Shabana Azmi has been incredibly busy with promotions for her upcoming international title What’s Love Got To Do With It? where she reunites with her Masoom director, Shekhar Kapur. And the film gears for a February 24th release. She is also shooting for Steven Spielberg’s Halo, despite a wrist injury. But that’s the only reunion taking place.
Azmi reunites with another legendary actor Dharmendra on-screen in Karan Johar’s upcoming Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. Both unite after over three decades since their last release Mardon Wali Baat. Despite being good friends in real life, this marks the first time Jaya Bachchan and Azmi share screen space with each other. Sharing more, Shabana talks to Filme Shilmy:
“We also did a half-aborted film for Sai Paranjpee called Bichhoo which Dharam ji was producing but unfortunately did not get completed. It was lovely to meet up with him. Jaya, I’ve always had an affectionate relationship with but we play antagonists in the film, so that’s interesting [laughs]. Karan is a very easy director to work with on the set. He is very patient. Keeps his humour and is nice to everybody. It’s a very happy atmosphere. Ranveer is a very hard-working actor. Alia, I consider her my bachcha (child) because she is Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter. Mahesh and I have had such a precious relationship and such a lovely actor. The Karan Johar formula still has some special things to say. I think he is pushing the buttons within the commercial mainstream cinema. But it is a family drama, but not sentimental.”
She adds: “Karan is a dedicated Hindi film fan. He loves it. Definitely, the whole idea of romance between mine and Dharmendra’s character is based on little snippets from Hindi films. So you will feast on what he has got there. For me, anything that surprises me is interesting. And this one did. It took some convincing and he said just ‘believe me, just trust me.’ If a director says that, I immediately trust them. I had a ball and enjoyed working in the film.”
Starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt as the leads, the story is understandably kept under wraps. However, a source conveys more to the media outlet, Pinkvilla. Bhatt will reportedly play a middle-class girl who lives in a ‘lousy fort’ whereas Singh will play the character of a boy from a rich family, who stays in a ‘White House Gurgaon’. The story seems to mirror the rich guy falling in love with a middle-class girl, facing unhappy reactions from the parents. However, the report suggests there will plenty of racy scenes too.
Other media articles also claim that Shabana will be playing the role of Alia’s grandmother, while Jaya will be seen as Ranveer’s grandma. Written by Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan and Sumit Roy, the movie is backed by Dharma Productions and Viacom 18 Studios. After several delays, it will now release on July 28, 2023.
