Bollywood Confidential

May 23, 2005
Singh takes a lighthearted look at "masala moviemaking" in this snappy overseas romp (after Goddess for Hire
) starring aspiring actress Raveena Rai. Raveena isn't having much luck in Hollywood as an Indian beauty, so when her agent nabs her a starring role in a Bollywood film, she jumps at the chance and relocates to Bombay. Singh paints the scene with broad strokes: the bad guys are short and greasy, the gay best friend is predictably campy and supportive and Raveena proves unfailingly plucky. We get a few quick sketches of the teeming Indian streets and meet a host of comic Indian characters, including Raveena's eccentric Uncle Heeru (a failed actor who lives in a house overrun by pigeons), a lecherous Bollywood director and the extraordinarily handsome romantic interest, Bollywood mega-star, Siddharth. In her depiction of the haphazard making of a nonsensical movie, Singh offers a mild critique of Bollywood product (as too lowbrow and derivative), while also celebrating her heroine—and the Indian film industry's verve. Agent, Kimberly Whalen
.

July 1, 2005
This zany, laugh-out-loud romp should be required reading for anyone whose spirits need a lift. The TV and movie worlds of Los Angeles and Bombay offer Singh a wealth of eccentric characters, from ineffectual agents to ego--driven directors. Her wry actress heroine, Raveena Rai, is the perfect foil for these way-out wanna-bes. When Raveena's L.A. agent finally gets her a leading role, she's delighted--until she finds out that it's in a Bollywood movie to be shot in Bombay. Although excited to explore her Indian roots, Raveena is nervous about the long journey. Her hotel is so horrible she stays with her uncle Heeru, the funniest character in the story. While avoiding the advances of her spoiled director, Raveena falls for her gorgeous leading man, a godlike creature appropriately named Siddharth. Singh provides a compelling description of Bombay, and, like Raveena, readers will be simultaneously fascinated and repelled by the complex city. Delicious summer reading for those with a taste for spice.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)