Comeback Salaam of Riwaazi Manoje

Manoje Biddvai, who had been out of circulation since Tujko Hai Salaam Zindgi, was unceremoniously dumped. Now the forgotten hero is waiting for the release of his first film Riwaaz. "It's a love story with prostitution as its backdrop. The film is based on a village in the MP-Maharashtra border where all the women are prostitutes and the men act as their pimps”, informs Manoje.

He further adds, “My character falls in love with lead girl (new face) who is being prepared to be sold for the first time.” Besides Manoje and the new face opposite to him the film deals with star cast like Deepti Naval, playing the girl's mother, Meghna Naidu portraying a dark prostitute who gets no client and Sarika also in an important role.

Will such an offbeat film get theatrical support? "I agree that Riwaaz is a serious film but it has its lighter moments with Vijay Raaz acting as the village head as well. We also have an item number with Sambhavna Seth. Our producer initially had difficulties to sell the film but now we are hearing that Reliance has acquired the film and will release it in July. We have already screened the film at major film festivals,” Manoje smilingly reveals the backdrop of the film.

Asked about what went wrong with Salam, the actor sadly remembers, "It was quite a shock. My character was beginning to frame up well. In fact we were in the process of shooting promo when the marching order came in”.

Manoje has done lots of television works besides Salam which include an out and out negative cameo in Solah Singhaar. “I have also worked in Mera Awaz Ko Mil Gaye Roshni, Rihaai and the English show, Bombay Talking,” recaps Manoje.

What’s next on television? “I am in talks with NDTV Imagine for a prime time fiction. The exact time slot and launch is yet to be worked out, but we hope to start shooting mid next month,” concludes Manoje.