Ajay Devgn's first international production,Parched, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, has been the talk of the fest since, getting an extra screening on September 19. "I'm told this has not happened in the last 10 years," exults Ajay, admitting that they didn't speak much about the film back home but he really believed in writer-director Leena Yadav's vision and gave the film his full support.
"The journey has just begun. We have been approached for screening by all the film festivals and have to pick and choose. The marketing team in Hollywood has taken over, it's their call now how they want to travel with the film and when they will open with it. I'd like a simultaneous release in India as soon as possible," says Ajay.
An Indo-UK-Us co-production, the film featuring Tannishtha Chatterjee, Surveen Chawla, Radhika Apte, Sayani Gupta and Adil Hussain, is an inspirational drama about four ordinary women in a village in Gujarat, who begin to discard traditions and fight their personal wars. It has some of the biggest Hollywood names on board, from Oscar winning cinematographer ofTitanic, Russell Carpenter and Oscar nominated editor Kevin Tent (The Descendants, Sideways) to Academy Award and BAFTA winner, sound designer Paul NJ Ottosson (Zero Dark Thirty, Hurt Locker) and Emmy winning music editor Richard Ford.
Ajay admits that's the reason he decided to produce it under his newlylaunched, US-based company, but adds that though they are targeting a global audience,Parchedis not in English but in a rural Indian language. "We wanted to be honest to the film,"he reasons.
Ajay is upset that he couldn't walk the red carpet at TIFF given the response. "But I've been working night and day on the pre-production of my next production and second directorial,Shivaay. It's a gruelling shoot in difficult terrain. We'll be shooting action scenes the kind you haven't seen in Hindi cinema before, in snow, minus 15 degrees temperature. On Sunday, I leave for recee in Landor in Mussoorie where we roll in November," he informs.
And what's the status quo on Milan Luthria'sBaadshahowhich was started this month? "I have requested Milan to start his film after I wrap up the first schedule ofShivaayas I have to follow the weather with that film. We will be shooting both films simultaneously, juggling between the two," he informs.
There's also talk of him kickstarting a film with Rohit Shetty after he finishesDilwale? Ajay negates the buzz saying that they will only start Rohit's film after he's done withShivaay. "We have yet to decide on the script,"Ajay quips.
On the international front, the overwhelming response toParchedhas given his US-based firm just the impetus it needed. "There are a few scripts we are looking at. They are all different kinds of cinema. We are ready to back anyone from any part of the world provided the vision is as exciting atParched," he signs off.
