We’re close to the end of the IPL (something to do with cricket, I hear…) in India and finally the big releases are  around the corner with the first one being Rowdy Rathore on June the 1st in UK theaters. From then onwards we’ll be getting a steady flow of movies until the end of the year. Unfortunately a few of the recent movies didn’t find distribution in the UK or got delayed for example Dangerous Ishhq and Ishaqzaade,both movies we were looking forward to even if they got negative or so so reviews by critics.

So this week’s big trailer is Cocktail from Illuminati Films starring Saif Ali Khan (who is also the producer), Deepika Padukone (hoping to recreate the chemistry of Love Aaj Kal with Saif Ali Khan which was also her last clean solo hit), and newcomer Diana Penty (yes, that’s her name).

Directed by Homi Adajani, who worked with Saif Ali Khan quite a few years ago on his directorial debut Being Cyrus, and written by the amazingly talented Imtiaz Ali, the story revolves around three friends Gautham, Meera and Veronica and seems to be dealing with love, friendship, seduction and parties on a beach.

I have to admit my interest is Cocktail was pretty much “on the rocks” having recently been very disappointment by Illuminati’s previous outing Agent Vinod for which I had some really high hopes, but that movie was pretty much a mess.

Deepika Padukone although a very fetching appearance on screen, never really excites me cinematically and her best works is probably still her debut.

But after hearing Imtiaz Ali wrote the screenplay and seeing the trailer, I must admit that Cocktail looks like a lot of fun. Shot mostly in London and Cape Town (totally justifying the red bikini scene which as usual will send  fans in raptures), Saif is back to his charming in a suit avatar as he was in Kal Ho Na Ho, Deepika is looking straight ravishing and seems to be stepping out of her comfort zone.  The production values and energy is popping and clearly I am not the only one excited as the trailer has already hit over a million views just in a couple of days!

Illuminati Films and Eros International bring “Cocktail” to you on July 13.

@asimburney