It takes courage to poke fun at yourself. Karan Johar and Riteish Deshmukh are always up for a good self-deprecating joke.
In a first, Johar will poke fun at some of his own films — Bombay Velvet (2015) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) in Welcome To New York. While Diljit Dosanjh and Sonakshi Sinha are the main protagonists, all eyes will be on Johar, the actor and Deshmukh for the madness they could bring to the table. The trailer suggests Johar is cast in a double role.
The trailer, launched by Salman Khan on Twitter, promises that the film will be one of those mindless entertainers that have a mass appeal. In the two-and-a-half minute trailer, films like Sholay (1975), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Bombay Velvet (2015) and Baahubali (2015, 2017) have been spoofed for chuckles.
Teji (Dosanjh) bumps into fashion designer Jinal Patel (Sinha) ala Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017) style. They win some talent contest winners that wins them a trip to New York.
Johar plays double role — as himself and a gangster. As seen in the trailer, the real Johar is kidnapped, while the doppelgänger is out in the world.
Johar had played the antagonist in Bombay Velvet (2015), but this is the first time he is playing a double role. Welcome To New York is Johar’s chance to mock both — Bombay Velvet and himself.
Deshmukh's convincingly enacts his real life predicament — lack of good and meaty roles.
Sushant Singh Rajput has a guest appearance, where he interacts with Dosanjh's character as the latter mistakes him for cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Rajput had played Dhoni in the biopic, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016).
Then there is Rana Daggubati chipping in with a spoof of his own epic, Baahubali. The film also has Boman Irani and Lara Dutta.
Welcome To New York is not for someone seeking intelligent humour. Dosanjh has a great fan following and his goofy sense of humour is worth watching.
Directed by Chakri Toleti, the film will be released on 23 February where it will compete with Rani Mukerji’s Hichki.
Watch the trailer of Welcome To New York below: