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Actress Swara Bhaskar says that her next release "Nil Bate Sannata" was very challenging for her since she plays a 15-year-old's mother in the film. "My next release is 'Nil Bate Sannata' coming on April 22, which is an extremely brilliant and beautiful film. It is the story of a mother - and I'm that mother - to a 15-year-old. It was a very challenging role for me. Numerous people told me that it was a career suicide considering the fact that which actress would play a role of a person older than her and that too a 15-year-old's mother. "But it was such a beautiful story that I couldn't refuse. And I'm very proud that I did the film. You need to find out what the meaning of 'Nil Bate Sannata' is because it is a very interesting title and it has a very sweet meaning," she said. Swara has even received the Best Actress award at the Silk Road film festival in China for the film. "Of course the award goes to the whole film," she maintained. The film is being presented by Anand L. Rai, who brought Swara into the spotlight with his film "Tanu Weds Manu". He went to cast her in all his next films like "Raanjhanaa" and "Tanu Weds Manu Returns". The film is directed by "Dangal" director Nitesh Tiwari's wife Ashwini Iyer Tiwari. Swara will also be seen in "Anarkali Aarawali". About her role in the film, she said, "It is the story of an orchestra party singer who sings numerous double meaning songs in villages and other small areas of Bihar. It is about an incident which turns her life upside down. "Even this is a beautiful story. It keeps women's issues at the centre and it showcases the world which we haven't seen in Bollywood - nautanki and the world of orchestra parties." Swara was last seen in the Salman Khan-starrer "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo".
Mallika looks at getting into Jaya Bachchan's shoes
In the comedy thriller Maan Gaye Mughall E Azam, Mallika plays Paresh Rawal wife, who is a theatre owner in a small town. She plays Shabnam, a delusional actress. Like a typical small towner, she has big dreams to make it in Bollywood. She feels that she will fill the gap, left by Jaya Bachchan, since there has been no actress better than her. But though she is married to Paresh Rawal, she has an affair with Rahul Bose and Kay Kay. Also Paresh is always suspicious of Mallika since she is young and sensual. Mallika has 3 men chasing her. Even though Mallika is married to Paresh Rawal, she enjoys flirting with other men. She feels that there has to be some passion and spice after getting married. But somehow the theatre gets involved in the plot to save the country from a conspiracy which threatens to destabilize it. Mallika feels that the USP of the film is that it's a lighthearted comic thriller with heavyweight actors who are good in their craft. The diva adds, "Anarkali never looked so hot while Akbar so cool!"
Mallika to play the first catholic ruler of India
Well now we may not be able to think of Mallika Sherawat in a very serious and intense role. Though the popular image of the actress is that of a hot and sexy girl, it seems Mallika is keen to prove that she can carry off a very challenging role that too as the protagonist of a film. Film maker Tigmanshu Dhulia has already decided that Mallika is the right person to bring the real life character of Begum Sumro into Bollywood. The actress who till now is known more for her skin show and controversies will be playing Begum Sumro who was an unknown nautch girl in the 18th century till she married a European Walter Reinhardt. She converted to Christianity after her marriage and adopted the name Joanna.Begum became known as an efficient administrator and ruler after she took over the fief under the control of her husband and ruled it after his death. She finds a place in India's history as the one and only catholic ruler in India as she ruled the principality of Sardhana in 18th and 19th century. Now don't you think that Mallika has indeed landed up on a juicy role that any actress in the hero centric Bollywood will aspire to get. In the film 'Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam' Mallika played a role that was a spoof on the Mughal era princess Anarkali. If we assess her recent seen characters in this film and in movies like 'Ugli Aur Pagli' and the negative character in the Tamil film 'Dasavatharam', it can be understood that Mallika does not want to stick on with same kind of glamour doll characters and wants to constantly experiment with her roles. So the role of Begum Sumroo could not have come to Mallika at a better time. The other cutting edge this role is because this role is based on a fiercely brave and intelligent woman who liked to make decisions for her own and lead a life in her own terms and principals. The director of this period film is reportedly trying to rope in the Welsh actor John Rhys-Davis to enact the character of Begum Sumroo's foreigner husband Walter Reinhardt. The begum was also known as Zebunissa and Farzana and was very active in the politics of ruling in her times as a ruler and even was the commander of her own mercenary army consisting of Indians and Europeans. The lady ruler who was quite famous for her extravagant parties attended by even the rich Europeans died in the year 1836. The period film to be produced by Zee is said to be planned as a big budget flick with grand sets and rich costumes and jewels. An attraction towards the famous real life lady personalities from India's rich history have been seen in Bollywood in the recent times. Aishwarya was widely appreciated for her role in the film 'Jodha Akbar'. Sushmita Sen has made it known that she is seriously thinking of producing a movie about Rani of Jhansi in which she will be doing the warrior queen's role. Begum Sumro might not be as famous as the Rani of Jhansi or Jodha Bai but Mallika will be sure to see a whole lot of herself in the life history of Begum. The unknown attractive girl went on to become the ruler and commander of the army and the girl from Rohtak, Haryana came with nothing more than confidence and is today one of the most recognizable faces of Bollywood.
Want to catch a glimpse of Mallika's 'adaab'?
One actress who loves to sink deep into her character is Mallika Sherawat. It is heard that on the sets of Maan Gaye Mughall-E-Azam, Mallika come up with a very unique style of greeting her costars and unit members. Hi/Hello was passe while traditional adakari was in on the sets. And it was thanks to Ms. Sherwat who greeted everyone with an adab, gently lifting her hand, a la Anarkali. She even performed a few Kathak steps to showcase her adaas and nakhras further. But why would Mallika do this? Well it was Mallika's way of getting into the skin of the character. This is the way her character has to greet in the film. And what better way to practice it other than to the costars and unit members on the sets. Wah kya style hai! Well, that's Mallika!
New Role Play for Mallika
Mallika Sherawat who has often been taunted by the media for her controversial statements and unprofessionalism, has now taken her roles more seriously. Mallika who is shooting for her film Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam (MGMEA) has started behaving like Anarkali even off the sets. While acting for her film, she got so much into her character that she started greeting other colleagues with an 'aadab' very much like Anarkali rather than her usual 'hi', 'hello'. Reports suggest that she even keeps performing her kathak steps for no reason. Though director Sanjay Chel confirmed Mallika's funny act, he justifies her act by saying that this was her way of reducing stress. Chel states that she even tries to dilute the grim atmosphere by adding fun into it, which is really commendable. Let's hope that Mallika doesn't go too deep into her character that we might have to call her Mallika 'Anarkali' Sherawat.
Mughal-e-Azam hits Pakistan theatres
Mughal-e-Azam hit Pakistan theatres on April 22 morning 11am, thus becoming the first Indian feature film to be released in Pakistan after 41 years. The historic film beats Akbar Khan's film Taj Mahal by three days to hit the Pakistani theatres. Akbar Asif, son of legendary maker K Asif, is thus the first man to successfully open the cinematic gates of Pakistan for Bollywood films by releasing Mughal-e-Azam in the country. The print of Mughal-e-Azam was a gift to President Parvez Musharraf from Akbar Asif during the president's visit to London in 2004. Akbar Asif also went on to make Mughal-e-Azam to become the first film to secure permission to get the film released and the first film to get a censor certification in Pakistan. But his initial plans were to make the release as grand as the epic film itself. Using the gateway created by Akbar Asif, other makers moved in and it looked as if the man who paved their way for an Indo-Pak bridge would watch other films make the historical mark of securing the first release in Pakistan. Considering that the London-based tycoon has plans to find a new Anarkali through a major television hunt spreading over six months, following the release with huge prize moneys, the quiet move to release the film comes as a surprise. Speaking on the historical occasion, Akbar Asif said, "The move to be the cultural bridge between India and Pakistan was to fulfilled my father's dream of getting Mughal-e-Azam to be the first film to get permission to be screened in Pakistan". Elaborate plans were initially made to release the film in the presence of actors from around the globe and royalty, complete with fireworks from Japan. Agrees Asif, "We initially, wanted the film to get a grand premiere, but the thought struck me a few days ago that a film of the epic nature of Mughal-E-Azam needs no grandiose in terms of release. The film is itself the biggest and the grandest epic ever made in India." With this thought, Akbar Asif quietly moved his papers with the Pakistan government and finally the decision to have Mughal-e-Azam as the first film to be screened in Pakistan came through. Asif, who had previously gifted Rs 11,100,000 to the technicians who colored Mughal-e-Azam and promised the Akbar Asif Ko Anarkali Ki Talash to be the talent hunt of the millennium is elated at Mughal-e-Azam actually being the first Indian film to be released in Pakistan after over four decades. Says Akbar Asif, "The proceeds fro Mughal-e-Azam will go towards the earthquake-affected victims in Pakistan. But this is just the beginning of an Indo-Pak bridge. There is a lot in the offing. Anarkali will bring together India and Pakistan. I want to create a sense of friendship that would last beyond our lifetime".