Heroine

The movie begins with Mahi Arora (Kareena Kapoor), a renowned heroine, being thrown out of a car in night. She hails a taxi to a police station with the intention of lodging a complain. Before she can do so, her secretary Rashid Bhai (Govind Namdeo) takes her from the station. The movie then goes to flashback for a while, showing the circumstances and her relationship with a well-known actor Aryan (Arjun Rampal). Aryan is in the divorce proceedings with his wife, and dating Mahi.

Mahi is completely in love with Aryan, and during one of their intimate moments, takes a video of them just for fun. Aryan is split between his current wife and son, his career, and over-jealous Mahi. When Mahi comes to know about an intimate scene Aryan is shooting for a movie, she barges on to the set and creates a ruckus, which upsets Aryan. Later Mahi is teased by Aryans current wife in a party, and she insults her back. While driven back from the party with Aryan, Mahi raises the topic, which results in her being thrown out of the car.

Mahi then goes into depression, putting her career in jeopardy. One of her friends suggests Mahi to stop playing the victim and to get back again with a bang. Heeding her advice, Mahi decides to rejuvenate her career. She employs a PRO, Pallavi (Divya Dutta) who reinvents Mahis image and puts her back on the front page of every newspapers and magazines. She starts relationship with an upcoming cricketer, Angad Paul (Randeep Hooda).

Their love affair begins to blossom and puts her back into the spotlight. Mahi uses Angad to get role in a big budget film. However, lead hero manipulates so that all the spotlight in the film goes to him and an item girl. Mahi is dissatisfied despite the film being a success, and in a desperate attempt to prove her acting skills she works in an art film for next nine months. In between Angad proposes to Mahi, but she feels that presently they should concentrate on their respective careers.

This causes Mahi and Angads relationship to end. Also the art film never completes, again Mahi goes into depression accompanied by heavy drinking and smoking. As no big film coming her way, she decides to work on a low budget film with newcomers. Also she agrees to make an appearance in the marriage of an industrialist daughter. As fate would have it, Mahi meets Aryan at the wedding.

Aryan seems to be apologetic to Mahi for what he had done to her. They decide to rekindle their affair. Mahi is happy that Aryan is back in her life. Also, he wants her to do a big budget film with him. However, the director of the film is reluctant to cast Mahi in the role of the lead heroine as she has lost her appeal.

Mahi becomes insane about losing the role to another heroine. She asks Pallavi to leak the sex tape of her and Aryan on the news so that she would get back on the spotlight for the release of her low budget film. As a result of this controversy, the film becomes an instant hit. However, when Rashid Bhai quits his job and a veteran actress in the industry, Shagufta Reza (Helen) whom Mahi admires dearly, dies, Mahi decides to quit acting as well. In the concluding scenes, Mahi is shown walking alone in a foreign country and on being asked if she is Mahi Arora, she replies no.

It is implied that Mahi has moved on with her life.Heroine received negative reviews from critics upon release while Kareena Kapoors performance garnered highly positive reviews. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the film a rating of 3.5 out of 5 while saying Watch HEROINE for Madhurs imposing direction, for Kareenas superlative performance, watch it also for its fearless, inspiring and enlightening storyline divulging the scandalous realities of the movie industry. Try not to miss it!.

Shomini Sen of Zee News gave it a score of 3 out of 5 and said Does Heroine work? Yes, but only because of Kareena Kapoor. From doing the raunchy act in Halkat Jawaani to the scenes where she is battling depression and popping pills, Kareena makes Mahi memorable and lovable. Heroine is absolutely Kareenas film, not Madhurs. Two for the film and one extra for Bebo. Three cheers for the film!.

Aniruddha Guha of DNA gave Heroine 2 out 5 stars while commenting, The characters are all caricatured and the screenplay meanders along aimlessly, it being nothing more than an assemblage of scenes each disjointed from the other strung together in a long, sleep-inducing and pointless narrative. Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated it 2 out of 5 stars, noting The film that Bhandarkar has made is indeed disappointingly mechanical. Mercifully, Kareena does demonstrate that she has a feel for the character. But, then, why wouldnt she? After all she plays herself in Heroine. Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN rated the film 2 out of 5 and said Despite an entertaining first half, thanks to all the unintentional laughs, Heroine slips into a slush of melodrama post interval.

By this point, it feels interminably long and boring. Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com gave it 2 out of 5 stars, remarking Theres nothing innovative about Madhur Bhandarkars Heroine.I am not sure if this is Bhandakars idea of comic relief but the hall roared with laughter. Whats not funny is just how stunning Kareena Kapoor looks or gives to her role as Mahi Arora.

bRoshni Devi of Koimoi gave the film 1.5 out 5 stars, reviewing Heroine irritates more than entertains, but some of the performances are nice. Kareena Kapoor does a good job and, heck, you even get to see her in a pseudo-lesbian scene along with other steamy scenes. If thats enough to drag you to see Heroine, go ahead. Give it a miss otherwise.