John-Lisa missing

John-Lisa missing

From Bangkok Film Festival where Water received an award

Subhash K Jha

While Deepa Mehta rejoiced after Water won the Golden Kinnaree award for best film at the Bangkok Film Festival on Saturday night, there was an element of regret in her voice. The reason – John Abraham and Lisa Ray were missing from this event.

"I sincerely wish some of the cast had accompanied me here," she said from Bangkok. "But both John and Lisa are busy with their respective work schedules and couldn't make it." However this is not the first time that Mehta has had to make a solo appearance. Earlier in January, Mehta was alone in Karachi, with no member of the cast accompanying her.

"Seema Biswas was supposed to come with me to Karachi. But she fractured her wrist and had to drop out at the last minute. Hota hai. No problem," she adds. "Right now I'm having a great time in Bangkok. My brother Dilip who has done the art design of Water and my partner David who has co-produced the film are with me." Considering Water is the first Hindi film to win this honour, shouldn't the main lead have been present?

"I suppose so…But everyone in the cast has been extremely supportive. I'm hoping John, Lisa, Seema and others would join me in Madrid when the film opens in March," she adds.