Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are among Hollywood’s most popular couples. Audiences around the world will soon witness raw and real emotions, excitement and celebration as Michael and Catherine come together for Shailendra Singh’s Unplugged In Mumbai.

Director Shailendra Singh says, “There was so much joy in reuniting with Michael and Catherine right here in India, that I knew I had to share the story with the world. My mantra behind ‘unplugged cinema’ is — no expectations, no limitations. If there’s a story, I will tell it in whatever way possible. I am blessed to present a facet of this beautiful couple, which most people never get to see.”

Shailendra’s brand of ‘unplugged cinema’ is a way of telling captivating stories in an unstructured and creative manner. Kache Din, his first unplugged cinema that featured Deepak Dobriyal, Yashpal Sharma and Tina Singh, won 30 awards on the international film festival circuit. After the release of Diversion, Shailendra released Sergei, featuring Sergei Polunin, who is counted among the best ballet dancers in the world. Beyond the film, as seen in their many online interactions, the two creative minds have also become close friends.

Sergei Polunin says, “Shailendra is the ultimate storyteller. He can take the smallest emotional moment and fill the screen with it. He can take the most personal experience and make it universal. It was an intense creative experience to make ‘unplugged cinema’ with him and I look forward to working with him again.”

Now, the filmmaker presents Unplugged In Mumbai, featuring Michael, Catherine and Shailendra himself. Michael and Shailendra were introduced to each other in India, to collaborate on the former’s sequel to Romancing The Stone. The film was never made, but they formed a strong bond and have been friends for over 14 years. Unplugged In Mumbai is a moving portrayal of a lasting friendship with a twist — when Catherine meets Michael’s “fabulous, crazy Indian creator” — Shailendra for the first time.

The joy and gratitude expressed by this trio as they immerse themselves in the magic of India, especially the artistic brilliance of Mumbai, is sure to inspire heartfelt pride in Indians around the globe. Viewers will witness this epic adventure and get a glimpse of the warmth of Indian hospitality through the eyes of the Hollywood couple.

Michael says, “Catherine and I feel a deep connection to India and this visit to see Shailendra was incredibly inspiring. I’ve always been amazed at his energy and ability to bring any story to life. Shailendra has captured our adventure in the most incredible way.”

Unplugged In Mumbai is directed by Shailendra, written by Nicole Sottung and edited by Arun Kumar Aravind. The film gives us a peek behind the curtain of an intense friendship, showcasing the power of relationships, love and celebration. In this unique film, audiences around the globe will see these stars open, honest and unfiltered.

Catherine says, “Shailendra has such excitement and pride for his country. He’s a great guy. He’s not only a very caring, philanthropic and successful businessman, but also just successful in life. He’s a really great human being.”

Using ‘unplugged cinema’ to tell cinematic stories in an unconventional way without any borders or restrictions, Shailendra’s mantra behind it all is — ‘No expectations, no limitations’. After decades of experience in the entertainment and sports industries, Shailendra has built lasting relationships with many renowned personalities. He hopes to feature them in his ‘unplugged cinema’ and plans to approach Kapil Dev, Nana Patekar, Sourav Ganguly, Mithoon and Sushmita Sen soon.

Storytelling is not new to Shailendra. In his three decades at the helm of Percept Ltd and beyond, every start-up he launched (23 in 23 years), every advertising campaign he sold to a corporate, every Bollywood talent or athlete he signed on for representation, was all based on a good story. Since its inception in 2007, every Sunburn Festival has told a creative story to people under the age of 25. He also penned down his stories in a book titled F?@k Knows.

Before the pandemic, Reliance Entertainment and Shailendra announced film projects that they would be working on together, including the life story of M S Bitta. Unplugged In Mumbai is marketed and distributed by Reliance Entertainment.

Shibasish Sarkar says, “Shailendra has always brought a unique perspective in any creative endeavour he has pursued. We value his constant pursuit of pushing the limits and breaking down barriers in order to tell the best story possible.”

With a runtime of 60-minutes, Unplugged In Mumbai is slated to release internationally in January 2022. According to the wishes of Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Shailendra Singh, the proceeds of the film will be donated to Magic Bus to support the education of lesser-privileged children.