Now Shahid Kapoor to help troubled kids
Feb 07, 2008
Shahid Kapur pays tribute to his favourite actor Aamir Khan by playing a teacher who helps a group of troubled young students in his new movie Paathshaala. The similarities between Taare Zameen Par and this film are striking.
Choreographer-turned-producer and Shahid's close friend Ahmed Khan doesn't deny the fact that Taare Zameen Par has made a huge difference to the way we look at movie entertainment and at the parent-child relationship. "I would happily admit that Paathshaala is inspired by Taare Zameen Par, except for the fact that Paathshala was conceived and written a year ago. It's about a sensitive teacher's interaction with a group of kids," says Ahmed.
"I've signed some really talented children like Sweeney Khare from Cheeni Kum, Ali Haji from Fanaa and Dwij Yadav from Nanhe Jaisalmer. We're really fortunate to suddenly have so many talented children in our industry. So why not put them to creative use? It's about time we addressed issues regarding children in a serious but entertaining way," said Ahmed. Interestingly, Ahmed has selected some of the most extraordinary child actors, who have come into the film industry in the last couple of years.
"And on top of that, let's not forget I was once a child actor myself," laughed Ahmed who played a child actor in Mr India. "Shahid too was a child actor. So we're all putting our minds into making a film about the mind of a child and the child within the man." Ahmed has directed two films, Lakeer and Fool N Final. However, Paathshala is being directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali's assistant Milind Ukey.
About Fool N Final, Ahmed says, "Please don't blame me. Blame the producer. For the first time in Paathshaala, I'm doing a film straight from my heart." A set representing the school has been erected in Film City, Mumbai. "We even have a basketball court as part of the school set," says Ahmed.
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