I Loved Working With Julia Roberts

I Loved Working With Julia Roberts
Thursday, February 14, 2008 12:22 IST
By Subhash K Jha, Santa Banta News Network
/> Om Puri's latest international project Charlie Wilson's War directed by Mike Nichols of Silkwood and Closer fame, has just been released abroad.

In this war epic Om plays the former Pakistani president Zia-ul-Haq

"It turned out to be a very small role. But Mike Nichols is a HUGE director. At first I refused the role because of its brevity. But he insisted, and I couldn't say no.

Besides when would I get a chance to work with Hollywood legends like Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and the enormously gifted Philip Seymour Hoffman?"

Incidentally Irrfan Khan is also a great admirer of Seymour.

Says Om, "Hoffman is a real talent...Charlie Wilson's War is doing well. And though I had just two scenes I put in full preparation for the role of Zia-ul-Haq."

Om watched video footage on Zia-ul-Haq and even spoke to Shatrughan Sinha who knew the Pakistan president personally.

Om has been traveling outside India for three months.

"I recently returned from Australia where I was shooting for Anees Bazmi's Singh Is Kinng. Then I shot in Goa, Cochin and Chennai for Priyadarshan's Mere Baap Pehle Aap. I play a guy in his 40s desperate to marry. I play the role in a black wig," Om says poker-faced.

"It was fun. Then I was in Jaipur for Rakeysh Mehra's Dilli 6. Rakeysh's film is very hard to shoot. We're shooting all night in the freezing cold."

Om has just signed a film with Piyadarshan's assistant.

"It's a light-hearted story of two former pehelwaans played by me and Sharat Saxena. I shoot this film until March. But after that I've kept April completely free. I need to spend time with my family."

In the meanwhile the comprehensive Om Puri biography by Aparajita Krishna is also being prepared.

"It's taking time because the author is trying to talk to everyone closely associated with me, from Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani to Dominique Lapierre and Mike Nichols. It's hard to contact some of my foreign associates.

I'm personally contacting some of these people. The portions pertaining to my childhood have me particularly interested."

In the meanwhile Om's 10-year old son shows every inclination to grow into a chip of the old block.

"He's very sincere. He's acquiring a lot of skills. He's learning classical Indian music. He's the head-boy in his class. Let's see where life takes him."
Varun Dhawan Seeks Blessings at Mahakaleshwar Temple Ahead of 'Baby John' Release!

Bollywood superstar Varun Dhawan recently visited the sacred Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to offer prayers before the much-anticipated release of his

Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Mrunal Thakur Wraps Up Shooting Schedule for the Upcoming Action Drama Dacoit!

Bollywood actress Mrunal Thakur has successfully completed a significant schedule for her much-awaited film, Dacoit. Sharing her excitement with fans, Mrunal took to Instagram

Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Sohum Shah Confirms Tumbbad 2 Is Progressing Rapidly!

Actor-producer Sohum Shah, renowned for his standout performances in Tumbbad, Dahaad, and Maharani, has officially confirmed that work on the much-awaited sequel

Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Hindi Vindi Trailer: A Musical Drama Bridging Cultures and Generations!

The trailer for the much-anticipated movie Hindi Vindi was unveiled on Monday, offering a glimpse into a compelling narrative that intertwines themes of identity, family, and the

Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Unravel the secrets of survival: 5 reasons to dive into the dark thrill of Party Till I Die on Amazon MX Player!

Amazon MX Player, Amazon's free video streaming service, recently released its spine-chilling thriller, Party Till I Die. The series follows a group of privileged 19-year-olds whose weekend

Tuesday, December 24, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT