Neither Madhuri nor Vidya, it's Preity!

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Posted: 18 years ago

Neither Madhuri nor Vidya, it's Preity!
By: Vickey Lalwani
June 12, 2007

Zinta will essay the title role in Suryamukhi opposite Madhavan in the period film

FIRST CHOICE

SECOND CHOICE

Opting Out: Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan

FINAL Choice

If all goes well, Preity Zinta will play the lead role in Shaji Karun's Suryamukhi based on the life of the controversial painter Raja Ravi Varma.

Madhuri Dixit was the first choice for this portrayal, followed by Vidya Balan- but now Preity is doing it.

Producer Bobby Bedi is meeting Preity tomorrow, when she will sign on the dotted line.

About a love affair

The film is mainly about the love affair between Raja Ravi Varma and a Maharastrian woman who posed for him.

Confirming that he and Karun had zeroed down on Preity, Bedi says, "Karun came down from Chennai and he and I met Preity in Mumbai. Preity heard the role in detail and loved it.

We start shooting in September. When we couldn't do the film with Madhuri and Vidya, I was eyeing for an intense performer. I wanted someone who could really act. Preity will do full justice to the role."

The male lead — Raja Ravi Varma's character — will be played by Madhavan. "Madhavan has matured as an actor by leaps and bounds. I like his acting."

Bedi justifies. Ajay Devgan was the first choice for this role, but he did not show much interest to come on board when Karun approached him last year.

No nudity

Karun had told HiTLIST (August 7, 2006) that Madhuri had some apprehensions about a nude scene as the painter has painted his muse nude. But now those secenes have been cut out from the script.

The scenes in question will now be shown subtly and symbolically. However Bedi says, "We are not having any nudity in the film. We are making the film for family viewing."

Says Bedi, "We will shoot in Mumbai and Hyderabad. Most of the film does not need outdoor locales. The few scenes which require outdoor shoots will be shot in Girgaum and Walkeshwar in Mumbai," Bedi adds.

Four for Cannes

Karun, who has won the National award six times, says, "I will complete the film in February." Bedi signs off with, "Karun is the only Indian director who has as many as three films to his credit — Piravi, Swaham, Vanaprast- ham — in Cannes.

"If he does a good job, which I am sure he will, we are hopeful of making it four in Cannes for Karun." Suryamukhi is set in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

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Nadaanmasakalli

@naadanmasakalli

Master

+ 11

Posted: 18 years ago

i think vidya or maduri is the better choice no offence to preity fans as i am her fan too but i think she can potray bubly roles well 😊 😊

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urooj

@urooj

Inactive

Posted: 18 years ago

Preity is doing great movies this year and I'm sure she will do a great job in every movie 😳

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Arsh

@eexxoottiicc

Dazzler

Posted: 18 years ago

Wow looks like Preity beat them all 😳

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fm05

@fm05

Sparkler

Posted: 18 years ago

Thx, its strange this Karun guy has had lots of critical acclaim yet i have never seen one of his movies or known that much about him. Its a shame Madhu was not approached again now that the controversial scenes have been tweaked to look more decent. Oh well Preity is improving as an actress with every movie so she'll do justice to it.