Hotel Mumbai director discusses showcasing vulnerabilities of gunmen in the film on 2008 Mumbai attacks
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 2, 2019)

When recreating for cinema such incidents of violence and terrorism that fittingly evoke no sympathy, choosing to humanise characters of terrorists can be a risky deal to pull  off. However, in the Friday release, Hotel Mumbai — based on the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks — director Anthony Maras navigates this path, nonetheless.

A case in point being a scene where an injured gunman makes a phone call to his parents in Pakistan, inquiring if they had received the money for the mission he's currently on. Oblivious about the mission, the parents hope he succeeds, but inform him that they haven't received the money. In that moment, the young gunman wails in pain, knowing that despite his inevitable death, the deeds he'd committed amounted to nothing.

In a bid to back his decision, Maras tells mid-day, "We wanted to tell stories from multiple perspectives. When we started understanding the stories of the gunmen, we realised their backgrounds were similar. They belonged to impoverished families, lacked education and had tough lives. They were ideal prays for strategic fundamentalist brainwashing. We found out about indoctrination, and that was important to focus on. A large part of the discussion included how terrorists were created. They are regular human beings." He makes a case for himself when stating, "In one scene, a Muslim woman was able to ward off a gunman by praying. That's inspired from a real life incident."

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 29, 2019)

Australian director Anthony Maras, whose film Hotel Mumbai is based on the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, tells BT why he thinks it was a story worth retelling. Excerpts from a chat...

Hotel Mumbai was always bound to be a difficult watch, as it reopens old wounds. Why would people, especially those in Mumbai, want to revisit a tragedy they have struggled to overcome? Did this thought cross your mind while making the film?
The survivors and martyrs of 26/11 showed extraordinary courage and selflessness in the darkest of times. You had regular everyday people from all walks of life, from all parts of the world and from all races, religions and social classes risking their own lives to save one another. I feel theirs is a story worth telling, especially since in many parts of the world, it remains unknown or forgotten.

Why did you choose Dev Patel in particular to play Arjun? He is predominantly a British actor. Did you at least initially think of casting a local Indian actor instead?
Words cannot describe what a fulfilling creative experience it was to work with Dev Patel, and to watch him breathe life into the character. From our first meeting, I felt that he had all the qualities needed for this most delicate role. I am extremely proud of his work and of all the cast we have bought together for Hotel Mumbai — including the many local Indian actors, including Anupam Kher, the four actors who played the terrorists, Adithi Kalkunte, who played Arjun’s wife, and Nagesh Bhosle and Vitthal Kale, who played the heroic police officers who mounted a rescue attempt.

As an Australian filmmaker, how difficult was it for you to get the facts and nuances right of a film, which is based on the events that occurred in Mumbai? What were the prep and research like?
We did extensive research over a year-long period, to try and understand the many and varied complexities and perspectives of this attack. Together with my team, I interviewed dozens of survivors in India and across the world, including hotel guests, staff members, security force personnel and police. We pored over thousands of pages of evidence from Ajmal Kasab’s (terrorist) trial, including witness statements, confessions and transcripts of satellite communications between the terrorists and their handlers. We also interviewed Kasab’s lawyer for further insight. We stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel for over a month, interviewing staff members and walking the same corridors, kitchens and hallways where the tragic events took place. We nurtured a strong collaboration over four years with our Indian production partners, to do all we could to ensure authenticity on all fronts. We did this out of respect to the story, and out of a sense of immense responsibilities to all those affected.

The film very briefly shows a different side of the terrorists, their realisation of being used as pawns. Was that an attempt to empathise with them and was it necessary to include this in the film?
The terrorists who carried out 26/11 did not show up out of nowhere. They were recruited from hundreds of initial prospects and underwent systematic training and brainwashing. To understand what drove these young men is essential to understanding a key reality of the attacks, and in no way justifies their actions.

Has any portion of the film been actually shot at the Taj hotel?
Wherever possible, we shot on location — such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, behind St. Xavier’s College where Hemant Karkare (the late chief of Mumbai’s Anti-Terrorism Squad) and his men were ambushed, and the Colaba Fishing Village, where the gunmen first arrived. Shooting in the interiors of the Taj was never a possibility given that it is a functional hotel. However, we shot in the exterior of the hotel and its surrounding streets.

Hotel Mumbai makes for a disturbing watch but tries its best to accurately put forth what happened on that fateful night at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai. The 128 minute long film is very engaging and keeps one hooked. The characters and various tracks are very interesting and the film moves from one track to another neatly. It’s fascinating to know that the makers had access to original transcripts of intercepted mobile calls between the terrorists and their handlers and most of the dialogues were repeated verbatim by the actors. The performances too are exceptional and more on that later! On the flipside, little distortion of facts was needless. I understand the need to fictionalize certain stuff for cinematic purposes. But it made no sense to show that the terrorists reached Mumbai via sea in day time and not in the night. Also, the makers didn’t get the permission to mention Café Leopold and hence changed it to a weirdly sounding name – Café Lilopal! It raised unintentional laughs in the theatre and one wishes if the makers had thought of a better, similarly sounding name. For some strange reason, the attack on Nariman House isn’t mentioned not even once, while the all other attack venues are talked about repeatedly. Speaking of performances, Dev Patel rocks the show and is quite natural. Anupam Kher is sidelined in between but makes his presence felt. Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi are excellent and same goes for Tilda Cobham-Hervey. Jason Isaacs gets to play a great part and delivers a fine performance. From the terrorists, Suhail Nayyar leaves the maximum mark. All in all, Hotel Mumbai releases quite late in India but do give it a chance if possible in cinemas as it’s a genuine effort!

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

WILL COMMANDO 3 MANAGE TO SUCCEED, UNLIKE ITS PREDECESSORS?

Usually, sequels are made of successful films but in Bollywood, that doesn’t always happen. There have been many films that aren’t hits or even that popular. And yet, their producers come up with their second part. Commando is one such franchise. The part 1, released in 2013 was an average fare and was remembered only for Vidyut Jammwal’s stunts. That didn’t stop producer Vipul Shah from presenting Commando 2, which released in 2017. This film’s lifetime collection was Rs. 21.61 crore, which was slightly better than the first part, which earned Rs. 19.89 crore. But since Commando 2’s costs were much higher, it was given a Flop verdict.

And now Commando 3 is all set to release tomorrow. It features Vidyut Jammwal of course and also Adah Sharma, who was also in Commando 2. Her role of a badass and sexy Hyderabadi cop was loved, especially by television audience. Hence, the decision was made to bring her back in the third part. Angira Dhar is the second female lead while Gulshan Devaiah plays the villain. It is directed by Aditya Datt, who has made Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Table No 1 etc in the past. The trailer is decent and seems like a good entertainer. Action obviously should be the highpoint. And it’s lucky that it’s getting a solo release of sorts. Next week sees the release of two important film, Panipat and Pati Patni Aur Woh. It was expected that either of the two films would release tomorrow. But that didn’t happen and as a result, Commando 3 enjoys a clear one-week window. Also, last week’s Pagalpanti and the holdover releases Marjaavaan and Bala have exhausted their audiences. Incidentally, all Commando films have released at a great time. Commando’s first part clashed with Nautanki Saala, which wasn’t a huge competition. Commando 2 meanwhile arrived solo with no competition from holdover releases too. And now Commando 3 follows suit!

Yet, Commando 3 will have a very tough time. As aforementioned, the series is not that popular at all. To add to it, the trailer is fine but not very exciting that will pull audiences to cinemas. Even songs have worked at all. Commando’s opening day numbers were Rs. 3.43 crore while that of its sequel was Rs. 4.41 crore. Commando 3 will definitely open less than Commando 2 and there are chances that it’s collections might be less than part 1 as well. If the mass and patriotism elements come out well in the film, then it has the chance to grow from the second day, especially in mass centres. And then with a good hold in the weekdays, it can emerge as the biggest film of the franchise. But if reports are bad, then it’ll crash heavily.

The other significant release tomorrow is Hotel Mumbai, based on 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. It’s an Australian-American-Indian co-production and stars Dev Patel, Anupam Kher, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Jason Isaacs. The film specifically focuses on what happened that fateful night in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. The film looks niche and even star cast is not enticing for Indian audiences. On top of that, the film has released in most countries in March 2019. It’s already out on Amazon Prime in most countries and also on torrent websites. Many in India have already seen it. Interestingly, it was to release on March 29 but was pulled out at the last minute. It was speculated that it happened due to the Pulwama attacks but it came to light that there was some legal tussle going on between the makers.

Due to all these reasons, the opening day collections of Hotel Mumbai would be very less and might not even touch the Rs. 1 crore mark. It has chances to work the best in and around Mumbai.

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 27, 2019)

Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai pays an ode to the unwavering courage and spirit of those who risked their lives to help others survive the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. The film is based on the spinechilling events that unfolded at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, in the city on November 26, 2008. Anupam Kher plays Taj’s former grand executive chef Hemant Oberoi in the film, who survived the attack. One of the biggest names in the culinary world from India, the soft-spoken chef, recalled the horrors of the events to us as he sat for a joint interview with his reel self — Kher. Talking to BT, both gave an insight into what went into the making of a film on an event that shook the nation. Excerpts...

Hemant, what was it like to see Anupam Kher portray you on the big screen?
Hemant: When I saw the first glimpse of Anupam playing my character, it reminded me of my Zodiac (a restaurant at the Taj) days. I used to check the shoes and nails of the staff those days (a scene you can see in the film as well) and they have shown that aptly in the film. Anthony spent some time with me in the beginning as he wanted to know my side of the story. I told him that it was not just me, there were other people, and my team members along with me, on that night. I wasn’t the hero, nor did I do any herogiri.

We believe that our ‘guest is God’ and it was our duty to protect them. We evacuated people and took them to the Chambers. That saved their lives.
Anupam: After the film’s first screening, Oberoi came backstage and hugged me. That meant a lot to me and it was my biggest applause. I was very nervous when he was watching the film. I wasn’t worried that he’d judge my performance, my fear was whether I will be able to convey the compassion that he exuded. To recreate that emotion and revisit a situation that you don’t want to, was difficult. Thus, the shoot was extremely tiring psychologically.

Anupam, did you spend time with Hemant before the shoot to ensure you got his mannerisms and body language right?
No, I didn’t. I have met him at the Taj before, but not for the role. My director had a point when he said that when actors meet the people who they portray on screen, they try to emulate every gesture. He didn’t want that. He wanted the essence of the character to come out. The film is about emotions rather than how a particular person walked or talked, so I didn’t go in that direction of mimicking someone. I wanted to capture the nobility in Oberoi on screen. He did his job in a horrific situation and yet, he was calm about it. Aisa nahi ke goli chal rahi ho aur aapko darr nahi lagta. To discover your courage at a time like this and to have the presence of mind, to make sandwiches and tea for people, that for me was difficult to capture. Before every shot, I would imagine that a close friend or family member is about to be killed by a terrorist and what would be my reaction to that.

Hemant, what crossed your mind when you were informed that Taj was under a terrorist attack?
When I was told about the shooting, I initially thought that a film shooting was going on at the Gateway of India, but then I heard gunshots on the phone. My first reaction was ‘close the doors and shut the lights’. There were 100-odd people in our restaurants at the time, just one hint of their presence and they would have all been dead. We were trying to locate people who were injured. One of the young boys (a staff member) was struggling for life for seven days in the hospital after this horrific incident. I am so proud of my team. When I told one of the elderly staffers who was undergoing dialysis every week to leave, he refused. They stayed in the hotel to rescue the guests. My own secretary who had worked with me for 18 years, did not leave my office.
Anupam: They (the hotel staff) did not look at it as a tragedy, but dealt with it like it was a warlike situation. The priority was to help the people who survived.

Hemant, we read about how you were making sandwiches and tea to feed people and comfort them while the massacre was underway. You need nerves of steel to do that. How did you stay composed through all of it?
Every time I went to Chambers (where the staff was hiding the guests), some 300 people sitting there would ask me about the NSG commandos. I had no answer. Every half an hour, I would tell the staff to give them whatever they wanted — food and drinks. We made them sandwiches, cookies and tea. When a few youngsters got to know that I am doing this on my own, they came upstairs to help me out and some of them lost their lives in the process.

Anupam, what was the prep like for a subject as difficult and real as this?
Anthony didn’t want actors to use their craft, he wanted us to go through the trauma. When we landed in Adelaide (Australia), he made us go through a workshop for five-six days, where he wanted us to understand what goes on in people’s minds when they are trapped and aware that they could get killed at any moment. He had recorded real bomb explosions and gunshots, which he’d play in the middle of the shot. That was traumatic and it evoked the reaction from us that he’d expected. When I saw the film at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), it got us a standing ovation. The film salutes ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage. It is a tribute to the people of Taj and the unsung heroes. They were not screen heroes like Bruce Willis or Arnold Schwarzenegger, who the world knows will survive against all odds. They were not trained to deal with a situation like this and they treated their guests like God.

Hemant, when you see death from such close quarters, does it change you as a person?
It does change you. I am a strong believer of destiny and karma after what happened. Somewhere, we must have done something right to have survived something like this.

Hemant, you were among the first celebrity chefs that we knew of. We have heard stories of how starry you were as a celebrity chef and were unapologetic about it.
Hemant: I have never shouted at anyone in my life. Once in a while, I would get angry. If you don’t understand my silence, you’ll never understand my words. My one look was enough for my team to understand their mistakes.
Anupam: I am also aware of how good I am at my job (smiles!). Also, when you are good at something, it only humbles you. Jo ped sabse zyaada phal deta hai, woh sabse zyaada jhuka hua hota hai. There are certain roles that you do with complete humility and submission and this, for me, was one of them. It’s one of the most important films of my career. Aur mujhe bhi pehle laga ke Hemant bohot khatarnak kism ke honge, but hai nahi (laughs!).

Anupam, many will question whether a film like this will reopen old wounds, especially for those who survived, those who lost their loved ones, and all those who were left deeply scarred by the tragedy. Your thoughts.
Once the film is made, it’s open to various interpretations. Other than the fact that it’s on 26/11, it’s also about the triumph and test of the human spirit. It has a universal appeal. The film recalls the event and talks about the courage of those trapped inside. Jo bahar chale gaye the, woh bhi wapas aaye help karne. It’s unreal what compassion can make you do. We are always told to be wary of strangers, but during 26/11, it’s the strangers who helped people save lives.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 26, 2019)

Considering Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai is a tribute to those who laid their lives in order to save others during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, it is only fitting that the makers have planned a special screening for the bravehearts of that fateful night. To mark the 11th anniversary of the attacks today, the team has invited chef Hemant Oberoi, his team at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and several cops for a screening of the movie. Oberoi will also be felicitated for his bravado, at the event.

Confirming the news, Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios, says, “We wanted to share the film with the people whose stories it is based on. Their validation matters the most to us. Often, we forget to celebrate the real heroes in this country. To honour chef Hemant Oberoi, who is one of the heroes of that night, is a privilege.”

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 25, 2019)

The British-Indian actor Dev Patel’s next outing is in Hotel Mumbai, a realistic movie based on the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. The film is a rendition of the series of events from the terror attacks, focusing on the extraordinary courage that people showed that day while trying to stand up for each other. The films depicts stories about the staff members of a luxury hotel, who saved many lives due to their swift action and presence of mind at the time of the brutal terrorist attacks. Dev, who plays a Sikh in the film, is modelled on a few staff members from the hotel.

Interestingly, the actor convinced his director, Anthony Maras to make his character a Sikh in the film. A source says, “Dev’s insistence stemmed from the fact that post 9/11, Sikhs were often misunderstood. So, with the film, he wanted to bring forth a licit representation of the community on screen. Growing up as an Indian in a post 9/11 world, Dev is aware of the glares that South Asians receive, which stems from lack of knowledge about their cultures. The film attempts to change that. There’s a striking scene where Dev reiterates the importance of wearing a turban for their community. Dev was insistent that the story be retained as it adds nuances.”

Dev explains, “I wasn’t on for the film initially, and I was just meeting Anthony to know more about my role. When I met him, it turned into a seven-hour long session. We spoke in detail about the film, the incident, and that’s when I told him to make my part Sikh. Having seen how the world treated turbaned men with beard after 9/11, I needed to help eradicate these prejudices. That’s why it felt important to make this part Sikh.”

Kavita Awaasthi (HNDUSTAN TIMES; November 21, 2019)

Actor Anupam Kher is ecstatic that the 501st movie of his career is Hotel Mumbai — a film that celebrates real-life heroes of the 26/11 terror attacks in the city. “In today’s tech-driven world, we are losing out on human emotions. This film taught me to have compassion for unknown people. We are on an online pursuit constantly, losing out on humanity. We are apprehensive about strangers, we don’t trust people. The film taught me that one should be courageous. It’s important to be compassionate,” opines the 64-year-old.

Initially, Kher was sceptical about doing the film, as earlier offerings on this subject, were “bad”, according to the actor. Director Anthony Maras is a “sensible, compassionate man, who has research for the film”, feels Kher, saying, “While he was telling a tale of terrorism, he was talking about the courage of ordinary people. That aspect hooked me and I wanted to be a part of this film. We did workshops where he wanted us to feel what people must have gone through while they’re trapped in the hotel. To evoke emotions, he showed us real footage of the shoot, and would play sounds of gun shots without warning. Shooting for the film was mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting.”

Kher enjoyed working with Hollywood actors Dev Patel and Armie Hammer. He says, “Dev is a wonderful boy. After shooting, we would chat and became each other’s emotional support. We became a family.”

Anupam Kher flashbacks to the 26/11 terror attacks which is also the subject of his upcoming film
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 14, 2019)

This year, November 26, marks the 11th anniversary of the terror attack on Mumbai. In 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan held the city hostage for about four days. For Anupam Kher, the date coincides with his film, Hotel Mumbai, inspired by the documentary Surviving Mumbai, which releases on Nov 29.

“I was shooting in Bandra when we first heard that a gang war had broken out in SoBo. Then we learnt about the siege on CSMT station, it was horrifying!” the actor shudders, as he rewinds to that Black Wednesday. “It was like when we watched the second plane crashing into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in the 9/11 attacks back in 2001. The same frustration and helplessness because we couldn’t reach those known to us.”

When he was offered the film, he waited to hear a narration because “a very bad version of the attack had been made earlier by Indian filmmakers” and he was disappointed it was handled so insensitively. “Anthony Maras (director) is a foreigner and this is his first film, and that made me unsure. But our half-hour meeting went on for three-and-half hours as the film is not just about the attack but is also a tribute to its unsung heroes. It’s about the extraordinary courage of ordinary people,” Anupam avers, adding that Anthony wanted the audience to feel like they were actually trapped in the hotel.

The actor, however, didn’t meet Chef Hemant Oberoi, whom he plays in the movie, till he finished shooting. “Sometimes performances are about just the physicality—the look, body language and mannerisms. But we wanted to capture the inner trauma and the strength of these survivors. Anthony didn’t want any external prep,” he points out.

Hotel Mumbai also features Dev Patel and Anupam is all praise for him, describing him as a wonderful actor and a fabulous person. “I feel proud to see Indian actors doing such amazing work. In the last shot, both Dev and I actually had tears in our eyes,” he reveals.

With the Golden Globes and Oscars coming up, how do our films make the cut? Asserting that any award is a triumph, like a gold medal at the Asian Games or the Olympics, Anupam says, “We need to make films about today’s India and come up with unusual stories rooted in our soil. I’m happy that Gully Boy is India’s official entry for the Academy Awards this year. It’s a wonderful story about the aspirations of modern Indian youth. With so many foreign language films, we have high standards to meet.”

Will he direct a film again? One hasn’t heard about him planning another movie after Om Jai Jagadish in 2002. “I’ve been working on a subject for the last few years. Now, I’ve given it to a script doctor in the US. Hopefully, it will make for an interesting film. Let’s see,” he signs off.

How does Anupam Kher play a convincing Hemant Oberoi, grand executive chef at The Taj at the time of the 26/11 terror attacks, without having met him?
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 10, 2019)

In the banquet hall of a suburban hotel, Hemant Oberoi paces up and down. Not many recognise one of the city's most famous chefs, now the owner of restaurants in Mumbai, Singapore and San Diego. Just then Anupam Kher walks in, spots Oberoi and makes a dash to give him a hug.

Kher plays Oberoi in the upcoming Anthony Maras thriller, Hotel Mumbai. It tells the story of what transpired at The Taj Mahal Palace & Towers at Apollo Bunder on the night of November 26, 2008, when militants from the Lashkar-e-Taiba stormed the five-star in a series of coordinated attacks. The hotel was the perfect target, a symbol of Mumbai's progress and pride and a catchment areas for foreign guests.

It's been over 10 years, but Oberoi's voice dips when he speaks of the night when his staff intervened to save the lives of scores of visitors by forming a human chain. "We just stuck to each other that night. No one wanted to leave. The courage of that team is rare to find. I lost seven chefs, including my deputy, who walked me home every night until then."

Incidentally, Kher and Oberoi have met only once before this chat, at the Toronto International Film Festival last year where the film premièred. "I did the film without meeting him [Oberoi]. That night at TIFF, Chef was the special guest. I remember the standing ovation we got. It was never-ending. It was the triumph for his courage. I am glad we are finally getting time to spend time today and I also had the privilege to serve him food cooked at my home," Kher says warmly, which Oberoi quickly calls "delicious and made with love". It was simple lunch, they tell us, of aloo methi, dal and roti, with dahi on the side. It's the rare time Kher and Oberoi are smiling.

A mention of 26/11 brings back the seriousness to the discussion, as Kher recounts that he was in Bandra that night. "Everyone remembers two incidents of terror in modern world history—9/11 and 26/11. When I was told that I would play Chef Oberoi, I was nervous. What would his reaction be? It wasn't just about how well I could act. There was a lot more at stake. [It was] a portrayal of someone's intensity and normalcy in a time of adversity."

Oberoi has not said anything about the film to Kher except, thank you. "He was absolutely and totally me. He got every nuance right. My demeanour, the way I command the kitchen. No one could have done it as beautifully. He was composed in every shot and knew exactly how I managed things that night. He brought back way too many memories." Kher turns to him to say, "This [the complement] is bigger than any award."

We wonder how he prepped without meeting the man he plays, and Kher shares that five minutes before the first shot was taken for his debut film, Saaransh, director Mahesh Bhatt told him that this was a character who was all about compassion. Compassion had to be the dominating emotion in the film. "It was the same with this film too, 500 movies after I did my first," Kher says.

On cue, Oberoi revealed that he named his child Saaransh after he watched the 1984 film about a retired school teacher and his wife coming to terms with the death of their only child who is killed in a mugging incident in New York. "Because I loved him in the film [I named my son after it]. Incidentally, Saaransh's wedding was the first event to be hosted at the Taj after it was restored and reopened post 26/11. I wanted to do it to put the message out there that you can't break our spirit."

Kher credits his performance to the script, which he calls unflinchingly honest in its depiction of the chef's character. Kher and Oberoi concede that their favourite scene is the one towards the middle of the film when Kher announces to his staff that they can leave the hotel if they want [to be safe]. "One of my staffers had to undergo dialysis every day. Even he didn't leave. 'Saath mein chalenge'," he had said. He passed on recently, but survived that night," Oberoi remembers. And so, while the story is of the horrors that unfolded leading to the death of 166 people across the city, the film reinstates faith in the human spirit. "It's about the heroism of ordinary people. We need to bring examples of extraordinary courage to the fore," Kher feels.

Oberoi carries on his face a calmness that Kher beautifully portrays. Chef says he draws serenity from the sea. "The high and low tide come and go. Marine Drive is my place to find peace. I believe in karma and destiny. When you see people closest to you dying, you want to celebrate life. Fishermen that night hailed three cabs to take me to various hospitals so that I could track down my staff scattered across wards and morgues."

Despite this, an international review snubbed the film, calling it out for depicting terrorism in a popcorn movie. Kher brushes aside the criticism. "It suits them when they want to make a film about World War and the Holocaust. When it comes to India, we can't make such films. Let's ignore the international media. There should be films made on such subjects. It is a fact that 10 people from a neighbouring country came here and killed the innocent. This film needs to be screened in India."

An unfazed Oberoi has the final word. "I want people to remember to do good deeds, be humane. You never know when you can find yourself in a similar situation. Help others. We also had the option [to escape] but it's necessary to not fall for the trap that takes us further away from human values."


An Indian soldier aims his weapon towards The Taj Mahal hotel on November 29, 2008. Three militants were killed in the final assault on the hotel that signalled the end of the two-day assault on Mumbai. Pic/ Getty Images

As Hotel Mumbai trailer drops today, Lion star Dev Patel on why he insisted on playing a turbaned character
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 23, 2019)

Dev Patel was all of 17 when the 26/11 terror attacks shook Mumbai. Over a decade on, when he heard that director Anthony Maras was bringing the 2008 attack at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel episode to the big screen with Hotel Mumbai, the actor was certain he wanted to earn a role in the film. Patel plays a fictional character, Arjun, who works under chef Hemant Oberoi — essayed by Anupam Kher — in the movie that is inspired by the 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai.

"My roots are in India and the country calls out to me," says Patel, as the trailer of his offering releases in India today. Interestingly, it was Patel who was keen that his part be written as a Sikh character in the Maras and John Collee-written story. Besides prepping for his part for over two months by living in Sikh slums, Patel also learnt to tie the turban in a bid to stay true to his character. "Post 9/11, there were so many stories of cab drivers being abused. There’s a genuine need for better representation of the community. A young Sikh man once took off his turban to stop someone from bleeding after a car crash. These are the stories I held on to in order to imbibe the essence of this part. They are a selfless community."

Hotel Mumbai, which recreates the Taj siege, met its scheduled worldwide release last week — except in India. No explanation was forthcoming. We try to find one
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; April 3, 2019)

Last Friday, those who were eagerly waiting to watch Hotel Mumbai were surprised to see its shows suddenly go missing, even after the film’s worldwide release date was confirmed as March 29. Directed by Anthony Maras, and starring Anupam Kher, Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi, the film shows the experiences of the trapped hotel guests and staff as armed terrorists stormed the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel during the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

The film’s team is staying mum on why it skipped its originally-scheduled India release, and the silence has led many distributors to speculate that the reason could be its “sensitive content”, while other industry insiders suspect that with the post-Pulwama tensions and upcoming elections, it was bad timing. But turns out, the reason behind the silence is, in fact, a legal deadlock.

Separately, the film was pulled out of theatres in Australia and New Zealand after the mass shooting in Christchurch “out of respect for a country in mourning”, the film’s New Zealand distributor had said.

But no official reason has been given for the film missing its India release.

WE HAVE NO INFORMATION: HOTEL MUMBAI’S TEAM

Anupam Kher, who plays Head Chef Hemant Oberoi in the film, had tweeted that the film would release “nationwide” on March 29. But he hasn’t tweeted anything about its India release since, and did not reply to our queries.

Jennifer Nguyen, publicist at Maxine Leonard PR, which is handling the marketing of the film, replied to an email query saying, “We do not have information to share at this time.”

Hotel Mumbai is a Bleecker Street and Shiv-Hans Pictures film. ShivHans Pictures did not respond to our queries, and Bleecker Street (a New York-based film distribution company) told us they did not have the international rights for the film. Multiple production companies like Electric Pictures, Arclight Films, Thunder Road Pictures and Xeitgeist Entertainment Group are linked with the film. Gaurav Mishra, MD and producer at Xeitgeist Entertainment Group, an Australia and Singapore-based production company, declined to discuss the film’s India release date with a standard “No comments” reply. Electric Pictures and Arclight Films did not respond to our queries.

Till last week, BookMyShow displayed the release date of the film as “March 29”, but it was later changed to “December 27, 2019”. Asked if the release was actually deferred to that date, and if they were given any reason for it, a BookMyShow executive declined to comment by pointing out that only the producers of the film could answer queries related to the film’s release. The portal has now dropped the date from the desktop version of its website, which now only says “December”.

WE DON’T KNOW WHY THE FILM HAS NOT RELEASED: INDIAN EXHIBITORS

Exhibitors say the last information they had about the film was its scheduled release date. However, the film’s team hasn’t contacted them since. Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer at Inox Leisure Limited, says, “We had information that the film was scheduled to release on March 29, but the distributors or the production house never got in touch with us for the release of the film on the date. So whether the film’s India release has been deferred or cancelled, we have no information.”

Tinku Singh, SRS Cinemas, adds, “There’s a suspicious silence surrounding the reasons the film has missed its India release date. We never heard about any studio tie-ups with this film or that any Indian distributor has bought the film. But this is not rare. Sometimes, foreign films will tie up with Indian studios or exhibitors for release, but that wasn’t the case this time.”

THE FILM HAS SENSITIVE CONTENT, WHO WILL TAKE THE RISK?: LOCAL DISTRIBUTORS

The IMDB page of Hotel Mumbai lists all its distributors from several countries, but there’s no mention of India. Did the film not find any distributor in India? Shaaminder Mallik, a Delhi-based distributor, tells us, “The film was not released on the scheduled date because it couldn’t find any distributors in India. Indian distributors have their own apprehensions about a film, which is also giving narrative space to terrorists.”

Another Delhi-based distributor, without wishing to be named, tells us, “We are not sure of the exact reasons the film didn’t release, but our information is that no distributors bought the film because of the sensitive nature of the content. There were reports that the film also attempts to humanise the terrorists. Should the film be released in India in the current scenario? With elections next month, we didn’t want to take the risk of protests and vandalism in theatres. It’s a foreign production, and none of the distributors found it a profitable venture to invest their money and take that risk. In case of opposition to the film, who will bear the losses?”

TUSSLE OVER WHO GETS TO RELEASE FILM LANDS IN BOMBAY HIGH COURT

A few days ago, it was reported that Plus Holdings, a Dubai-based company, took Netflix Global, Hotel Mumbai PTY LTD, Arclight Films and Xeitgeist Entertainment Group to the Bombay High Court over who had the rights to release the film in the SAARC region. Plus Holdings claimed that they had the original rights, which they had bought from Xeitgeist Entertainment Group, and moved the Bombay HC to stop Netflix from releasing the film. Netflix has since informed the court that its rights to show Hotel Mumbai on its platform have been terminated by Hotel Mumbai PTY Ltd (HMPL). They then sought to be deleted as a respondent party in the suit which was accepted by the HC. When contacted, Netflix declined to comment, saying that the matter was sub judice. Sources close to Netflix confirmed to us that they will not be releasing the film in India, and they have nothing to do with the film now. But even though Netflix is no longer associated with the film, Plus Holdings cannot release the film yet, according to the court order.

Sandeep S Ladda, the lawyer representing Plus Holdings, told us their version of the case. We take you through the case step-by-step.

Over the dispute of distribution rights, Ladda filed a petition in the Bombay HC in February to stop Netflix from releasing the film in the SAARC territory. He claimed that Plus Holdings had bought the rights from Xeitgeist. The lawyer alleged that Xeitgeist then unlawfully transferred the movie’s rights to Netflix through a third party last year. However, it was revealed in court that “when the agreement was entered into between Plus Holdings and Xeitgeist, the SAARC distribution rights were held by Xeitgeist, but the agreement was later terminated and the distribution rights reverted to HMPL, the original owner of the film. Later, HMPL entered into an agreement with Netflix, which was also later terminated by HMPL.” Therefore, Xeitgeist contended that it was “powerless to stop HMPL or Netflix”.

Plus Holdings’ lawyer appealed to the Bombay HC to stop Netflix from releasing the film, saying that they had exclusive rights to release the film in the Indian subcontinent. Plus Holdings asked the court to restrain Netflix, Xeitgeist, HMPL and other associated parties that it listed in its petition from claiming any rights to the film in India till the time an ongoing dispute between itself and Xeitgeist is being adjudicated upon by a Singapore arbitration court. In a hearing on March 7, the Bombay High Court restrained HMPL from entering into any agreement related to the movie Hotel Mumbai. The matter has now been adjourned till April 4.

As Xeitgeist refused to comment, and Hotel Mumbai’s team didn’t respond to our queries, we are unable to bring you their version.

WILL THE FILM RELEASE IN INDIA?

The petition was filed to stop Netflix from releasing Hotel Mumbai. Since Netflix is no longer associated with the film, will it release in India now? Turns out, it is not that simple.

The March 7 order of the Bombay HC states, “In such a situation, whether Xeitgeist at all had any rights to be assigned in favour of HMPL and whether it can be said that Xeitgeist would be legitimately entitled to any rights of exhibitions of the film in question for the SAARC countries would be required to be considered.” Also, the court order states that HMPL, to whom the rights of the film for SAARC were reverted post contract-cancellation, did not appear in the court on March 7, and as stated above, even though HMPL holds all the rights to the film, it has been restrained from “entering into any agreement” regarding the film.

Sources close to the case say that Plus Holdings will continue to seek to block the release of the movie in India through any other channel as it holds exclusive broadcasting and other rights. Ladda confirmed to us, “My client is ready and willing to exercise their rights to distribute the film in India as well in other countries as per contract.” However, he refused to respond if Plus Holdings is in talks with any Indian exhibitor or distributor for the release of the film.

Amid the legal wrangling, it looks like India won’t get to watch a film on one of the most infamous terror attacks on its soil anytime soon, while it puts the spotlight on the attacks internationally. 

The braveheart who saved several lives during the 26/11 attack, and Anupam Kher, who plays him in a film, got together at TIFF recently
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 10, 2018) 

On Friday, Anupam Kher, who plays Chef Hemant Oberoi in Hotel Mumbai, met his real-life inspiration at its Toronto International Film Festival premiere. The film, which is fronted by Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi, depicts the 26/11 terrorist attacks of 2008 in Mumbai.

A source says, “Anupam has been in the US for a while for his TV series New Amsterdam. He flew to Canada for the TIFF premiere and returned to the sets on Sunday. He and Oberoi spent at least an hour together.”

Anupam reveals that he had not met Oberoi before the film kicked off. “My director’s instructions were not to meet the people involved before as actors tend to pick up and incorporate the exact mannerisms. So, we met after the world premiere. The director (Anthony Maras) introduced the Chef who had saved so many lives during the attack. He got an extended standing ovation, while I cried as I had lost some friends to the attack,” the actor said, adding, “He said only I could have played him and that’s the biggest compliment for me.”

Deepali Singh (DNA; August 4, 2018)

Anupam Kher is currently in the Big Apple to shoot for New Amsterdam, an upcoming American medical drama TV show, in which he plays Dr Vijay Kapoor, a neurosurgeon. When we speak to him over the phone, he is looking down from the 39th floor of a building, philosophising about where life has taken him, proving that ‘kuchh bhi ho sakta hai’. “I’m here in New York, talking to you in India, about my work. It’s an achievement for a forest department clerk’s son from a lower-middle class family. Isse zyada khushi ki baat kya ho sakti hai?” he asks.

Over three decades of being a part of showbiz, numerous films and shows — both Indian and international — running an acting school, being the chairman of The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)... how does he manage to juggle all these balls and keep them from falling on the ground? “One needs to have balls to not let the balls fall!” he laughs.

However, on a serious note, the veteran actor recalls his grandfather’s words. “He used to say, ‘a busy man has time for everything’. I’m passionate about whatever I do. Happiness is something that you have to rehearse and then you get used to it. We’re constantly unhappy because we want to be somebody else. I’m happy to be myself. I don’t carry the burden of being Anupam Kher on my shoulders. It’s too tiring to do that,” says the 63-year-old.With the premiere of his American-Australian thriller, Hotel Mumbai slated to take place at the Toronto International Film Festival next month, the Padma Bhushan recipient tells us about his criteria for choosing international projects and more. Excerpts...

How was the experience of shooting Hotel Mumbai?
I think it’s one of the most beautiful films made about the human spirit. The whole world is a victim of terrorism, so it’s not a movie about the actual event (the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai). I think writer-director Anthony Maras wanted to show the compassionate side of the people of Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the metropolis through this tragic incident. Apart from that, it has a great cast and screenplay. It’s an important film for our times.

Tell us about New Amsterdam...
We had done a pilot of the show and it got picked up by NBC. It premieres next month. It’s fantastic to play an Indian doctor in an international show. It talks of the passion and compassion of six doctors who have their own personal lives, how they come together and work in this hospital called New Amsterdam. The medical drama is hopefully going to be quite big in terms of its reach and theme. I’m working with an amazing cast.

You recently posted a picture of yourself with some of the cast members, captioning it ‘friends that become a family’...
I’m with them from 7.30 am till night, so it’s like being with family. Also, I’m away from my own family. I’m not a reserved person. I like to be with people. Even when I had to find an apartment here, the estate agents showed me some secluded locations, but I told them I like to live in crowded places. I thank God the show is set in New York. I love this city’s energy and spirit.

You have acted in a number of international projects, both movies and shows. Are there lots of friends who are like family now?
That is so true because when you meet people abroad, the bonding has no interpretations. When I did Silver Linings Playbook (2012), I got Mr Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper and director David O Russell as friends. I’m happy and fortunate I got like-minded people to bond with. I can easily say that these films have given me a new dimension to relationships.

Is the criteria to green light an international project different as compared to a show or movie back in Mumbai?
I think I’ve been fortunate to get roles in films that were not only critically acclaimed but also did well commercially. You can’t do that by choice. There is no artiste in the world who has only done great work. I feel life is 10 per cent excitement and 90 per cent monotony. You have to find work and keep doing it. You can’t sit at home and say, ‘Main achhe kaam ka wait kar raha hoon’. Zindagi nikal jayegi aur accha kaam nahin aayega. But I have been lucky that projects like Bend It Like Beckham, Silver Linings Playbook, The Big Sick and Hotel Mumbai came to me. In India, working for me is not just acting in the studio. It’s also about going to my acting school and taking a class. It’s about travelling to other cities for my motivational talks or plays. When I’m in India, I want to work every single day.

You’re going to be in NY for quite a while. Apart from the show, what else do you plan to do while you’re there?
I’m thinking of doing a shorter version of my play Kuchh Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. I’m also planning to learn to play the piano, something I have wanted to do all my life. I can’t play any instrument. I met one or two teachers here and they asked me about my past experiences when it came to learning music and I said, ‘Disaster’! (laughs)

Patel's 26/11 movie in limbo after producer Weinstein's company is sold off in bankruptcy sale
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 5, 2018)

When the disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's studio, Weinstein Company, declared a bankruptcy sale, several projects found themselves staring at an uncertain future. In what can be viewed as collateral damage of the Weinstein controversy, Hotel Mumbai, the ambitious Australian-American venture that stars Dev Patel in the lead role and revolves around the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been in limbo since late 2017.

A source says that a large share of the film's investment was due from the Weinstein Company, the producers for the North America and United Kingdom markets. "The film has about 10 per cent patchwork left. Work on the movie has come to a standstill since January after several rounds of payments for post-production were stalled," reveals the source. That Lantern Capital has bought the studio might bring some relief to Hotel Mumbai that had announced May 18 as its release date.

The source adds, "After the Lantern Capital takeover, the film is expected to be back on track. But it will still take a few months to release the movie. Only once Lantern formulates its plan for the movies they have acquired by default, will the makers know more on where they stand. It is safe to say the film has been pushed."

While Patel declined to comment, Anupam Kher, who plays a crucial role in movie, said, "Hotel Mumbai is amongst the most important films of our times. Such movies don't get stuck. They automatically find the right people and the right path. We are looking forward to share our labour of love with the world soon."

Dev Patel will be in the city next week to shoot a thriller based on the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 13, 2016)

On Tuesday, Armie Hammer, best known for his portrayal of the Winklevoss twins in David Fincher’s The Social Network filmed in South Mumbai till dawn. The American actor had landed in Mumbai five days ago with British co-star Jason Isaacs aka Harry Potter’s Lucius Malfoy to kick off the second schedule of Anthony Maras’s Hotel Mumbai.

Next Tuesday, they will be joined by Slumdog Millionaire’s Jamal Malik Dev Patel who is also the executive producer on the film. The 26-year-old actor is presently at the BFI London Film Festival where his next film, Lion, which also features Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara, premiered on October 11. Incidentally, among the locations for his Mumbai portions in the film is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus where he had shot the climax song of the Danny Boyle’s Oscar winning film nine years ago.

Hotel Mumbai’s screenplay, penned by John Collee and Anthony Maras, is based on Victoria Midwinter Pitt’s Emmy-winning 2009 documentary, Surviving Mumbai, a real-life account of the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai by a group of heavily-armed militants. For 68 hours, hundreds were held hostage inside the Taj Mahal Hotel — one of the target spots —as the terrorists and Indian security forces exchanged fire. When the smoke cleared, more than 160 people were dead and many more injured.

The film features Dev Patel as Arjun, a waiter at the hotel, Anupam Kher as ex Taj chef Hemant Oberoi, Armie Hammer and Iranian-American actress Nazanin Boniadi as a couple trapped in the hotel with their four-day baby. Twenty-two-year-old Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey plays the baby’s nanny, Sally, while Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo is another tourist.

“The first schedule wrapped up in August in Adelaide where the hotel was recreated. This schedule will be filmed over the next 40 days in South Mumbai as well as on a set in Film City. Most of the actors won’t be in the same frame together but everyone hang out over chicken tikkas and biryani between shots. The first schedule wrapped up with a bash at an Indian restaurant in Adelaide with the cast binging on desi khaana,” a source close to the development informed Mirror.

The Australian-American co-production is being directed by Anthony Maras, an Australian filmmaker best known for the award-winning thriller, The Palace, which followed a refugee family fleeing Turkish forces in Cyprus in 1974.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 3, 2016)


Hotel Mumbai recreates the ghastly incidents pertaining to the 26/11 attack on the Taj Mahal Palace & Hotel in Mumbai. Cast member Anupam Kher says, “We have already shot a large part of the film in Australia. Now, we shoot in Mumbai. This is my 501st film. It is one of the most important films of my career.”

Anupam is very pleased with the research undertaken by Maras and his team. Kher adds that the film will take a humane — rather than a political — view of the attack that shook Mumbai in 2008. “It’s sad but terror attacks are all about statistics we read in the newspaper. They happen so frequently that we have stopped reacting to them on a humane level. It’s about how many people died and we move on. This film changes that sense of detachment we’ve developed about terror attacks.”

Star chef Hemant Oberoi surprised to learn Anupam Kher plays him in Hollywood film on 26/ 11 Mumbai attacks
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 20, 2016)

The darkest memory of celebrity chef Hemant Oberoi’s four-decade career at the Taj is the subject of an upcoming Hollywood production, Hotel Mumbai, but he wasn’t aware of it until hitlist got in touch with him. Anupam Kher will play Oberoi in the film set against the 26/ 11 Mumbai terror attacks. He has started shooting in Adelaide where the Taj Mahal hotel has been recreated in a studio.

“Is it so,” Oberoi, 62, asks, and adds, “I had no clue that a film is being made. It is difficult for someone to get a feel of what happened that night. Anyone can hear stories and sympathise, but only people who went through the ordeal know what it was actually like.”

Though he has rustled up meals for the high and mighty from all over the world, Oberoi cannot recall meeting Kher. He says, “I have never met Mr Kher nor have I ever served him at the hotel.”

Oberoi is intrigued by how he will be portrayed on the big screen by the 61-year-old actor. “It is a film and I do not want to give my opinion without knowing what it is exactly,” he says.

A name synonymous with the Taj group, Oberoi hung up his apron last year after over four decades of being associated with the hospitality chain. On the night of the 26/11 attacks when the Taj came under attack, Oberoi kept his kitchen running to serve traumatised guests and at one point, even came face-to-face with one of the terrorists who had stormed the hotel.

Helmed by Anthony Maras, the film is inspired by docu filmmaker Andrew Ogilvie’s Surviving Mumbai. Ogilvie is one of the coproducers of the project which also stars Dev Patel, Jason Isaacs, Armie Hammer and Tilda Boniadi.

Book extract

Chef Oberoi realised that his Kitchen Brigade could, unseen by anyone front of house, probably utilise the hotel’s labyrinth of service lifts, stairs and passages to move guests into one central and protected location. He called Karambir Kang, who was pacing outside the hotel, to sound him out. The hotel’s invitation — only Chambers club was ideal, he argued. Consisting of a suite of rooms, a bar and a library, it occupied a large area on the first floor, between the Crystal Room and the kitchens, overlooking the Gateway of India. It was not marked on hotel brochures and only the most frequent Taj visitors would have noticed it at all, perhaps glancing at the discreet plaque beside the Tower’s lift buttons as they headed up to Souk, although the stop could only be accessed by staff, or by using a club key. Karambir agreed. The Chambers was an invisible refuge. He suggested Chef Oberoi begin immediately, starting with the people who were nearest to the Chambers, the wedding reception guests in the Crystal Room. Shortly after 10.30 p.m., chefs and waiters had guided a column of guests down a service corridor, popping out into the club’s foyer.

Edging out of the doorway, Oberoi spotted Banja, his friend and foil since 1986, lying prone and bloodied just a few metres to his right. He couldn’t reach him and felt sick. Was this how it would end? He had overheard Banja pledging to Anjali Pollack and others that he would rather die than let them suffer and he prayed that Banja was just concussed. Everything had a fix. You learned that at the Taj, where the tectonic plates of service frequently ran slightly out of kilter, overheating and colliding, only to be eased back into position with the helpful jolt of someone’s elbow. Just then a gunman locked eyes with Oberoi and let off a furious volley. Blind panic washed over the Executive Chef and looking around for a way out he glimpsed two assistant managers heading down towards the cellars and a third figure madly waving at him. It was his Food and Beverage Manager: ‘RUN.’ He was pointing to the stairs. A group of staff and guests pulled the dazed Oberoi towards them, all of them descending into an unlit warren of cabins, lockers and storage rooms. He tried to drag himself away. ‘I need to get to Banja,’ he cried. Someone stopped him: ‘Sir, please don’t go back, it’s too late’.

Extracted with permission from Penguin India, The Siege, Three Days Of Terror inside the Taj by Cathy Scott- Clark and Adrian Levy, Penguin India

Anupam Kher (left) with co-star, Armie Hammer
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 19, 2016)

For almost a month, Anupam Kher has been quietly shooting in Australia for a Hollywood project, 'Hotel Mumbai', based on the 26/11 terror attacks. Anupam Kher essays the character of celebrity chef Hemant Oberoi, who, as the corporate chef of the under-attack Taj Mahal Hotel, kept the kitchen running to serve guests amidst the mayhem.

Speaking to hitlist from Adelaide, Anupam Kher says, "The hotel has been recreated at Adelaide Studios. We are shooting the indoor scenes here."

Due to contractual obligations, the actor does not reveal more about his character. He, however, says, "It is not an autobiographical work. It is about what unfolded in those 68 hours at the hotel. It is a story of courage of the people who were working there."

Anupam Kher's co-stars include Jason Isaacs, Armie Hammer, Dev Patel and Tilda Boniadi. Directed by Anthony Maras, the film is inspired by docu filmmaker Andrew Ogilvie's 'Surviving Mumbai'. Ogilvie is also one of the co-producers and has written the screenplay with John Collee ('Master and Commander', 'Happy Feet').

The project is a co-production with Hollywood producers Basil Iwanyk ('Gods of Egypt', 'Sicario'), Gary Hamilton and Mike Gabrawy ('Jungle', 'Nest' and 'Resident Evil'), Jomon Thomas ('The Man Who Knew Infinity', 'Damascus Cover'), Julie Ryan ('Red Dog', 'Ten Canoes') and documentary filmmaker Andrew Ogilvie ('Surviving Mumbai', 'The War That Changed US').

Adds Anupam Kher, "'Hotel Mumbai' is my 501st film. I am treating it as my first film post the interval of my career. I have no Bollywood projects in hand at the moment. I hope to be back with a bang after a break."

'Hotel Mumbai' came his way recently. He says, "They contacted my representatives in London and Los Angeles, and soon, I found myself flying to Adelaide for the shoot."

Why Australia? "It is an Australian co-production, so parts will be shot here and later, we move to Mumbai," he explains.

Anupam Kher's earlier Hollywood films include 'Bend It Like Beckham' (2002), 'Lust, Caution' (2007) and 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012).

Other films on 26/11
Ten Pakistani terrorists turned Mumbai into a war zone, holding major landmarks such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel under siege for three days, starting November 28, 2008. It inspired a few films:
>> Ram Gopal Varma's 2013 docu-drama, 'The Attacks of 26/11', was inspired by the terror attacks, which claimed 160-odd lives and left hundreds injured.
>> Frenchman Nicolas Saada's 'Taj Mahal' tells the story of the attack through a woman (Stacy Martin) stuck in one of the hotel rooms. The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in the US last year, and later travelled to the Venice International Film Festival.
>> Justin Kurzel has announced a film on the 26/11 attacks, which will be an adaptation of Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark's book, 'The Siege: 68 Hours Inside The Taj Hotel'. 


Taj star chef Hemant Oberoi

The 62-year-old, started his cooking career with Taj four decades ago and gradually rose to become the hospitality chain's chief chef. Among other dishes, Oberoi introduced naza (naan pizza) and gulab jamun creme brulee. He also witnessed the hotel’s worst tragedy — the 26/11 terror attacks. He retired in May 2015, but continued his association with the hotel for a year as a consultant.