Have yrf gone nuts ? - Page 2

Though the unlikely pairing of Shekhar Kapur and YRF has sparked off speculation, we've learnt it was in accordance with Yash Chopra's wishes

Shekhar Kapur, whose last major feature released in 2007 (Elizabeth - The Golden Age) had acquired the unfortunate reputation of a filmmaker wont to announce mega projects that never really took off.

One of them was Paani, which has often been used as a commentary on his inability to get films rolling. The 12-year-wait came to an end yesterday, when a press statement from Yash Raj declared that the production house had taken up Kapur's most ambitious film ever.

The unlikely pairing of the country's biggest banners and the senior filmmaker known for his fiercely independent working style raised the question: How did Yash Raj, which is a brand unto itself, take up a project where the director and his project both come with their own legacies?

TOI has learnt that is was the late Yash Chopra who took an active interest in its first international project. In fact, it was one of the last films he had greenlighted for the banner. And the fact that Kapur had already got a Hollywood A-Lister to agree in principle to his film, got him excited.

"It started with Kapur sending feelers to Aditya. And then he made a formal appointment. Over the last six months, Kapur made several trips to the YRF office to convince Aditya Chopra about the potential of the film," says a source, adding, "Yash-ji was moved by the story-line. It is a dark science fiction drama set in 2040 about a multinational company holding a city to ransom by rationing its drinking water supply, but it is also a love story."

Kapur put in a passionate pitch. And the octogenarian was particularly touched when he heard how Kapur had argued his case with Adi: "Everybody can live without food or electricity but not without water." We believe the human angle is what tipped the scales in his favour.

Paani's international reach comes from its casting. The film will be shot in Mumbai and Singapore and while Kapur had approached Kristen Stewart for the female lead, he had originally approached Hrithik Roshan for the protagonist's role. However, since the film is set in a Mumbai slum, the producers are not sure if he fits the bill anymore. The other name that is being tossed around is that of Ranbir Kapoor.

"Kristen is interested in the film and she will either pair up with Ranbir or Hrithik. The studio will release the names when the actors sign on the dotted line. A communication channel has been opened up with Penelope Cruz also, but so far she is Plan B," the source added.

We have also learnt that Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh are actively lobbying for the project which will see them opposite a top Hollywood actress.

"You may expect the big announcement about the star cast by the end of this year or in March 2013 when the film goes on the floors," the source added.

In 2011, the film's budget was pegged at 35 million dollars. Industry estimates peg the film at a staggering 50 million dollars next year. The final valuation is not known because the film is still in the pre-production stage.

However, given Kapur's track record, cynics are watching this development closely.

Paani has been co-written by Andrew Niccol (who also wrote The Truman Show ) and the music will be by A R Rahman.