Actor in cinematic retelling of Uzma Ahmed’s story, who returned to India after month-long ordeal in Pak
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 26, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (March 5) that filmmakers Sameer Dixit, Jatish Varma and Girish Johar have acquired the rights to the story of Delhi girl Uzma Ahmed, who fell in love with Tahir Ali, a taxi driver from Pakistan, during a trip to Malaysia, and went to Buner, one of the remotest parts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he lived. Upon arrival, she discovered that Tahir was already married and a father to four children. She was subsequently forced to marry him at gunpoint.

Now, we have learnt that the makers have roped in Saif Ali Khan to play the role of J P Singh (left), India’s then Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad, who was instrumental in bringing Uzma back home under the guidance of the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The film is directed by Shivam Nair, who has previously helmed the Taapsee Pannu and Akshay Kumar-starrer Naam Shabana.

According to a source close to the development, Saif will begin prep for the part closer to the shooting date. “When the team met for a narration Saif instantly liked the script. He has agreed to be a part of the project and will be sporting a very different look in the film, which is expected to roll in February-March next year. The makers are currently looking to cast an A-list actress to play Uzma,” the source shared.

The story is being adapted for the screen by Ritesh Shah who has worked on Pink and other upcoming projects like John Abraham’s Batla House and Shoojit Sircar’s Vicky Kaushal-starrer Udham Singh biopic. “The film will have an ensemble cast and Shivam has already begun pre-production. Recce is also scheduled to begin shortly,” the source added.

Saif is presently in London shooting for his home production, the Nitin Kakkar-directed Jawaani Jaaneman which marks the acting debut of Pooja Bedi’s daughter Alaia F. The film will be shot entirely in the city over a 45-day schedule. 

Ileana D’Cruz will not admit that she has married long time beau Andrew Kneebone; says she’d love to bring Uzma Ahmed’s story to the screen
Shravan Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 24, 2018)

What are you doing in a film on an income tax raid with Ajay Devgn in the lead?
Even though the film is about the raid with Ajay (Devgn) as an income tax officer, I do have a pivotal role. I admit, in terms of footage, it’s not large, but it’s an interesting part of the film. My character is not a demure biwi from the ’80s, she is sensible, speaks her mind and is the quite a force behind him. The equation between them comes out in the songs and in the emotional scenes where you realise she is worried for him yet tries to put up a brave front.

Buzz is, after Baadshaho and Raid, another Ileana-Ajay collaboration is on the cards?
There’s no plan as of now, but I’d love to work with Ajay again because he’s been doing a lot of content-driven films and is a nice, positive person to hang out with. On the sets, he was always chatting with his daughter (Nysa) or son (Yug) and since I was invariably listening in, I now feel I know his whole family.

Talking of family, what was your photographer beau Andrew Kneebone’s reaction to the Raid trailer?
(Laughs) He hasn’t seen it yet.

A lot has been written about your relationship and now it’s being said you are married. On Christmas you posted a picture of yourself and mentioned that it was taken by ‘hubby’.
It’s exactly what you see. What’s great about the social media is that I can let people in to an extent but I don’t like talking about my past… How the relationship started and where… in interviews. It’s too personal. I won’t hide it and I won’t deny it. Everything is out there for everyone to see, don’t ask me too many questions about it. I’ll tell you what I want to tell you. Period.

So is Ileana D’Cruz married?
(Laughs) Like I said, everything is out there, I don’t need to answer your question.

Any chances of Andrew becoming a Bollywood cinematographer or a glamour photographer?
I don’t know, I’ve never asked him. That would be a really big move but I also know that he is someone who would love to do something like that. He’s taken some really cool pictures of Varun (Dhawan) and Alia (Bhatt) on a flight, Ranveer (Singh) and Salman (Khan) during a show I did with them. He’s great with photos but him moving here and making a career in Bollywood is something only Andrew can answer. I think he’ll totally be up for it!

Does he watch your films and give you feedback?
He does and is amazingly honest. He spoils me with his compliments. He’s like, “You’re such an amazing actor, you’re really good!” and I’m like, “You don’t have to say that just because you love me.” But I think he really means it and it means a lot to me because I know he is someone who will never lie even to me. Sometimes, I’m really upset if a film hasn’t done well and he’ll watch it and tell me what he felt was wrong. It matters to me what he thinks.

Your Bollywood debut with Barfi! got you nationwide recognition but after that your career has seen a series of highs and lows. Do you ever sit down and analyse it?
Of course I do, I go a little cuckoo in the head because I over-analyse. At times, I go through all the films that I said “no” to and if they have done well; I ask myself if I should have done them. But later, I’m happy with what I have done. It is a nice mix of different films that I’m proud of and always wanted to do. Very rarely do you get what you actually want in the film industry.

Are you getting what you really want to do?
Not right now and that is why I haven’t signed a film in a while and am waiting for the right offers. In all these years, in Bollywood and down South, I’ve done so many different kinds of films that now I don’t want to do just anything anymore. I’m looking for a content driven script that will really push me and take me into an unexplored territory. Possibly something heroine-centric, something that people wouldn’t expect me to do.

Like a biopic?
If it challenges me as an actor, I’d like that.

Buzz is, you’ve been approached to play Uzma Ahmed? The Indian National who was forced to marry a Pakistani with four children at gunpoint and sexually assualted before she fled to the Indian high commission in Pakistan and after appealing to Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and a brief but traumatic legal battle, she was brought back to India.
Yes, I’ve been approached for that. I wasn’t going to say anything about the offer because I am very superstitious but the director spoke about it. I had a lovely meeting with them, it is a brilliant story but I think it will take a while for it to take off and it would be unethical of me to talk about it when nothing has been finalised. So all I want to say is that Uzma is an unbelievable woman, her story needs to be told and I’d love to do that film.

Any films down South?
Thanks to some rubbish that came out recently, people believe I don’t like the South Indian industry, which is untrue. I was quoted saying that I was working only for the money which is just a fraction of what I said. I was 18 when I did my first film and it was all about earning a lot of money then. But later, I realised that I wasn’t giving the job my 100 per cent and slowly started giving my inputs and that’s when I fell in love with my work. The industry down South had a lot of faith in me and if I go back, it will have to be a really good film. There have been some offers, but nothing great.

Any Hollywood offers?
I did get a few actually. One was quite interesting and even I met with the casting director but things didn’t work out. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t do it because although it had a great cast, the film didn’t do well. But I would like to do a Hollywood film someday.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; November 22, 2017)

After Hrs was the first to tell you that director Shivam Nair plans to cast Ileana D’Cruz as Uzma Ahmed in her biopic, which will soon make its way to celluloid. Now, we can tell you that along with Ileana, Saif Ali Khan, too, is most likely to join the cast.

SAIF — THE HERO
While the whole film will be a tell-all tale about Uzma’s experience and her subsequent rescue from her fraud Pakistani husband, the biopic will have another angle to it. And Shivam confirms he is in talks with Saif for the lead role. Nair tells us, “Yes, we are in talks with Saif. We are in the final stages of scripting and then, we will take the final call. Saif will be the main male lead, if he says yes.”

A DIPLOMAT
We have heard and read about Uzma’s story but Saif’s role is something that people don’t really ‘know about’, claims the director.

“Along with Uzma’s story, our story is also about a diplomat in the Indian embassy and the Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. The character is of an Indian diplomat who’s there in Pakistan, and how he handles the whole case. When the girl is inside the Embassy, he is the one helping and taking care of her. We only know about Uzma and her story. People don’t know much about the role of this diplomat.”

He further adds, “It’s a positive role. That’s the major part of the story. The diplomat and the girl (to be rescued) are the lead roles.”

KUNAL — THE MEDIATOR
The way Saif was approached for the role is also interesting. It was his brother-in-law (sister Soha’s husband) Kunal Kemmu who took the film to Saif. Shivam tells us. “Saif already knows about the idea. I have worked with Kunal earlier so I know him well and I suggested the idea to him. He knows Saif well so he briefed him about the film.” The narration will happen only after the final script is ready, which will take another two-three weeks from now.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; November 18, 2017)

A biopic on Uzma Ahmed has been in the planning stages for the last few months. Naam Shabana director Shivam Nair will helm the project and Uzma too has given her consent to the filmmaker. Ritesh Shah (Pink, Raid) is writing the film. There were talks about Parineeti Chopra being offered the film, but now we can confirm that it’s not her who has been approached for the role. The makers have zeroed in on another heroine for the biopic.

Reveals our source, “Shivam is in talks with Ileana D’Cruz to play Uzma. The director met the actress and Ileana loved the idea. She knew about Uzma and is really excited to play her. Currently, the modalities are being worked out.’’

Nair confirms the news, saying, “Yes, I want Ileana in my film. I have met her and she liked the idea. We got the material, met Uzma, and did the research and development. Right now, we are fine-tuning the script with the information we have and once it’s ready, we will narrate it to Ileana. Around 20-25 days from now, the script will be completely ready.” About Ileana, he says, “I feel Ileana is right for this role. She has the perfect mix of innocence and confidence. We needed both these qualities for Uzma’s character.”

ABOUT UZMA
Uzma Ahmed, an Indian national, fell in love with Tahir Ali, a Pakistani citizen, whom she met in Malaysia. She travelled to Pakistan to meet him, only to find out that the man she loved was already married with four children. What followed was a forced wedding at gunpoint and sexual assault. It was then that Uzma escaped to the Indian High Commission, who then reached out to Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. On hearing the news, Sushma made sure that Uzma returned to her home safely.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 30, 2017)

Delhi-based Uzma Ahmed is aware that a film being made on her life will have to be dealt with, prudently.

The Indian national, who was forced to marry Pakistani resident Tahir Ali at gunpoint during a visit to the neighbouring country in May, has given the rights of her film to director Shivam Nair.

"We've been in touch for the past few months. We've not decided how much of the story we must showcase, but, whatever we portray will be from my perspective," says Ahmed. During a trip to Malaysia, Ahmed met Ali, whom she 'fell in love' with, and contacted upon her return to India.

As per reports, Ahmed decided to pay a visit to Ali in Pakistan, who, on her arrival, sedated her and married her at gunpoint. "I don’t want the story to lose its impact," she says, hoping that viewers learn from her mistakes before making hasty choices. "When people travel somewhere, they should have sound knowledge of the place they are heading to. I blindly entered Pakistan, but no one should have to face dire consequences over a lapse in judgment."

Ahmed says her film will be a tribute to External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, who facilitated her return to India. "I have met Sushmaji many times after my return. I don't think I would be alive without her support," Ahmed says, adding that Swaraj’s character will play a prominent role in the film.

MUMBAI MIRROR (August 28, 2017)

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 28, 2017)

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 24, 2017)

At a a time when non-fiction grips Bollywood, here comes another film based on a true incident. Director Dhiraj Kumar is preparing to tell the story of Uzma Ahmed, an Indian national who was made to marry Pakistani national Tahir Ali at gunpoint in Pakistan. However, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took it upon herself to bring ‘Hindustan ki beti’ back home in a legal battle that lasted almost a fortnight. And return she did, on May 25.

Kumar has approached senior actor Tabu to play the all-important role of Swaraj in the drama, while Parineeti Chopra is the front runner for the lead. “Parineeti is definitely one of the names we are considering. You need a solid performer for the part. But it’s too early to discuss the cast.” Taapsee Pannu is another forerunner for the role. Rumours suggest that Anil Kapoor may play Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh who aided Ahmed.

Kumar says the film is currently in scripting stage. What made him decide to make a film on Ahmed’s life? “Uzma’s story broke my heart. I knew I had to meet her. We’ve had several meetings since. She narrated what she endured, both sexual and physical abuse. My story will focus on her struggle to break free and the government’s role,” Kumar said.

Kumar is expected to start shooting in Malaysia by November end. The film will be shot in 50 days and is likely to hit screens in May 2018.