Mohit to film Parveen Babi's love life

Mohit Suri, whose "Kalyug" goes into the dark world of po*nography, is ready to film mentor Mahesh Bhatt's tumultuous relationship with the late Parveen Babi in his next film "Awaarapan".

Says Suri: "I was blown when I read Bhatt saab's account on Parveen Babi after her death. He spoke with such brutal frankness. And the fact that she died all alone in her apartment made me think about the darkest and ugliest side of showbiz: loneliness."

Do autobiographical films work in India?

Guru Dutt filmed his grooming and growing fondness and final disillusionment with Waheeda Rehman in "Kaagaz Ke Phool". Raj Kapoor filmed his loves and heartbreaks in "Mera Naam Joker". The two films nearly wiped out their creators.

In recent times, Mahesh Bhatt has been dabbling in autobiography. His "Arth", "Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Ayee" and "Zakhm" were all sliced off from his personal experiences. His daughter Pooja Bhatt is all set to remake "Arth".

Ajay Devgan had won the National Award for playing Mahesh Bhatt in "Zakhm". Who will play Mahesh Bhatt in "Awaarapan" - the Bhatts' new blue-eyed boy Kunal Khemu?

"No he's too young for the part. I am planning another film with Kunal, and so is Madhur Bhandarkar. 'Awaarapan' requires someone more mature," says Suri.

The fact that Pooja Bhatt is making a similar film doesn't daunt him.

"Not at all. She is remaking Bhatt saab's 'Arth', which was more the story of her mother (Bhatt Saab's first wife Kiran) than Parveen Babi. My film to be entitled 'Awaarapan' is going to be an exploration of Parveen Babi's life."

Newcomer Kangana, who plays the lead in another Bhatt protg Anurag Basu's new thriller "Gangster", has been more or less finalised for Babi's part.

Suri seems upbeat.

" 'Kalyug' came with the tag of being sleazy when it was nothing of the sort. I am glad my film was able to overcome the preconceived notions. I am proud that 'Kalyug' had no sleaze. The romantic scenes between newcomer Kunal Khemu and my sister Smilie, who starred opposite him, were meant to hark back to the suhaag raat sequence between Shashi Kapoor and Raakhee in 'Kabhi Kabhie'... Yup, that's how ambitious I am."

Ironically, while Suri with his supposedly sleazy reputation attempted to return to the elegant poetic romance of Yash Chopra's cinema, the banner has gone into a full-blown sex-and-nudity formula in their latest flick "Neal 'N' Nikki", released on the same day as Suri's "Kalyug".

Other films based on the life of actresses are:

1. Shaeed Latif's "Sone Ki Chidiya" (1958)

2. Guru Dutt's "Kaagaz Ke Phool" (1959)

3. Vijay Anand's "Tere Mere Sapne" (1971)

4. Sohrab Modi's "Meena Kumari Ki Amar Kahani" (1979)

5. Mahesh Bhatt's "Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Ayee" (1993)

6. Vikram Bhatt's "Ankahee"