Sonam Kapoor wants role in sis’s next

MUMBAI: She played the role of producer perfectly for sister Sonam Kapoor-starrer Aisha (2010). And now, Anil Kapoor’s younger daughter Rhea is ready to put plans for her second production venture in motion. But interestingly, she hasn’t approached her famous sibling to star in it yet.

“Rhea is planning the details (for her second production). And everyone, including my father, is excited about it because Aisha made us realise that you can make a classy and rich-looking film on a small budget,” says Sonam.

Highlighting that Rhea did an “impressive” job with her first project, Sonam adds that although everyone is talking about female-oriented films now, Aisha -- the official remake of Jane Austen’s Emma -- was one of the first movies to do it.

“And that’s why I am excited to see what Rhea comes up with next. And hopefully, she will think that I am good enough to be cast in her film again. I don’t know about it yet,” she says with a laugh.

Tell Sonam it’s surprising that Rhea still hasn’t approached her and she laughs: “Yes, it’s true. I haven’t been offered the film yet. The next time you speak to my dad, please ask him if Rhea is going to cast Sonam in her next film. I am dying to be in it.”

Some time back, Anil said that Rhea is very strict about casting. “Rhea takes her own decisions. She has a mind of her own, and is rebellious and headstrong,” says the older sister.

A few days ago, Anil had confirmed that he would be going for a narration of the story of Rhea’s next film. At the same time, he had stated that a formal announcement would take time because casting and other things are time-consuming.

Sonam is currently looking forward to the Abbas Mustan’s action-packed thriller, Players, which releases today. An official Indian adaptation of the Hollywood film, The Italian Job, the film will see Sonam playing Naina Braganza.

After co-starring with Abhay Deol for the first time in Aisha, Sonam is now set to work with him again in Rajkumar Santoshi’s upcoming romcom. Seems they have recovered from the friction caused sometime ago when Abhay was quoted passing negative comments on Aisha. “I never had any bad vibes as far as Abhay is concerned,” defends Sonam.

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Jism 2 goes beyond the body: Pooja Bhatt

DARJEELING: With 100 years of Indian cinema in 2013, Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt feels that it is time to bring India back to Indian cinema. "We have to explore our own backyards before moving to foreign shores. Why film makers go abroad when there is so much unexplored terrain in India? Darjeeling is a jewel and we have to bring it back to Indian cinema," stated Bhatt.

Bhatt along with his daughter Pooja and actor Imran Zahid were in Darjeeling on Thursday. "Despite Ooty and Kashmir being important film locales, as a young director, I preferred to come to Darjeeling in 1979 to shoot for my film Lahoo Ke Doo Rang, starring Shabana Azmi and Vinod Khanna. I had been inspired by a film shot in Darjeeling by Satyajit Ray. Later many critics had stated that a unique dimension of Darjeeling had been captured in this film. Darjeeling was also a favourite destination of Director Shakti Shamanta," stated Bhatt.

Walking on her father's footsteps, even Pooja wants to give Darjeeling a try for her next film Jism 2. My films have been shot in Lahaul spiti and Puducherry- all new locales. Now I want to try out Darjeeling for my film Jism 2. The film demands a fine balance between nature and colonial architecture- Darjeeling perfectly fits the bill. We are looking around. Though we have other locations in mind also, Darjeeling tops the list. I have fond memories of Darjeeling," stated Pooja.

Pooja was barely four years old when she had first accompanied her father for the shoot of Lahoo Ke Doo Rang. She returned back to Darjeeling in 1989 to shoot for the film Chor Aur Chaand in which she had starred opposite Aditya Pancholi. When I had accompanied my father, I had taken back with me an Aapso puppy. This time my husband has warned me not to take back anything," guffawed Pooja.

However, she deftly steered clear of who would star in her film Jism 2, with names like Sunny Leone doing the rounds. "Jism 2 goes beyond the body. Brand Jism is not about who is starring in it. I will formally announce the name next week," stated Pooja.

She could even choose Darjeeling as a location for her future film based on the Nanavati murder of 1952. "I want a locale that has frozen in time and Darjeeling would be a good option," added Pooja.

Even Papa Bhatt was all praise for Darjeeling. "I remember when we were shooting for Lahoo at the Chowrasta, the interaction between the actors and the crowd was great. The people were so friendly and so keen in cooperating with us that they did exactly as they were told."

However, Bhatt did not fail to mention the problem director Anurag Basu had with the crowd while shooting for Barfee in Darjeeling. "I will try to smoothen whatever misunderstanding there has been when I get back to Mumbai," assured the veteran director.

Bhatt feels that a single successful film can kick start Darjeeling as an important cine locale. "Young filmmakers are constantly looking for new locales. They will surely want to try out Darjeeling. Even the district administration is willing to cooperate with the film industry to facilitate shootings here," remarked Bhatt.

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I’ve no say in the release dates: Vidya Balan

MUMBAI: The first promo of Vidya Balan’s Kahaani was unveiled on Thursday. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on March 9. Reportedly, it was to release last October since it is set in Kolkata during the Durga Puja. But the actor, following the success of No One Killed Jessica (2011), coaxed director Sujoy Ghosh to push it to January 2012.

Then, physically and emotionally drained by The Dirty Picture (2011), Vidya decided to give herself a ‘break’ before promoting it, resulting in the Kahaani opening two months later. Quiz her and she protests, “I have no say in the release date of my films. It was Viacom 18’s decision entirely. Every film is my baby.”

In Kahaani, Vidya plays a six-months pregnant woman in search of her missing husband on the streets of Kolkata. “Unlike other women-centric thrillers, it has nothing to do with the supernatural,” says Vidya, who after a start-to-finish 64-day schedule, returned home to the news that her sister, Priya, was pregnant.

The twins, Ira and Ruhaan, were born on August 15 last year. Vidya was waiting outside the labour room in the hospital and admits to being “overwhelmed” by the “little miracles” her sister had been carrying “squeezed into one stomach for nine months”.

“A child can change your priorities. What was once monumental can become inconsequential,” she smiles. “When we were growing up, my father would say every day is one of joy and discovery. They are double this time around.”

Vidya has played a mother in Paa (2009) and will now be seen as a mother-to-be. She admits that earlier, she wasn’t experienced in maternal matters. “After spending all my free time with my niece and nephew, I understand babies better and I love them more today,” she says. “I’m sure today, I would have tackled those roles a little differently.”

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