Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 8, 2015)

Mirror had earlier reported (December 24, 2014) that filmmaker Kushan Nandy, who had been shooting in West Bengal, had been rubbed the wrong way by the local film association of Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India, and had to pack his bags. Having been extorted of Rs 55 lakhs, Kushan had announced to the media that he would never return to the state for a film.

Now re-titled Babumoshai Bandookbaaz, the same film, featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui as a contract killer and Chitrangda Singh as a local cobbler, has been shifted to Uttar Pradesh and will be set against a North Indian backdrop. "I had originally written the film with the Bihar political scenario as the backdrop. But Kushan, who had wanted to highlight the growing gang rivalries and murders in Bengal, decided to refocus the script. When things didn't work out, I made changes and went back to the original set-up. We begin shooting in Bihar in December," script, dialogue and screenplay writer, Galib Asad Bhopali told Mirror, adding that the unit had wished to roll in November but since, Nawaz had allotted to dates to Raees, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, he was not available for shoot. "The film will be shot in a one-marathon, 40 day schedule, but things could change depending on Nawaz's dates," he says.

The film also features Tahir Raj Bhasin, who made his debut in 2012 with Kismat, Love Paisa Dilli, as Nawaz's rival. "He is not the villain in the film, but a competitor. He too plays a contract killer who murders for as low as Rs 5000," Bhopali points out. The actors have been taking workshops to get their roles right, specially Chitrangada who has even managed to mend a few torn shoes all by herself.

"The film epitomizes the angry, young hero, like Mr Bachchan did in his films - Deewaar, Mr Natwarlal, Sholay and Amar Akbar Anthony, and Nawaz will be seen in a short-tempered avatar, drinking rum and eating mutton," Bhopali asserts, adding that Roopa Ganguly who was signed on to play a politician modelled around Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, will not reprise her role. "We are casting an actress to be seen as a North Indian, politician, typical to the region. The characters draw heavily from real life situations in the region," he insists, pointing out that the character will now resemble the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, who served four terms as the head of the Bahujan Samaj Party.