Vilasrao Deshmukh's visit to Taj sparks anger among Mumbaikars

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh Sunday visited the battered Taj hotel here with his actor-son Riteish and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma.From the Taj, Deshmukh went over to the Oberoi.

Mumbaikers expressed anger that the chief minister chose to go around the Taj hotel with the film maker, adding to the burden of an already stretched out security personnel.

“Is he taking Ram Gopal Varma so that he could make a realistic film one day?” asked Narendra Shinde, an employee of a multinational company.

“This is insensitive said Aruna Anand, a social activist. “Politicians have to exhibit a sense of sensitivity when common people are suffering.”

Shiv Sena MP Bharat Kumar Raut said Deshmukh was trying to promote his son and “bring him in front of the camera”. Ashok Pandit, also a film maker, called it a “security lapse”.

Ram Gopal Varma defended himself.“I have no intention of making a film ever on this issue. My visit was not to make a film on it. Just because it happened to be Riteish, I walked with him. I was not even formally introduced to Vialasrao Deshmukh.”

RGV's Next Film is a Terror Film - Agyaat

Ramu's next film entitled Agyaat would be something he has never a done before. It is a film about an invisible predator creating havoc among a group of people in an isolated spot. An old Hollywood formula but never done properly in Hindi cinema. Something similar to “The Poseidon Adventure or The Towering Inferno”.

The film written by two Varma discoveries Punet Varma and Hari will be shot by a debutant cinematographer Surjo. It will be shot in Sri Lanka from next month. Ramu says “I recently went hunting for location in Sri Lanka. It was a stunning stretch of wilderness. I've never seen anything so frightening in my life. All the principal photography will be done in Sigria in 35 days. Then the special effects will be done in Mumbai. Agyaat will be a first of its kind in terms of effects.”

The film is about a film crew that loses its way in the jungles. And something out there starts killing them one by one. There's a narcissistic star, a subservient spotboy, cameraman, a frustrated action director, an assistant director, a self obsessed actor, a producer and a director. All of them have their own mindscape in the given hierarchy. But the moment they're caught in terror situation their inherent humanism comes to the surface.

Ramu wants to tailor the plot like a reality show. He is casting largely newcomers. He is supremely kicked by his new project. The challenging part in Agyaat is to create an evil force that's not visible, definable or even comprehensible. Agyaat is expected to have some of the best special effects seen in Indian cinema.

Ramu's "Phoonk" in Pics

Sarkar Raaj gets ausome Response from IIFA

A dazzling 'Green Carpet' welcome was given to Ram Gopal Varma's "Sarkar Raj" that premiered on the opening day of the three-day International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards gala here on Friday evening as scores of fans chanted "Abhishek, Abhishek", to welcome Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who stars in the film with his glamorous wife Aishwarya and iconic father Amitabh.

The three Bachchans were the cynosure of all eyes at the Paragon Cineplex, where the movie was screened and which was splashed with numerous posters of the film. Hordes of Indian and foreign fans were waiting to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars at the venue.

Sahej, 12, a girl from Chandigarh, has come to Bangkok for a vacation. "I came to know that IIFA was taking place here only on the flight. So I came here to watch the stars," a gushing Sahej told media.

Another young fan, 16-year-old Rishi from Kolkata, wanted to watch the premiere of the film but could only manage to see the film stars. "I tried to get the passes for the movie, but couldn't. But I am happy to have seen my favourite stars here," he said.

Though the Bachchan family kept their fans waiting for almost two hours, it failed to dampen their enthusiasm to see the stars walk down the green carpet. The IIFA decided on a green carpet premiere to show its concern over global warming.

Amitabh walked in with his wife Jaya Bachchan, followed by Abhishek and Aishwarya. Among other Indian star celebrities at the premiere were Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, David Dhawan, Navin Nischol, Ajay Bijli, Zayed Khan, veteran actress Mumtaz with her daughters and also Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Though Kareena Kapoor, Viveik Oberoi, Urmila Matondkar and Diya Mirza are here to attend the IIFA, they preferred to give the "Sarkar Raj" premiere a miss.

Thai princess Sirindhorn, who was to attend the premiere, arrived late amid tight security after all the stars had settled down, and made a quiet exit.

The high numbers of foreign media covering the IIFA is an indication of the success of the event. Foreign media persons even sat and watched "Sarkar Raj".

The IIFA, which aims to promote brand Bollywood beyond Indian shores, is in its ninth edition. It has travelled across three continents and eight countries since its inception in 2000. Last year it was held in Yorkshire.

Phoonk - Ramu's Next Venture

After the underworld, Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma is set to focus on black magic in his next film.

''Phoonk' is all about black magic. I am working with a new team. It's a subject I want to experiment with images and with characters. I can do that only with new people,' he told IANS in an interview here.

'Stars have certain baggage because of their stardom and their limitations about how far they can push their character,' explained Varma.

'Also, I don't give chances to people, I take chances,' maintained the director who premiered his much-talked about 'Sarkar Raj', starring Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, at the 9th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend here.

He also showcased his next release 'Contract' Saturday.

How is 'Contract' different from his other films?

''Contract' is a basically about underworld-meets-terrorism,' Varma replied. 'I didn't deal with this link in my earlier films. 'Satya' gave an inside view of the underworld, 'Company' was an overview of its organisational structure.

'In 'Contract', I speak about what can happen when the underworld and terrorists come together on a platform.'

The film will be released in July.

Asked how he sourced information for his underworld dramas, Varma said: 'I mostly get information from the media. The media keeps reporting about what is happening and I just have to pick pieces from here and there and join it all together.

'I am interested in anything larger than life and people who create an impact, whether negative or positive. I am interested in doing a psychological study of these people,' he added.

Lately, the director has been ridiculed for making films like 'James' and 'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag', but he says he makes film for his personal satisfaction and thus is not bogged down by criticism.

'I don't feel anything (about the criticism). I have a lot of fun while making a film. I enjoy every minute of it. I make films for my personal satisfaction.

'I am a storyteller. I have a story, various actors, situations and locations and I compile them all together to create a visual impact. That is my high in life,' Varma maintained.

A lot has been said about three Bachchans in 'Sarkar Raj' but that's no big deal for Varma.

'I don't have this sense of achievement that I brought the three Bachchans together. For me, they are three separate and highly professional actors.

'Whether they are in one family or not doesn't make a difference to me,' Varma contended.

Synopsis Of Sarkar Raj

When Anita Rajan, CEO of an international firm, brings a power plant proposal to set up in rural Maharashtra, before the Nagres, the insightful Shankar is quick to realize its benefits. After convincing Sarkar, Shankar along with Anita goes to the villages to mobilize support of the masses. However, things are not what they seem to be. From shady fixers with an eye on multi-million kick-backs to wannnabes who are ready to incite millions of people against the highly controversial project, Shankar’s dream project gradually becomes a political minefield. Evil forces gang up to bring down the regime of Sarkar and obliterate Shankar’s name from the political horizon.