Rambo goes Bollywood blockbuster
Stallone’s 1980s action thriller getting an unlikely musical makeover in India
If you made a list of Hollywood movies unlikely to be remade into a Bollywood musical extravaganza, then Rambo would surely be on it.
However, the violent 1980s action thriller is to be adapted into a Bollywood blockbuster, prompting incredulity from fans of the original, and a somewhat startled reaction from its star, Sylvester Stallone.
“I read recently they are remaking Rambo in India! ... Great character ... hope they don’t wreck it,” wrote Stallone on his Instagram account, next to a movie still of a fierce-looking John Rambo, the troubled Vietnam veteran upon whom the franchise was based.
In a later post, the 70-year-old added “some people like to read my words and twist them” and he wished good luck to Tiger Shroff, the 27-year-old -Indian action hero who will star in the Hindi revamp. “Eye of the Tiger! I am sure you will put all of your heart and soul into it. Never give up young man!” Stallone added, next to a topless shot of Shroff in his Rambo persona.
Shroff responded: “There will always and only be ONE ‘eye of the tiger,’ for us cubs you rule the jungle! Thank you so much sir!”
Fans, particularly Indians, among Stallone’s 3.3 million Instagram followers, have been a tad more cynical.
“Low budget 3rd class acting and dramatic emotional scenes for no reasons,” lamented one Indian fan.
“Trust me sir they will make your movie cartoon, I am an Indian and I know our directors, it will be hell of a wreck,” said another.
“Dance numbers and a happy ending, what can go wrong?” asked another skeptical Instagram user.
The Hindi remake was announced recently at the Cannes Film Festival, and will be directed by Siddharth Anand, who belongs to one of Bollywood’s many moviemaking dynasties.