September 23, 2008

Naseeruddin Shah Replaced Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Maharathi’

Naseeruddin Shah has taken up the role that was initially offered to Amitabh Bachchan in the movie Maharathi, which is a big-screen adaptation of a popular Gujarati comic play starring Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal. Amitabh Bachchan turned down the offer, citing that the role had shades of grey, told Paresh Rawal who directed the play in Gujarati.


Naseeruddin Shah was supposed play another role in the movie Maharathi, but after the opting out of Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah took up the role. Amitabh Bachchan earlier rejected another movie titled Shoot On Sight, based on a story related to July 2007 London bombings. Considering the controversial issue, Mr. Bachchan turned down the offer. The movie has recently been banned in Pakistan as the movie addresses a controversial issue.


The movie Maharathi was initially expected to be directed by Vikram Bhatt, but he was later replaced by Shivum Nair. Paresh Rawal explained that he did not take the director’s role as he thought that a fresh cinematic vision was needed on the play. The shooting of the movie is about to end and Paresh Rawal is happy to be working with actors like Om Puri, Boman Irani.


About the movie, Paresh Rawal said that Maharathi is a classic comic thriller. He plays the role of a driver, the same role he played in the play. Terming the script watertight, Mr. Rawal said everything and everyone in the film is in right place.


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