paki lion
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Even though her debut Bollywood movie, Nazar (released Friday last) has come in for criticism of mixed nature from audience across India, while most critics haven't taken too kindly to Lollywood diva's 'bravura' performance, Meera has already gone ahead and signed on a project with renowned film maker Afzal Khan. According to a report, the film is called Umrao Jaan and will have Meera playing the coveted title role. Meera, who is supposed to have flown back in Karachi from Mumbai, late Friday night, was not available for comments. Her cell phone was constantly switched off, even though her driver confirmed that 'madam' had arrived home, giving rise to speculation that the actress was avoiding the fourth estate.
Apparently, Nazar's first two-day box office collections haven't done Meera proud. Add to it the fact that her voice in the film was dubbed over by a girl called Malvika. As far as the Bhatts are concerned, they have already given her another chance with Kasak, a small-budget film opposite pop singer-turned-actor, Lucky Ali. But, Meera can trust Umrao Jaan to undo the 'damage' all right.
Umrao Jaan is a fictional character that has been a favourite with actresses on both sides of the border. It was a role immortalized by Rekha in Muzaffar Ali's adaptation of the classic Mirza Ruswa novel, back in 1981. Earlier, we had Rani portraying the beautiful courtesan with panache in Hasan Tariq's Umrao Jaan Ada. Finally, today, it seems that the 'privilege' is going to be that of Lollywood's first crossover queen.
Interestingly, the role in the said Afzal Khan remake was initially offered to Priyanka Chopra, but the latter reportedly backtracked after giving Khan her consent. "Meera liked the subject and has agreed to give me priority dates for the film," Khan is reported to have told media men after washing his hands of Priyanka. He has already started work on the film, hiring the services of a famous Indian art-director to re-create ancient Lucknow. "It will have all the grandeur and the trappings of the original classic," he said.
-- Courtesy The Nation Plus
Is this true? I though Priyanka already bagged the role for Umrao Jaan..If Meera is gonna do this role, she has to work very hard...anyway i wish her all the best...
paki lion
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OK I GOT MORE NEWS ABOUT THIS..
MAY 18: Days after J P Dutta announced his decision to remake Umrao Jaan last week (reported in hitList on May 13 ), he has competition — director Afzal Ahmed has declared that he is making Mallika Umrao Jaan Ada, also based on the story of the 19th century courtesan, Umrao Jaan.
While Dutta said his next project would be a brand new rendering of Muzaffar Ali’s classic, and would feature Priyanka Chopra in the role that Rekha immortalised, Afzal Ahmed says Mallika Umrao Jaan Ada will have Pakistani actress Meera in the lead role of the courtesan.
Dutta’s father (writer-director O P Dutta) wrote the script 20 years ago and Dutta has been quoted as saying that he wanted to start Umrao Jaan for many years now.
Afzal Ahmed, whose next release is Mashooqa, says, “Why hasn’t J P sahab expressed a desire to make a film on this subject in all these years? Why now? I had planned to make this film more than 12 years ago.
I had it registered in 1993. In fact, K B Pathak and I wrote the story and screenplay together. At that time, Sridevi had liked the story and was keen to do the film, but it didn’t work out.
Then last year, I approached Mahima Chaudhary. Sibte Hassan Rizvi and Sahara were to produce it. I came to know J P sahab is making a film based on the same subject when I read about it in hitList recently.”
His grouse is that two months ago, he approached Priyanka Chopra to play the role of Mallika, Umrao Jaan’s daughter. “I met Priyanka and her father and gave them the bound script.
She was very interested and had said that the moment I got a financier, she would do the film. I got finance from the UP government and found a producer; then I heard that Priyanka is doing J P sahab’s film. She should have had the guts to call me and inform me that she wasn’t doing my film.
This is very unethical,” Ahmed fumes.
“I will make Mallika Umrao Jaan Ada with Meera and she will be better than her!”
While J P Dutta says his film will be based on the life of the courtesan, Afzal Ahmed’s will revolve around “Umrao’s daughter Mallika, with flashbacks of Umrao Jaan,” informs Ahmed. “It’s basically where the story of Umrao Jaan ends.
She gives birth to a baby daughter and the story is about what happens to her child. Mallika, who is also a tawaif, goes in search of her mother’s family.” The music composer of his film is Khayyam. Ahmed plans to start his film in June.
