Joginder Tuteja

Avatar has made many a film makers smell the coffee. While Rakesh Roshan and co. have been heard of putting their plans for Krrish sequel on hold and thinking of something substantial enough to match the scale and intensity of their Hollywood counterparts, some other film makers are taking it up as a challenge.

Producer Sanjay Gupta has taken an early lead and announced his next film with director Suparn Verma (after Acid Factory). Belonging to horror genre, this yet untitled 'live' film would be made in 3D format. This is not all as the duo wants to use the same technology with which James Cameron created Avatar and found worldwide recognition coming his way.

Confirms Sanjay Gupta, "With 3D coming into picture, it's going to be challenge for Suparn as a film maker and exciting for the viewers. It is time to do something completely path breaking with newer technology coming in."

In 2010 alone, there would be at least two horror flicks that would come out of Bollywood's, Vikram Bhatt's Shaapit and Ram Gopal Varma's fantasy Phoonk 2. How does Suparn plan to place his horror saga?

"It will certainly scare the standard out of you, that's the minimum I can promise, " says Suparn. "The film is in 3D and we have to do something entirely different because whenever we talk about 3D, we end up referring to the world of Chota Chetan or Shiva Ka Insaaf."

Suparn is cautious though when commenting on the Avatar 3D technology being used for making of his horror film. "Is it going to be in same lines of Avatar? Perhaps yes, but let's take a call on that once the final draft of the script is ready, " he says.

In any case, one presumes that there would be budgetary challenges as well. Avatar has been made on a budget of Rs.1200 crores while even the costliest film ever in Bollywood hasn't crossed the Rs.100 crore mark. In such a scenario, isn't it challenging to procure funds, given the fact that this 3D horror film may be required to be made on a big scale?

"I remember Yash Chopra stating some time back that there is nothing like a big film or a small film, " smiles Suparn, " I have made Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena in a Rs. 3 crores budget and moved on to Acid Factory with Rs. 21 crores at my disposal. It all depends upon the subject I am exploring. This film is a huge responsibility for me and I have to get it just right."

The film is expected to roll after April 2010 and the cast along with the title would be announced in due course of time.