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Journalism of Courage
Mumbai, November 1: Calcutta in Mumbai? Well, at least a slice of Calcutta of the 30s that wove itself into noted literary works like Devdas is being recreated amidst the lush greenscape in Mumbai8217;s Film City, where Sanjay Leela Bhansali8217;s8217;s ambitious film by the same name is being made.
Shooting at the two sprawling havelis that chronicle Devdas8216; life will begin next Monday. And when the clapper board sounds, the set will go down in Bollywood history as the most lavish and expensive one to ever be constructed.
The final bill for the whole film, it is learnt, could be in the region of Rs 25 crore, which means that roughly one-third of the amount is being spent on the set itself. Shah Rukh Khan plays the title role of Devdas while Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit will recreate the women in his life, Paro and Chandramukhi.
The haveli sets are meant to depict the homes of Devdas and Paro. A third set, to be used in the film as a kotha, is being constructed as well.
The film, based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay8217;s classic, has already been immortalised on film twice in the past. While K.L. Saigal played the part of the brooding romantic in the first cinematic adaptation of the book, Dilip Kumar brought it to life in Bimal Roy8217;s version.
