Fri Jan 17 08:42:48 UTC 2025: ## Star-Studded Debut and Director’s Confusion Mark New Film “Azaad”
**Mumbai, India** – The upcoming film “Azaad,” set in the 1920s, marks the directorial debut of Abhishek Kapoor (known to some as Twinkle Khanna’s ex-boyfriend), and features the launch of two new stars. The film, described as a blend of “Betaab,” “Mard,” and a touch of “Lagaan” in its style, uses dialogue penned 24 years ago by K.P. Saxena for “Lagaan.”
Aman Devgan, nephew of Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgan, and Rasha Thadani (or Thadani), daughter of prominent film distributor Anil Thadani and actress Raveena Tandon, make their cinematic debuts in this Abhishek Kapoor venture.
While Kapoor, who has previously directed six films, draws inspiration from Western cinema, critics note an unevenness in the final product. The film’s narrative is reportedly dominated by Ajay Devgan for two-thirds of its runtime, with Aman Devgan’s role proving less substantial. Furthermore, the film’s dialogue, a mixture of Khari Boli, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, and Bundelkhandi, has been criticized for its awkwardness, a surprise given the inclusion of a dialect coach.
“Azaad” is generating considerable buzz not only for its star power but also for the intriguing mix of influences and the director’s apparent indecision regarding the lead role.
First Piper 