On a prowl

Director Harry Baweja8217;s on a lookout for fresh talent

You can make out the lines of disappointment on his face. The under-eye bags, the slight puffiness, the irritability. Seems like Love Story 2050 has pulled Harry Baweja down. While he disagrees with it, defends it with his life, we sit there, 8216;facing8217; it. The only good thing that8217;s come out of it is that Harman8217;s going places. 8220;It couldn8217;t get better for Harman. He8217;s signed up with directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ashutosh Gowatrikar, Anees Bazmi and his second film, Victory which is on cricket will release on January 30, 2009,8221; the proud dad beats about the success of his son, who, but the way, bears uncanny resemblance to Hrithik. 8220;People have asked him that a 1000 times, and he always points to us 8211; 8216;why don8217;t you ask my parents how they managed it8217;!8221; That8217;s right, blame it on the genes. Meanwhile, what actually brings Harry to town is a talent hunt. In collaboration with ITFT 8211; CMES, Centre for Media and Entertainment Studies along with the Department of Tourism, UT, the hunt is to build a talent bank for TV serial and film producers. 8220;We are always on the lookout for fresh talent and this platform will further help in networking and promoting cinematic tourism,8221; says Harry, adding that the winners will get free scholarship for a three year degree course in media at CMES. 8220;The idea is to tap and direct talent. It8217;s for people who don8217;t want to be part of reality shows. In this case, we8217;ll be reaching out to those in the interiors and pick them region-wise,8221; Harry feels that there8217;s immense opportunity and money in fields like writing, directing, special effects, radio, animation et al. 8220;These are creatively satisfying jobs and all that8217;s needed is to create awareness.8221;

On the personal front, Baweja shrugs off queries regarding future projects, although there is a news about directing his son in James and Bond, inspired from the famous British spy. 8220;I cannot commit anything8230;right now, all I8217;m doing is relaxing. It8217;s holiday time for me and my family,8221; he evades again. Come to think of it, who wouldn8217;t? 8220;We are all dependent on that one Friday8230;I feel the audience just couldn8217;t connect or relate or understand my film,8221; he talks of the three years and crores put in it, and the defends with fast changing technology all over the world. 8220;In two years, you8217;ll see flying cars in Europe, people in the US can get into a virtual game as a character8230;there are skyscrapers coming up in Mumbai8230;I8217;m sure there8217;ll be a different world in 2050.8221; With a city that8217;s struggling with its population, nonsensical political issues and is waterlogged every time it rains, all we can do is pray for a change! As for Baweja, he8217;s in a risky business, and he agrees that only those who have the courage to make path-breaking films, those who take a gamble survive. 8220;It may or may not work, but the risk has to be taken.8221;