After the Ae Dil… ‘settlement’, a producer promises to donate 70 per cent of profits from his film starring a Pak actress for smooth release
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 26, 2016)

Producer Durgesh Paul is inspired by Karan Johar, it seems. With the latter’s upcoming film, Ae Dil hai Mushkil up for release despite featuring Pak actor Fawad Khan, after he donated Rs 5 crore to the Army Welfare Fund, the maker of a small budget film hopes to follow suit.

Producer Durgesh Paul’s upcoming film Redrum — A Tale of Murder (starring Tom Alter and television actor Vibhav Roy) is said to be an adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe classic short story, The Tell Tale Heart. But that’s not the important information concerning this film. Given the current tension on the Indo-Park border, and the manner in which the film industry and ruling parties have reacted to featuring Pakistani artistes in our films, that Redrum features Pakistani actress Saeeda Imtiaz is what can prove to be a hindrance.

The film is looking to release next January but threats from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and the reaction of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association and Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India), has left the producer figuring a Plan B. Karan Johar’s ‘settlement’ with the MNS (the director must deposit Rs 5 crore in the Army Welfare Fund to have his film released, the MNS demanded) has given him a ray of hope. “I am worried if my film will see the light of day. But I’m hopeful that if I promise to give 70 per cent of my film’s income to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, my film will get a smooth release,” Durgesh told hitlist.

The small budget film produced by Durgesh Paul Productions and Bhilwara Entertainment and was shot in 2015 in Delhi. Saeeda, says Durgesh, was then working on a Pakistani project called Kaptaan. “We wanted to give a new face to Bollywood. The political climate was very different then. The businessman in me is fighting hard against the nationalist in me. I don’t want to lose the money I’ve invested but if we have to scrap the project entirely, so be it. The sentiments lie with the nation first.”

Saeeda, who is currently in the US, has been inquiring with Durgesh about the release. “I’ve told her that in the conditions, it is impossible to procure a release date. I am scared to send my movie to the Central Board of Film Certification for clearance. But there may be a way by donating a large share of our profits to philanthropic funds,” he said.

Durgesh knows that not having his lead actress around to promote the film will cost him dearly. “Tom Alter saab is a senior artiste. We will carry on promotions with him otherwise,” he said.

Desperate times call for desperate measures?