Shakeela trailer: The rise of a star, and the envy and hypocrisy she endured

The latest trailer of Shakeela, directed by Indrajit Lankesh, depicts themes such as morality, corruption and ambition. Featuring Richa Chadha and Pankaj Tripathi, the trailer captures the rise and fall of an actress in an industry that exploits sexuality while maintaining a hypocritical view of it. 

The film is based on the life and career of Shakeela, who starred in several controversial films in the Southern cinema. The actress' films earned her mass popularity among teenagers and adults in the late 1990s but their nature also led to her being ostracized and criticized. 

The trailer begins with the news about the death of Silk Smitha, the iconic actress who redefined sensuality in Southern cinema in the 1980s. Her death leaves a vacuum which is filled by Shakeela (Chadha), a young woman who is forced into the sleazy business because of financial difficulties. Her first obstacle is the charming Salim (Tripathi), an ageing superstar. 

When Shakeela eclipses Salim, he grows envious and plots her downfall. In a society as conservative and traditional as the South, Shakeela's presence starts grating against ancient moral codes. But such is her popularity, that her films begin to be made in multiple languages, only increasing her following.

It appears that Chadha and Tripathi will be carrying the film as it is centred on their conflict. Yet, it is Chadha's Shakeela who dominates the trailer. The actress looks the part, but the production and the story seem familiar. After all, The Dirty Picture (2011) focussed on a similar story. It might be difficult to escape the comparison unless the film reveals something drastically different in its narrative. Tripathi is cast in a very atypical role and the actor looks a tad uncomfortable as the sleazy, exploitative superstar but comes into his own as the scheming hypocrite. 

The film is set to be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada and will run in 1,000 screens across the country.

In a press note, the director said, "Shakeela’s story is almost folklore today, but the truth is that so much happened to her while she soared to success from nothing and then came back to nothing again. I’m happy that our producers are releasing the film so widely. It gives me the confidence to know that it’s a film that will appeal to the larger masses. To release in so many languages was important because that was the power of Shakeela."

Shakeela is being produced by Sammy's Magic Cinema Motion Pictures and distributed by UFO Moviez.

The film will be released on 25 December.