BOMBAY TIMES (May 30, 2019)

Director Rupesh Paul’s The Great Indian Casino (TGIC) was well-received at the recently-concluded Cannes film festival, where it was promoted. The entire team of the film, headed by producer Chanderkant Sharma, attended the festival.

After Cannes, the TGIC team is now planning to promote the film internationally, in countries like Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Rupesh will also travel to East Asian countries for promotions.

Chanderkant Sharma says, “Our movie has high potential in the overseas market. That’s why we are trying a new marketing strategy. We are sure that many Bollywood movies will follow it in future.”

TGIC, which is based on the Narendra Modi government’s demonetization policy, was launched by Dharmendra. Rupesh, who has previously helmed movies like My Name Is Raga and Kamasutra 3D, has written and directed TGIC. The thriller will also see Ameesha Patel making a huge comeback.

The Great Indian Casino releases on July 14.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 8, 2018)

In a departure from the romantic dramas that the Bhatts are famed for, we hear Vishesh Bhatt is set to back a satire based on the demonetisation that was announced by the Indian government on November 8, 2016. A source close to the production house reveals, "Vishesh has come across an interesting script revolving around demonetization. The narrative starts on the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi implemented the drive to abolish black money, and traces what it spiralled into eventually."

Two years since the development, the government's decision to implement demonetization has been a matter of serious debate. While the episode makes for compelling material, the source reveals that Bhatt is currently fine-tuning the script. "The project was conceptualised by Vishesh and his team. It will mark the Bhatts' first attempt at black comedy," adds the source. Though Bhatt has a few actors in mind, the casting process will kick off only next month before the project goes on floors early next year.

MID-DAY (November 9, 2017)

Observing the first anniversary of demonetization, actor Prakash Raj yesterday penned a note demanding an apology from the authorities for what he termed the disruptive impact of the exercise. The 52-year-old National Award-winning actor took to Twitter to question the intent behind the move of the government on November 8 last year, which rendered 86 per cent of the currency in circulation illegal.

Titled ‘To Whomsoever It May Concern’, Raj’s post read, “While the rich found ways to convert their black money into shiny new notes, this disruptive impact made millions suffer helplessly and the unorganized sector workers went for a spin. Would you mind saying sorry for the biggest blunder of our time?” A vocal critic of the central government, the actor captioned the image “This day... that age.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 last year announced the demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in a bid to combat corruption, black money, terrorism and fake currency. Raj had recently raised the issues of moral policing, lynching on the slightest doubt of cow slaughter, terrorizing in the name of religion and trolling.