Exploring the Journey of 'Marigold': A Look Back at Salman Khan's English Film

A Glimpse into 'Marigold'

In Willard Carroll's film Marigold, the lead character, played by Ali Larter, is portrayed as a messy, ill-mannered, and uninformed individual. Her adventure takes her from the United States to India, where she resorts to deception to secure a flight seat, speaks rudely on her phone after takeoff is announced, and yells at a taxi driver in Mumbai. She also shows disdain towards the production controller, played by Suchitra Pillai, who has the unenviable task of informing her that the film she came to shoot has been canceled.

As the story unfolds, we learn more about Marigold's behavior.

“I’ve never starred in a film without a number in the title. ‘Basic Instinct 3’, ‘Fatal Attraction 4’... After each movie, my father leaves me a voicemail questioning how much further I can fall,” she confides to a composed and charming choreographer.

They soon find themselves enjoying romantic moments on the beaches of Goa and in the beautiful havelis of Rajasthan, where the plot takes a turn in the latter half.

The interactions between the choreographer and the B-grade actress have a certain charm in the first half, largely due to Salman’s natural charisma. For reasons known only to him and his American director, his eyes appear teary throughout the film, creating a somewhat 'moist' viewing experience.

A lull occurs amidst the Rajasthani desert backdrop, where Prem wishes to marry Marigold, yet he is already engaged to a quirky character played by Nandana Sen, who is infatuated with Barry (Ian Bohen), a man who previously adored Marigold.

Before the two couples can find their true loves, the storyline stumbles and falters to a point of no return.

It’s often said that love’s journey is fraught with challenges! Salman and his American counterpart perform some poorly choreographed dance numbers, set to a lackluster score by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, before the wedding music is heard.

Ultimately, Marigold is not a terrible film. It features some witty dialogue and a cool Salman who transitions from graceful dancing to a more lethargic performance in an instant.

The film includes several jabs at Bollywood, with Vikas Bhalla effectively portraying a subpar actor, as well as at Hollywood, highlighting the sequel obsession that has permeated cinema.

However, Marigold Lexton need not worry about adding another title to her filmography. A sequel, Marigold 2, is highly unlikely.