Makers of Aarushi Talwar murder case-inspired whodunit, 'Talvar', are said to be reworking the film's script due to apparent similarities with the recently released 'Rahasya', which is based on the same subject
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; February 13, 2015)

If sources are to be believed, Meghna Gulzar is making a few changes to her upcoming film 'Talvar' inspired by the Aarushi Talwar murder case. Reason? The filmmaker apparently wants to avoid any kind of similarities with Manish Gupta's 'Rahasya', which hit the marquee two weeks ago and was loosely based on the same incident.

A source says, "Post Rahasya's release, the makers of 'Talvar' are wary of repetition. Though their film is more or less narrated from the point of view of Aarushi's parents, who have been convicted for the murder, they are considering incorporating a few changes in the film."

Written by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film stars Irrfan, Konkona Sen Sharma and Tabu in a special appearance. It is slated to release on October 2. A source close to the Talvar project says, "The film's shoot has been wrapped up and received a green signal from the Talwars. It will have a completely different take on the incident with an exciting climax. There is no similarity between the two films."

The director says the film's edit is locked. "There is no question of making any changes. We always knew the film we wanted to make and that there were other films being made, announced and even completed before we began filming in June 2014.

When we didn't bother about 'Rahasya' then, why would we do so now? Everyone is proud and happy with the way our film has turned out. Thankfully, two years of research and a year's writing has paid off. Most importantly, this is a fictional dramatisation of an investigation of a real-life case, not a biopic. Hence, there is no question of book rights or any money changing hands," Meghna states.

Sakshi Sem (right) will play Aarushi Talwar (left) in Rahasya

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; January 28, 2015)

Director Manish Gupta is a relieved man. Decks have been cleared for the release of his upcoming thriller Rahasya that had met with resistance from the parents of Aarushi Talwar, a Noida teenager, whose murder in May 2008 remains a mystery till date.

The Talwars had blocked the release alleging the film is based on the life of their slain daughter and was unfit for public screening with the case being sub judice. While distributors called it off, the promos and publicity of the film were also withdrawn.

However, Gupta heaved a sigh of relief when the Bombay High Court cleared it during a hearing yesterday. Gupta tells hitlist , “I have spent an entire year fighting this case. I was unable to write or start any other film. The loss to my producer and distributors Viacom 18 has run into crores. But now, Justice V. M. Kanade has ruled Rahasya’s story does not depict the facts of Aarushi’s murder mystery and there is no case made out for a stay or any ad interim relief on the film. As planned, we will release it this Friday.”

In February last year, Aarushi’s mother Nupur had filed a petition in the High Court against Rahasya producer Monica Vimal Maluka demanding a stay on the film’s release and the quashing of its censor certificate. On their part, the makers clarified that Rahasya is a fictitious murder mystery and does not bear any semblance to any person living or dead. As per the Talwars’ request, a special screening of the film was organised but they insisted that there was a similarity to Aarushi’s murder case and continued to demand a stay on the film. In September last year, the court had allowed the producers to go ahead with the publicity, but with a disclaimer.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; January 16, 2015)

Meghna Gulzar’s hush-hush project Nyoda on the sensational Aarushi Talwar murder case, is apparently a project that has been approved by the slain girl’s parents Dr Nupur and Dr Rajesh Talwar who are now in prison.

An insider reveals, “It is a very sensitive subject. Moving away from the sensationalistic suggestions and allegations that Aarushi was murdered by her own parents, the film actually builds a defence case for the parents. Yes, the murder and the consequent investigation are narrated entirely from the parents’ point of view in Meghna Gulzar’s film.”

Apparently the deceased girl’s aunt Vandana Talwar, who has been campaigning to prove the parents’ innocence, has provided all the relevant material pertaining to the parents’ point of view.

“There are some documents written from Aarushi’s parents’ perspective that Vishal Bhardwaj who has scripted Meghna’s film, was provided with. These served as the basis of the plot. The film will basically plead for the parents’ innocence.”

While Konkona Sen Sharma and Neeraj Kabi play Aarushi’s parents, Tabu apparently plays Aarushi’s aunt. Irrfan Khan plays the officer investigating the case.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 5, 2014)

Tabu, a favourite of Gulzar and his daughter, is back in the family’s fold. The actress who considers the poet-filmmaker her father-figure has starred in his last two directorial ventures — Maachis and Hu-tu-tu. She was also the heroine of his daughter’s directorial debut Filhaal. Now she’s back in Meghna’s new project entitled Talwar.

The film also stars Irrfan Khan, with whom Tabu has previously worked in Maqbool. Meghna began shooting for her third feature film on Tuesday morning with minimum fanfare. The film is said to be based on the Aarushi Talwar murder case.

Apparently, Meghna’s father has given the film its title, just as he has named Megha’s two earlier feature films Filhaal and Just Married. Says a source close to the family, “It’s a family tradition. Meghna wants Gulzar saab to select her films’ title.”

The reclusive daughter of the poetic genius wants to keep the project under wraps because of the sensitive nature of the subject. Irrfan has confirmed his presence in the film.

Rachana Dubey (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 11, 2014)

Manish Gupta had heaved a sigh of relief when the Indian Board of Film Certification filed an affidavit stating that there are no similarities between his movie Rahasya and the Aarushi murder case. But the respite was short lived as after watching a preview of the film, the Talwar family has decided to continue their legal effort to stall the film’s release.

“We are definitely challenging the Censor Board’s claims,” says Vandana Talwar, dentist Rajesh Talwar’s sister who watched the film Rahasya on behalf of her brother and sister-in-law Nupur, who are serving a life sentence in the double murder of their daughter Aarushi and help Hemraj.

“I can’t state which scenes have affirmed this decision because of an affidavit that I signed, which bars me from revealing any details but we are taking this case forward,” she told Mirror.

The case is up for hearing again in the Bombay High Court on April 17. The Talwars had approached the Court to stall the release of the movie produced by UVI Films Production Ltd, on the grounds that it is based on “distorted facts” surrounding the death of Aarushi.

After the Censor Board filed an affidavit stating that there are no similarities between the movie and the murder, the couple sought a screening for a family member.

Talwars’ advocate Anushak Davar has pointed out to a division bench that there were “over 100 similarities” between the movie’s story and the case.

Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; December 3, 2013)

Reports have it that the incarcerated dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar’s lawyer, Manoj Sisodia, said that legal action would be taken against anyone who attempts a film or a book on their daughter Aarushi’s murder. Reacting to this news, director Manish Gupta — whose latest offering Rahasya is speculated to be based on the Aarushi-Hemraj murders — says, “My film’s story is about a senior investigator probing the murder of a young girl whose father is accused of the heinous crime. It is just that parallels have been drawn between the case and my film, but I never said it was based on it.”