Vin Diesel

Mumbai used to once take pride in its elaborate movie premieres. At some point they just stopped taking place. And we don’t mean the quiet sorts held in Andheri multiplexes with snacks, and wine, followed by screenings. Of which there are one too many. But the premiere of 'xXx: Return Of Xander Cage', Bollywood star Deepika Padukone’s Hollywood debut, held at Lower Parel’s Phoenix mall on Thursday, with crowds jostling behind barricades at all three entrances to the multiplex, the red-carpet starting from the end of the parking lot, cameras flashing, sound-bytes galore, invitees dressed in their best, gave a fair glimpse of the ‘proper’ film premieres from back in the day.