups the bar of inside story by a take on life a personal and professional relationship in Bollywood. So is there anything to cherish about? Let's find out.
Jiya is living her greatest dream. Shes the manager cum girl Friday of the country's hottest film star Shezad Khan, She loves her job and she loves her boss.
However, her wonderfully stressful life hits a low when Shezad gets romantically involved with an upcoming actress. She soon finds her picture perfect existence clouded with self-doubt, heartbreak, questionable career choices and total disillusionment.
In a place where everyone pays a price, how far will she go for her love? From Mumbai to Cannes, Spot Girl is the journey of an ordinary girl who ends up finding something real in this fascinating world of make belief.
First look at the title and the cover and the glitz and glamour of Bollywood reflects on it. The cover could have been more vibrant as it looks a little pale. The title justifies it's significance once the reader is done with the story. The blurb pretty much in tandem with everything talks about two people and their lives together.
The story is of Jiya, a girl who dreamt of being in Bollywood one day ends up as the manager of one of the most popular stars Shezad Khan. Love blossoms inside her heart as she is the perfect manager, perfect partner and a perfect recipe for Shezad Khan. But the arrival of Ayesha an upcoming actress and her closeness to Falak causes an uproar and creates tensions. So will Jiya be able to live her dream? Will Shezad be the man of her dreams? What role will Ayesha & Falak play in her life? That's what the story is all about.
It's a living dream. The story line and the whole idea works perfectly in giving an insight about the Bollywood and insides. The story is brisk and has a real to reel effect on the reader. It's the reality blended into fiction and molded to suit the taste of the readers. The spoofs and goofs are worth reading and enjoying in the story. The narration is fluent and it never waivers off the track. The whims and fancies of a star and the life of people around them is a very realistic approach to the book.
The downside of the book is it's lack of excitement and humor which could have done a world of good to the story line. The first half is dull and the end plain and predictable as it all get figured out too soon. The excitement is not up to the mark and leaves a lot to be desired. Curiosity element is found missing too after the initial burst of stardom in the story.
All in all the story is a tell tale of stars and their tantrums and their managers and others who work for them. The take and the inside story are good but doesn't make up for the lack of something extraordinary. The book is like a dream and has moments of it's own. It's reality with a professional touch but sans any hyped drama. It's a narrative from the collective experiences and the truth as it unfolds in front of the eyes.
RATINGS:
3 OUT OF 5
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