After years of uneasy silence, movie baron Pritish Nandy has embraced his son Kushan who is all set to direct a film called ‘RAGHUPATI RAGHAV RAJA RAM’ for his production house. ‘It’s a very nice feeling to be finally part of PNC (Pritish Nandy Communications). All these years I was trying to find myself, trying to search for my own identity away from my dad’s formidable reputation. Today I’ve come to terms with who he is and what I am,’ Kushan told IANS.
‘Even as I searched for my own space, I always knew he was a phone call away. Today life has come full circle. Dad and I were trying to come up with a script we were both kicked with,’ he added.
Kushan is all set to begin afresh.
‘Though ‘RAGHUPATI RAGHAV RAJA RAM’ is based on Shakespeare’s ‘Comedy Of Errors’, it’s not a comedy. I’ve given it an action spin. My dad and I instinctively knew this was the right project for us to do together.
‘It’s a pretty huge project. And it has loads of action FX and a kind of humour not seen in Hindi cinema. My dad was always there for me. At the end of the day he’s my dad. And I love him.’
Pritish says that Kushan was never gone.
‘He just chose not to work with me. The doors of PNC were always open for him. There has always been an unspoken bond between us,’ Nandy told IANS.
‘I’m not one to declare my feeling from rooftops. I feel true love is always about giving and not expecting. Kushan too is a very quiet person. I didn’t have to ask him to join me. He wanted to explore the world, test the waters away from the family fold. While he explored, I had my two daughters (Rongita and Ishita) with me,’ he added.
Rongita joined PNC nine years ago and Ishita seven years ago. They have produced films like ‘Pyaar Ke Side Effects’, ‘Chameli’ and ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’.
‘While Rongita looks after film production, Ishita takes over at post-production. Kushan is more than welcome to be part of the company. Or just make movies for us, if that’s what makes him comfortable.’
‘RAGHUPATI RAGHAV RAJA RAM’ is a magnum opus to be produced in collaboration with Sony Pictures International who entered the Indian market in a big way with ‘Saawariya’ last year.
‘This is Bollywood’s first bona fide Hollywood multi-picture deal with Sony Pictures. We’re going to make a series of movies together, starting with three films this year. And, yes, the first of these projects will be directed by my son.
‘It’ll be a rip-roaring actioner. And, yes, we’re introducing our son as a writer and director. He has written the screenplay and will direct the film.
‘It’s a heist film set in Las Vegas. It’s about two guys, Raghupati Raghav and Raja Ram, both with double roles. It’s essentially Shakespeare’s ‘Comedy Of Errors’ set in a casino in Las Vegas. This is Shakespeare meets Ocean’s 11.’
Two of Bollywood A-listers are being signed on to play the leads.
— By Subhash K. Jha (IANS)
