MOVIE UPDATE July 2006
Five Pakistani films were released in India in June marking the latest breach in a four-decade ban between the two nations. The films chosen for screening are Syed Noor's Daku Rani and Majajan, Javed Sheikh's Yeh Dil Aapka Hua, Sajjad Rashid's Salaakhein and Reema Khan's Koi Tujhsa Kahan. The films were launched simultaneously in New Delhi and Mumbai on June 25 during a 10-day film festival.
Satish Kaushik has been chosen to play the male lead in the screen adaptation of the highly acclaimed and best-selling novel Brick Lane written by Monica Ali. The film is being produced by Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Alison Owen who has in the past produced films such as Moonlight and Valentino, Elizabeth, Sylvia and Proof, among others. It will be directed by Sarah Gavron. A delighted Kaushik is leaving for London in a few days to shoot for the film.
Ahmed Khan has a football flick coming up. Tentatively titled Yahan Ke Hum Sikander, it will feature Nana Patekar playing coach of a team comprising Sohail Khan, Viveik Oberoi, Suniel Shetty, Arjun Rampal, Aftab Shivdasani and Bobby Deol.
Chandraprakash Dwivedi has claimed that his Ashok will have a budget "double that of the biggest Bollywood masala" and will involve some of the top names of the industry. But he is not willing to reveal more at this stage. The film, unlike Santosh Sivan's Asoka, focuses on the emperor in the post-Kalinga phase. He is in his early 60s and the story is taken from the ancient Buddhist text, Divyavadan. Kunal, the son of Ashok, and his wife Tishyarakshita are the other main characters in Dwivedi's film.
Chris Tucker of Rush Hour series will be playing the main lead in Gangster MD, the Hollywood remake of Munnabhai MBBS. Gangster MD is being directed by Mira Nair.
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
