Amitabh Bachchan is all set to play yet another real-life character in Sairat, Nagaraj Manjules first Hindi film. After playing a Bal Thackeray doppelganger in Ram Gopal Varma’s “Sarkar” series, it is time for the Shehenshah of Bollywood to hit the big screen again. In the film which is yet to get a title Big B plays Vijay Barse who more than a decade ago, established the Nagpur based NGO Slum Soccers which helps slum kids find their bearings through the game of football.
Everyone is really excited for the project and it is expected that the shoots will begin from October. The movie is based on a real life character, but the way it is written is far away from the original says Manjule. He has been writing this for Bachhan for last two years. Manjule is a childhood fan of Mr. Bachhan, “I grew up copying his clothes, speech and mannerisms from Majboor and Deewaar. I’d go to school with my shirt tied like Bachchan Saab in ‘Deewaar’ and get severely reprimanded by my teachers. But the punishment had no effect on me. I’d still do it,
Manjule, a self-confessed Bachchan bhakt, says when he met Bachchan he was somehow able to control his adulation. “I don’t know how but I managed to remain calm, restrained and dignified. I actually wanted to jump out of my seat and dance around him. But I narrated my script in an even tone. I am happy I did that. I didn’t want to come across as just a fan. Of course I am a fan for lifetime. And someday when I complete my film with him I’ll tell him how much effort it took me to not gush and rave when I met him for the first time,” he said.
The director has worked for 8 long years on he script of ‘Sairat’. He believes in good cinema and doesn’t compromise on any grounds. “I don’t feel burdened by the responsibility of living up to ‘Sairat’. But yes, I want the audience to say I made a good film again. I don’t want people to say, “Yeh Nagaraj ne kya banaya hai?’
