When love comes to town

The Parsi sanatorium at Kemp's Corner has an unusual bunch of visitors. At the entrance of the rambling old, heritage building, unit hands a...

The Parsi sanatorium at Kemp’s Corner has an unusual bunch of visitors. At the entrance of the rambling old, heritage building, unit hands are erecting a wooden platform for Akshaye Khanna to drive his swanky black jeep over. Inside the building, its occupants seem oblivious to the Love You Hamesha crew who seem to function in a surprisingly disciplined manner. Ad film-maker and first-time director, Kailash Surendranath and wife Aarti (the film’s executive producer and costume designer) go about their work with the same lack of fuss.

Someone is busy cleaning the floors and windows across the long corridor of the sanatorium which has been converted into a college. A group of extras hanging around complete the campus character. The film’s hero, Akshaye, is dressed in a pair of torn and faded blue jeans and a red-checked shirt with a grey vest. He is not plagued by last-minute jitters as he sits in a quiet corner chatting with a friend.

"Akshaye is a mechanic who falls into bad company. He’s in lovewith Sonali (Bendre), but she is only allowed to step out to attend college," says Kailash. The stage is set for Akshaye to sneak into college to woo his lady love. "He pulls her into the staff room and there is instant attraction between them," Kailash explains.

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Sonali finally walks out wearing a simple salwar kameez and starts reading her lines. She discusses the shot with Kailash and then turns to Aarti. "Is my salwar a little high?" she giggles. Pat comes the reply, "It can’t go any lower."

Kailash asks for a rehearsal. Akshaye goes and sits, leaning against one of the pillars. The extras take their positions along the corridor. At the call of "action", everyone starts moving and in the ensuing chaos, two of the "students" block the action. "Deewar ke saath saath khade rahiye," says Kailash. They start walking toward the camera again. Akshaye follows and drags Sonali into the staff room. She looks at him, horrified. Kailash asks for a second take before he okays the shot.

Sonali goesback to Aarti who adjusts her dupatta. Then she saunters back to her mark for a solo shot. Akshaye too goes back to his place by the pillar and waits. As she walks past, he flings his book and follows her. "That was good," says Kailash.

The next shot has the duo staring lovingly at each other inside the staff room. A few takes later they perfect the act. "It is a very simplistic film — for young people, college and school kids. It will also appeal to youngsters in smaller towns as it’s about people from small towns making it big," says Kailash. The other two stars in the film are newcomers Amitabh Nanda and Ria Dev Verma. "Ria is a spoilt 16-year-old who runs away from home to join movies. Amitabh is a rich and powerful guy from town and Sonali’s ex-fiance," says the director.

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While Akshaye can’t wait to attack his chicken lunch, Sonali sits quietly. She is visibly pleased about being chosen for Sooraj Barjatya’s Hum Saath Saath Hain, apart from all the other big banners she has in herkitty. All without a single hit. "I am very comfortable working with this unit — it is totally non-filmi. My character starts from a small town in Rajasthan and I have to bring through all the transitions in this girl’s life. It is so real," she says, before going off in search of her lunch. Food for thought, really.