SIGHTINGS
BY SUCHITRA BEHAL
NASEERUDDIN SHAH is an excited man. His new film, written and directed by celebrated Pakistani film maker Shoaib Mansoor, is slated for release in India soon.
Titled “Khuda Ke Liye”, the film has been shot partly in Pakistan and deals with the lives of urban Muslims post 9/11. Said Shah, “I was very fascinated by the subject and to shoot in Pakistan. This is an issue that is very close as well as controversial to Muslims.”
He added that the film was about the coming of age of Pakistan. “Its youth is very aware of its political conditions and is fighting centuries-old customs.” Shah said the project had been kept hush-hush since they did not want any trouble with any extremist groups.
He added that the Pakistani film industry was now in the process of reinventing and re-energising itself. “It’s time we bring home some of their talent too.”
One would not credit SALMAN KHAN with a sense of creativity. So it comes as something of a surprise to find him painting furiously.
Khan, who supports a number of charitable activities through the Salman Khan Foundation, said that he did not like to ask people for money. “If somebody makes a donation, it is fine. I will accept it. Otherwise I’ll raise funds through my movies, my shows and now my paintings,” said Khan.
This is far removed from his image of Bollywood’s bad boy. Khan insists that he is “more at peace and contented than ever before”. Khan said he was inspired by Rajnikanth, who “gives back to the people”.
With a shade of his earlier arrogance, Khan said “At least people can understand my paintings unlike those artists who have to explain what they have made.” And if his success is any indication he may soon have a new calling.
This may not be her first visit to the country but for Hollywood actor, SIENNA MILLER, it’s a first to Mumbai as ambassador for ‘Global Cool’ project, which works towards preventing global warming. Miller said that earlier she had n
o idea about it but was amazed to find that it actually took very little to help make a difference. “I didn’t know that each of us could make a difference. Like just putting the air conditioning down by one degree we help towards the cause. You realise that something is going wrong, it’s time we did something about this.” Miller also confessed that she was a fan of Indian food and people and had also watched some Indian films. She remembered watching “Monsoon Wedding” and a film with Amitabh Bachchan in it. While Miller confirmed that she had no offers from Bollywood she did add that, if asked, she “wouldn’t mind doing a film here.”
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