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On a comeback trail

Actor-turned-producer Kamal Sadanah talks to SYEDA FARIDA about his remake of “Victoria No. 203” and “Karkash”

NOW INTO REMAKES Kamal Sadanah

If his father was known for producing the Ashok Kumar-Navin Nischol starrer Victoria No 203, a few decades later, his actor-turned-filmmaker son Kamal Sadanah presents a ‘thriller with a comedy undercurrent’ remake that is likely to hit the silver screen around the same time as RGV’s Sholay.

“Both were made in the 1970s and were super successful films. It is a great occasion that their remakes are releasing around the same time as well. I thought it was a good way to launch my banner. Victoria No 203 was produced and directed by my father. Making the film was an emotional deal rather than a financial transaction. Also the audience is open to remakes today,” says Kamal.

The story that revolves around a diamond heist has the witty Javed Jaffrey playing the rich industrialist Bobby Bombata and super model Tora Khasgir, the cat burglar, who incidentally does the dare devil stunt for the film that also stars Vinod Mehra’s daughter Soniya Mehra. The title track is rendered by the Swedish pop singer Annika. “A lot of filmmakers do not give that much importance to titles. We flew down the Swedish singer and shot a sequence with computer graphics for it,” says Kamal who makes a cameo appearance.

After taking off with Kajol in Rahul Rawail’s Bekhudi (1992) and a few flicks later as an actor, he recounts his decision to turn towards filmmaking. “Age is not relevant when it comes to filmmaking. I was born in a film atmosphere and exposed to the industry at an early age. Yes, I would like to take a break from behind the camera after I finish a few projects and when I come across some good scripts,” he says.

Apart from Victoria No 203, he is working on Karkash, a thought-provoking narrative starring Suchitra Pillai.

“It is a film set in a rural milieu. It talks about double standards in society. I see a lot of men around me who are highly qualified but treat their spouses like glorified servants rather than as partners. They don’t believe in equality in marriage. Karkash deals with the topic. Subconsciously women have been the central characters in my films. Even in Victoria… the central character is a woman, Soniya Mehra. I have been greatly influenced by my mother, sister and wife,” says the actor who is married to Lisa John.

“Lisa has been a strong force behind me in making Karkash,” he says. The other important person in his life is son Angath, thus the Angath Arts Private Limited, his production house.

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