The Indian actor Irrfan Khan says he’s interested in portraying the late Assamese musician and filmmaker Bhupen Hazarika in a forthcoming biopic. The producer Pooja Bhatt recently announced that he’s making a film based on Hazarika’s life and career, titled Dhumuha: The Storm. “I have not yet been offered the role, but if they offer it to me, I would love to play it. It’s a very exciting character and I want to do a film on music – and nothing better than a film on Bhupen Hazarika’s life,” Khan told reporters. The film’s screenplay is being written by Kalpana Lajmi and Mahesh Bhatt. Lajmi, who worked closely with Hazarika for four decades, will direct the project. Hazarika, who died in 2011 at age 85, is credited with pioneering Assam’s film industry.
SRK hopes for more Bollywood in Cannes
The Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan says he hopes to showcase more Indian films at the annual Cannes Film Festival. The actor, who’s in Cannes this week to attend the wedding of a friend, posted on Twitter: “At Cannes after years. Memories come flooding back of Devdas,” referring to his 2002 film that screened at the festival. Indian entertainment websites have pointed out that the Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor may be attending the same wedding as Khan, after Kapoor tweeted on Sunday: “In Cannes now for a big fat Indian destination wedding!” – IANS
Shahid Kapoor denies Milan Talkies rumours
The actor Shahid Kapoor has slammed reports that he had backed out of the forthcoming film Milan Talkies, saying that he never even agreed to do the film in the first place. “When were there reports that I said yes to Milan Talkies? You have to first say yes to something before you can say no to it. I never said yes, then why are people now saying that I have left it?” the 32-year-old star told reporters. “I said that I have been offered the film. If I am doing the film, I will let you guys know. I don’t come and announce all the films that are offered to me.” Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, the romantic drama Milan Talkies has already roped in the actresses Amrita Puri and Esha Gupta. — IANS
