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| Shaad Ali goes back to work with Mani Ratnam! By Vickey Lalwani, 3 March, 2009 |
 In Hollywood, it's not unknown. Famously, actors and directors on a break or between films use the time to learn an art or hone existing talents. Or they could go back and work with a revered master.But it's not been done in India before and so the fact that Shaad Ali (Saathiya, Bunty aur Babli, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom) is using the time between films to assist the director he learnt the ropes with, Mani Ratnam, on the sets of Raavana is cause for celebration. "Shaad," says our source, "reveres Mani Ratnam with whom he began his career. With him, he is like any assistant often reaching the venue even before Mani does even if it is a 6 am shift." Shaad's last film Jhoom Barabar… for YRF tanked badly and there were rumours that the production house wanted to disassociate themselves from him. This turned out to be baseless as Tevar with Akshay Kumar was announced but nothing more has been heard of the film since. According to Rafiq Gangjee from YRF, "Shaad is currently working on an untitled project for YRF, which is still to be finalised. We will make an announcement as and when it is locked in." When asked about his stint with Mani, Shaad, a self-confessed recluse, said, "Yes, I am assisting Mani sir in Raavana," but when we tried to call him after that and ask him more, he shot back an SMS saying, "I don't give interviews at all." On the personal front, the filmmaker is still reeling from the effects of his broken marriage. Shaad married childhood sweetheart Shahzneen Hussian in a grand ceremony on January 28, 2006 at Lucknow. However, the strain in their relationship began showing soon after, which led the couple to live separately. Reportedly, the couple was at loggerheads even when Shaad was filming Jhoom Barabar Jhoom in London. Shaad's parents — filmmaker-designer Muzaffar Ali and former MP and CPM leader Subhasini - were shocked with the break-up of their son's marriage that lasted for barely eight months. Shaad's close friend, choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant describes Shaad as a "bohemian guy who lives life on his own terms and conditions." Be that as it may, Shaad could teach a thing or two to several directors who, despite flops and non acceptance of their films would not ever go back to learning. Let's hope Jhoom Barabar… was just an aberration in Shaad Ali's career and he comes back rejuvenated to give us films that resonate with life and laughter like his Bunty aur Babli did. |
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