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It was nothing short of an ordeal for the entire cast and crew of LAMHAA to pull the film together during last couple of years. With the political unrest quite prevalent in Srinagar, it was a shocking experience for director Rahul Dholakia, actress Bipasha Basu and many others who reached the valley for the first schedule of the film. Such bad was the situation there that fearing for her life, Bipasha had to rush back home in the first week of the filming itself.
"It was indeed quite unnerving to be shooting in Kashmir because you do fear for the loss of your life", admits Bipasha as she recollects the horror of the days she spent in the valley, "There are guns all around in open and you don't quite know what's round the corner. You can understand it all only when you are there. This is when you get the true feeling of fear."
As is known to one and all, once she was back in Mumbai, it required assurance from her co-actor Sanjay Dutt that made Bipasha pack her bags again.
"Yes, Sanjay really assured me that I would feel secure this time around", says Bipasha, "His presence really helped because he has a lot of connections out there. He had shot MISSION KASHMIR a decade back and knows people in police and government. He gave me a word that I would be very-very safe shooting for the film. He gave me his promise and I had no reasons not to believe him."
She adds on a parting note, "See, I am a regular person after all. I wouldn't have given my life for a film. I would not have gained anything. I am not a martyr after all."
"It was indeed quite unnerving to be shooting in Kashmir because you do fear for the loss of your life", admits Bipasha as she recollects the horror of the days she spent in the valley, "There are guns all around in open and you don't quite know what's round the corner. You can understand it all only when you are there. This is when you get the true feeling of fear."
"Yes, Sanjay really assured me that I would feel secure this time around", says Bipasha, "His presence really helped because he has a lot of connections out there. He had shot MISSION KASHMIR a decade back and knows people in police and government. He gave me a word that I would be very-very safe shooting for the film. He gave me his promise and I had no reasons not to believe him."
She adds on a parting note, "See, I am a regular person after all. I wouldn't have given my life for a film. I would not have gained anything. I am not a martyr after all."
The film will run in the following competitions: 'German Star of India' and 'Audience Award'. It will be screened on Friday 23rd of July 2010 8pm.
Directed by Rahul Dholakia and produced by Bunty Walia, LAMHAA stars Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu and Kunal Kapoor. It is set to release on July16.
The film is a story about an army officer and his love interest in the midst of the various issues that Kashmir had faced over the years.
Now, in the latest development the producer of the film Bunty Walia has been on the receiving end of a huge hate mail. Not only that, some people have been sending even threatening mail to the filmmaker saying that he is misrepresenting Kashmir and its political landscape.
Producer Bunty Walia said, 'I have been receiving hate mail from many quarters saying that my film LAMHAA is not portraying Kashmir in the right light. I have made it clear many times before that LAMHAA is a well made film which talks about the true story of Kashmir and its people.'
LAMHAA is gearing up for release on the 16th of July and this new development has added to the filmmakers worry. Let's hope the film witnesses a peaceful release.
Bipasha's 'burqa' clad, de-glam appearance in Rahul Dholakia's LAMHAA may not have been the subject of conversations of the movie buffs like Katrina Kaif's makeover in RAAJNEETI, but many have questioned Rahul's decision to cast the dusky beauty in the role of a Kashmiri girl, a role that up till now been essayed by the likes of Saira Bano, Sharmila Tagore and Preity Zinta etc.
However, directors like Dholakia let their craft do the talking and indeed the director has definitely given a solid answer to all his critics who had questioned his decision to cast an ultra glam actress more famous for her sizzling body than her acting prowess. And if the promos of the film that are currently doing the rounds at all major channels and web portal are anything to go by Bipasha is looking extremely at ease in her de-glam avatar. In fact she is looking every bit the character that she is essaying, a typical Kashmiri girl with her no make up look, black veil et al.
It now remains to be seen whether the public embraces Bipasha's deglamourised 'avatar' with open arms just as they accepted Katrina Kaif's 'sari' clad look in RAAJNEETI. Having already seen Bips acting talent in films like RAAZ, JISM, CORPORATE, OMKARA etc we are positive that they surely will when the film releases worldwide on 16th July 2010!
"I totally stand against terrorism and want the people to reunite against it as until and unless that doesn't happen, the terrorist activity would be continuously going on. We want to unite and leave in peace. Peace is the only answer out of the problems we are facing," quotes Sanjay Dutt.
It was in association with Shikhar NGO who works for children affected by terror. Sanjay Dutt initiated the signature campaign and took a pledge to unite the nation and shared his experiences of shooting LAMHAA - a film based on terrorism in Kashmir.
Now that's what we call a true hero is action.
