Close Call

The film,which is Gupta’s second directorial venture after Aamir in 2008,traces the dramatic events that followed the killing of model Jessica Lall in a shoot-out in a Delhi bar on April 29,1999. The events have not been chronologically depicted in the film but it is quite up-to-date,incorporating the recent judgement convicting the accused. “When we conceptualised the idea for the film,it was based on newspaper articles that described how many important witnesses had turned hostile,leading to a situation when nobody came forward to identify the killer. The film takes off from that context and tracks the dramatic changes that have occurred in the lives of Jessica’s near and dear ones,” explains Gupta,who has also written the script. The film,which stars Vidya Balan too (she plays Jessica’s sister Sabrina) is slated for a January 7 release.

None of the actors however,interacted with the people involved with the actual case. “This was done deliberately. We just sat with Gupta and sketched out our characters,” Mukerji elaborated. In fact,both Mukerji and Balan were visibly excited when Sabrina Lall joined them at the press meet. “You inspired me Sabrina. We drew our characters from your strength each time you appeared on TV,” she said while hugging Sabrina.

For Mukerji,the success of the film means a lot,considering her last outing in Dil Bole Hadippa was a box-office disaster,and this film is her only project on hand. “I prefer films where I get to play a character I can chew on. That way my audience gets to see a different look each time,” she remarked.

The actor seemed in no mood to conclude the press meet. When questions about her role dried up,she veered the discussion to her marriage. “This is such a sweet press gathering. Isn’t anyone going to ask me when I will marry? I have been married four times already by the media,so I miss this question now,” she wisecracked. Sadly,no one rose to the bait.