‘This land is my land’

…so claim the sons of soil in the film ‘Kisaan’. More on the fields of gold straight from Sohail Khan & the gang

A few days back,London’s media got hold of Sohail Khan and wanted to know more about this film of his. “But I always knew that if we ever go out with ‘Kisaan’,Chandigarh will be the first one to be treated to the first look,” actor,producer and writer,Sohail along with director Puneet Sira,music director Daboo Malik,and co-actors Dia Mirza,Nauheed Cyrusi and Romeo had a packed day today. After making flying visits including a quick film tax exemption meet with the Haryana CM,the entire gang landed at the Taj for a press interaction moderated by Gurpreet Singh Giani of Punjab Productions. Without wasting any more words,we’ll get straight to the point – a round of impressive rushes,couple of songs (the music is certainly not the high point of the film),and the mike passes to the man himself,Sohail bhai,who was struck with the idea when they came for the shooting of Heroes in Punjab. “I decided to make a film on farmers,and because Punjab dominates north India,we focused on this state. Moreover,70-75 per cent Bollywood revenue comes from the north,hence the choice,” Khan insists that while ‘Kisaan’ is a commercial film,at its heart lies a very serious issue – that of the rising suicides among farmers and the constant conflict with land grabbers. “The younger generation wants to sell and live comfortably in the city while the older wants to hold on to their ‘mother’,their land. I feel ‘Kisaan’ is a universal story,one that’ll cater to all states pan India,” Khan gives an insight into the script – two brothers divided over land. “I have four meals a day,and I take it for granted without realizing the amount of sweat and sacrifice that a farmer puts in producing it. Our life begins from here,” he zooms in. Films,he reflects,is a powerful media. “And if we get to make a meaningful one,our job is done,” says Sohail. So will it be easy selling a rural India to the city slickers? “The real superheroes are the farmers,” reasons Sira. But it’s Dia who makes a valid point – “the worldview of India is city centric,and it’s a very sad thing because cinema is the reflection of society,and it fails to move beyond the city walls. There are so many Indias within this India,and this film has travelled into one of them.”

The posters are up,and a piercing ‘son of a gun’ aims his nishana at a son of a soil. “That son of a gun would be me,” speaks the ‘villain’,the local thug,Romeo. A music producer and composer,mainly into psychedelic trance,Romeo is apparently Sohail’s find. From modeling to Djing to remixing all ‘Heroes’ songs,Romeo’s now jumped into acting. “I was born to act,and make music,” he grins. Great,we move on to ‘Punjabi kudi’ Nauheed who prefers to keep it simple. “You know what I like about Punjab – people are so happy and content here,and that’s how I want life. I don’t have big dreams or a lavish lifestyle neither am I a go-getter. It’s just jigsaw puzzles,the Rubik’s cube,a couple of films and enough money to take home,” she goes on looking for something to satisfy her Punjabi palette. Meanwhile,as Dia lists her future projects – ‘Kaun Bola’,‘Ice Factory’,‘Johnny Mastana’,‘Alibaug’,and her social work,we sneak back into a one-on-one with Sohail. His production house is busy with ‘Partner 2’,‘Do Knot Disturb’ and ‘Main aur Mrs Khanna’,and we hear he’s working with dad Salim Khan on a love story with Salman bhai in the lead. “Salman bhai is like clay…you can mould him in any fashion you want to. He’s the best. So this is there,then Amar Akbar Anthony with all three of us in it,and maybe another meaningful film before I go back to my first love – direction by say 2011-12,” he says. And what about the restrobar? “Hmmm,that’s there too for I cannot do without the two Big Fs of my life – food and films.” Guess we’ll go grab some too! You keep a lookout for ‘Kisaan’ – the preview also starring Arbaaz Khan,Jackie Shroff and Dalip Tahil was pretty convincing,so pray it’s tax free!

Star Spotting
This Tuesday the city sure was pleased to find leading Bollwyood actors among them. Actor Sohail Khan trooped in at Meena Bazaar’s Manimajra store. He spent an hour there meeting children,giving autographs and appreciating the collections on offer. Then Khan accompanied by actors Dia Mirza and Nauheed Cyrusi descended at Kriti Diamonds in Sector 35 to felicitate a young student from city-Akanksha Malhotra-who has bagged a free trip to Switzerland! Akanksha was selected from entries received during the ‘Great

Indian Wedding Carnival’ contest organized by Geetanjli Jewels.