Rensil D'Silva's Terrorism Trauma: How he was forced to move out of London

Rensil D'Silva's Terrorism Trauma: How he was forced to move out of London
Monday, May 18, 2009 12:35 IST
By Subhash K Jha, Santa Banta News Network
/> Shooting for Karan Johar's production of his untitled film on global terrorism has been a terror experience for Rensil D'Silva.

After a warm invition from the Film Commission of Britain, Rensil's film was to be shot in London. But had to be moved out when permission was denied at the last minute.

"What was done was worse than denial of permission, " says the angry writer-director. "They wouldn't tell us an outright no.

But they put so many obstacles in front of our crew we had no option but to move out of London and shoot in Philadelphia where were were warmly welcomed. If it wasn't for my producer Karan Johar who stood by me through all this upheaval I'd have never been able to make this film."

In fact Rensil's friends thought he was nuts to direct this story as his first project.

"And they were nearly proven right when everything fell apart in London. Our timing was wrong. We went at a time when the inquiry commissions were scrutinizing the 7/7 tube-station bombings.

Millions were being spent on advertising the London tube stations as being safe and inviting. The last thing they needed was a film shot in the underground of London about tube- station bombings."

Now after having shot all the tube-station sequences in Philadelphia, Rensil returns to New York to shoot the rest of the film. "We'll do a bit of cheating. Philadelphia will fill in for New York. No one can tell the difference."

How far has 26/11 changed Rensil's film? "I'm shooting the film exactly the way I wrote it initially. What has happened in Mumbai doesn't alter the worldview on terrorism. It only strengthens it.

I've been warned that there has been a saturation as far as films on terrorism are concerned. But I believe every filmmaker has his own Take on terrorism. Unfortunatelty the alignment of terrorism with Islam remains unchanged."

That's where Rensil sees a problem. "People would object to some of my film's ideas and my characters' ideology. But we can't turn away from the truth. At least I can't."
'Tere Mere Darmiyan' from Vikrant Massey's 'The Sabarmati Report' Captures the Pain of Heartbreak!

The soulful song 'Tere Mere Darmiyan' from the upcoming film 'The Sabarmati Report' starring Vikrant Massey was released on Wednesday. Featuring Vikrant Massey and

Thursday, November 14, 2024
Vicky Kaushal to Portray 'Eternal Warrior of Dharma' Chiranjeevi Parashurama in 'Mahavatar'!

Bollywood sensation Vicky Kaushal is set to take on one of the most iconic roles of his career as Chiranjeevi Parashurama in the upcoming mythological epic "Mahavatar," directed by

Thursday, November 14, 2024
'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' Season 2 Trailer Unveiled: A Thrilling Ride of Kidnapping, Betrayal, and Revenge!

The much-anticipated trailer for the second season of Netflix's hit streaming series 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' was released on Wednesday, offering fans a glimpse into the

Thursday, November 14, 2024
Ananya Panday Turns Up the Heat in Sizzling Bikini Photos from Dubai Vacation!

Ananya Panday recently took to social media to share glimpses from her Dubai vacation, captivating her fans with stunning beach photos. The Bollywood actress posted a

Thursday, November 14, 2024
Shraddha Kapoor Shares Her Views on Success, Failure, and Everything in Between in Filmfare's November 2024 Edition!

Shraddha Kapoor, a powerhouse performer known for her charm and versatility, continues to dominate Hindi Cinema, a journey that has rightfully landed her on the cover

Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT