The charm of Hollywood has besotted Bollywood actors of all genres. Besides, they have been crazy to make mark in the big world of Hollywood. During the last few years, Gulshan Grover can be spotted with a new blonde female actor or a Hollywood director. Similarly, stars like Aishwarya Rai and Irfan Khan, are making news globally in an international Hollywood project but with no promising results.

Even the critically acclaimed actors like Om Puri and Nasseruddin Shah, have been reduced to side kicks in Hollywood films. Despite all such low profile outings, the craze to be part of Hollywood projects has been a big dream for Bollywood stars.

On the contrary, Bollywood filmmakers have glorified foreign actors and this innovative trend had begun from Raj Kapoor's 'Mera Naam Joker' to this year's release -- 'Salaam-E-Ishq' -- with mixed results. None of these films featuring foreign actors made any indomitable mark or gave any recognition to these foreign stars with the exception of films like 'Lagaan' and 'Rang De Basanti'. Salman Khan, Bollywood's bad boy and a controversial figure for almost half decade has finally made into Hollywood with this Willard Carroll directed romantic saga 'Marigold'.

The film garnered headlines when it made Salman Khan, an international commodity worldwide. However, the low profile hype, poor face value and discouraging box office reports of previous releases makes it a low key affair.

No major Bollywood actor has so far made any promising news on the international scenario despite Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and others making a mark there. In terms of subject, concept and treatment, 'Marigold' holds some similarities with Nagesh Kukunoor's directed cross culture satirical drama 'Bollywood Calling'. It brings back glimpses of "Merchant-Ivory" style of filmmaking that glorified the bondage between white skinned actors and those of Indian origin but the "soul" of a contemplating and enchanting romantic drama is completely missing.

'Marigold' has a present modern set-up where a foreign actress experiences the deceitfulness and double-standards of big bad Hindi film industry after being stranded without work and luggage. It works more like a sarcastically woven melodrama where a love story forms the crux of the story amidst all the stylized singing and dancing.

The biggest drawback of 'Marigold' is that it works on an outdated script and worst of all it has slow-paced narration that decimates the interest of viewers. The predictability factor and lack of spark in on-screen chemistries makes it a non-happening love story and this where the film falls flat on its face.

The second and third tracks of romance are also half-baked and hardly create any ripples in the scripting. Salman and Ali Larter have alluring looks but the chemistry between them is insipid and hardly generates any interest among viewers. Like 'Bollywood Calling', the film glorifies the double standards and hypocritical attitudes of Hindi film industry but the screenplay is hardly innovative to make any promise.

Willard Carroll's directed 'Marigold' is a musical romantic comical journey of a young American woman who travels to India. In India, her life is transformed in the most unexpected ways by her experiences and adventures there as she surfaces new horizons of life and love. The story unfolds through the experiences of American actress Marigold Lexton (Ali Larter) who arrives in India with no luggage and with a bad attitude.

The poor petite actress is stranded in Goa when financing for her low-budget Hollywood movie falls apart. Marigold finally makes her dream come true as she finds herself cast in a small role in a Bollywood musical. In hot pursuit to prove her merits, she falls for the help and charm of Prem (Salman Khan), the film's choreographer. After several false starts and faltering mishaps, Marigold feels low about her talents. During the filmmaking and struggling sessions, she experiences renewed confidence and a growing love for Prem.

Marigold's dreamy journey screeches to halt as she discovers that Prem is not only a descendant from royalty but is also suffocated in a rapidly-approaching arranged marriage to a beautiful Indian girl, Janvi (Nandana Sen). Disappointed and disheartened, Marigold angrily departs from Prem's family estate and life. But destiny bestows kindness to her love as she is urged by Janvi who confesses that Prem doesn't love her and never will. The second major complication comes in the form of Marigold's boyfriend, Barry (Ian Bohen), who arrives in India unexpectedly and finds Marigold emotionally attracted and deeply in love with Prem.

Finally, love triumphs all hurdles as Marigold and Prem are brought together and Janvi and Barry embark upon a romantic journey of their own. The highlight of 'Marigold' lies in its couple of musical scores followed by breathtaking ethnic visuals of Rajasthan. Shankar Ehsaan Loy's music has many different shades to offer and works progressively in the narration of the film.

Soundtracks like "Yeh Pyar Kya Hai", "Yeh Pyar Hai", "Let's Fall in Love" and "Sacha Pyar" have found optimum trapping in the scripting of the film. Anil Mehta's cinematography is simply breathtaking and captures the sandy beaches of Goa as well as beautiful desert locations of Rajasthan with élan.

'Marigold' sounds too meek in its narration and predictable in its scripting as it relegates back to the 70's style of a love triangle story. Willard Carroll's selection of subject is the major villain as he pitches a stale and outdated concept in a modern cinematic world.

The story moves at a snail's pace and culminates into predictable ending with a couple of impressive to mediocre soundtracks. It's a movie that sounds too unimpressive in terms of quality content and treatment and exhibits the unawareness about changing trends of filmmaking.

Salman Khan impresses in the role of a charming lover attracted to the foreign actor but the chemistry lacks the desired spark. 'Marigold' will go unnoticed in his career and some may count this as his mistake in accepting a "non-happening" script after the success of 'Partner'. Like all foreign actress in Hindi films, Ali Larter justifies her caricature of an struggling actor making her mark in Bollywood films.

Her charming and alluring looks are a plus point but the non-acceptance of a foreign actress by Indian audiences will be a disappointing factor for the film. Gulshan Grover delivers one of the most unworthy performances of his career by playing a mute bodyguard to Salman Khan. His availability to the foreign filmmakers may be one big factor in making him the first choice for this role.

Nandana Sen looks beautiful and justifies her character while Ian Bohen is a "non-actor" material for his expressionless facial and body movements. Suchitra Pillai lives up to the standard of a competent performer and delivers an optimum performance. Kiran Juneja and Vijayendra Ghatge show their reliability as experienced character artistes and live up to the situational needs of the film.

Rakesh Bedi is in top form while Vikas Bhalla remains a permanent teakwood material. 'Marigold' holds no surprises for ardent Salman Khan but a disappointment for him as his Hollywood dream goes "kaput" after this untimely endeavor. The film has failed to attract the mass audience and even class audience won't fancy for it. It will be non-acceptable to multiplex audience and will add to the list of underperforming films of the year.