Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 21, 2017)


Sridevi’s home production Mom, the followup to her much–loved comeback film English Vinglish, kicked off in March last year. The Delhi-based mother-daughter drama, directed by Ravi Udyawar and featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Akshaye Khanna in significant roles, was shot in the Capital and in a two-month schedule in Georgia last May. It was nearing completion with just the climax and a song left to be shot when tensions between India and Pakistan following the Uri attacks flared up, leading to a call of ban on Pakistani artistes. Now, Mirror has learnt that the film’s team is finally ready to resume shooting after Pakistani actors Sajal Ali and Adnan Siddiqui, who play Sri’s daughter and husband respectively in the film, were granted visas to shoot in India after several attempts.

A source associated with the team revealed to Mirror, “It’s been about four months since the team has been waiting to wrap up the final schedule. In September, following the Uri attacks and the surgical strikes, Sajal and Adnan’s visas were rejected several times. Now they have obtained a visa for a month and will be flying to Delhi to shoot the final scenes and a song in February. The team is planning to wrap up the schedule by February 14 and release the film by May this year.”

While Adnan has appeared in several TV serials back home like Mere Humdum Mere Dost, Meray Qatil Meray Dildar and was also a part of the Angelina Jolie-starrer A Mighty Heart, Sajal is known for her TV shows including Gul-e-Rana, Tum Mere Kya Ho, Kis Se Kahoon and Mehmoodabad Ki Malkain.

Actor Vikas Verma, who plays the negative lead in the film and is currently in Switzerland shooting for an Arbaaz Khan film, confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, they (Sajal and Adnan) are required for the final scenes and have finally got a visa for a month to complete the shoot. It’s a very important scene and we have been looking forward to film.”

Meanwhile, the Mom team has also been gearing up to celebrate Sridevi’s 50 years in the industry this year. The source adds, “The plan is to have a party on the sets after the shoot and a bigger party is being planned for later where all her industry colleagues from over the years are expected to show up.”