MUMBAI: It was ‘Jai Ho’ for music director AR Rahman at the Mumbai premiere of Slumdog Millionaire.
While he was unable to attend the premiere as he was in Chennai giving the final touches to the musical score of Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi 6, the cast and crew of the movie and almost the entire film industry thoroughly missed him at the premiere.
Speaking to Businessofcinema.com director Danny Boyle says, "I am very excited with the ten nominations that the movie has got at the Oscars. Apart from that, I am most happy for Rahman who has got three nominations for the movie. It is unbelievably exciting."
Veteran filmmaker, Yash Chopra added, "I thoroughly enjoyed watching the movie and I congratulate Rahman for his Oscar nominations. It is truly a great achievement for India."
Actor Anil Kapoor says, "We are really happy today and we wish Rahman was also with us right now to share this moment together. He has made us all very proud."
Actor Hrithik Roshan, who was at the premiere with his wife Suzanne, says, "I am very happy for Rahman and wish him all the very best for the Oscars. He has truly done us all proud."
Preity Zinta says, "I congratulate Rahman for his Oscar nominations. I’m sure he will shine bright at the Awards."
Speaking to Businessofcinema.com from Bangalore on Rahman’s nominations, actor R Madhavan says, "I am going to be seeing the film tomorrow. I think it is about time A R is accepted and admired globally."
When queried by Businessofcinema.com on what his expectations were from the Oscars and BAFTA awards, Boyle says, "Oh I am not going to think about it. I have no expectations and I shall take it as it comes. For the time being I am just going to think about the movie and the beautiful journey so far. I will begin thinking about the next project by the end of February. Until then I am going to take a break."
Also present at the premiere were Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu, Subhash Ghai, Boney Kapoor, Sridevi, Sonam Kapoor, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Madhuri Dixit, Ness Wadia, Sushmita Sen, Ranvir Shorey, Ketan Mehta, Ila Arun, Ken Ghosh, Sanjay Kapoor, Jiah Khan, Genelia D’Souza, Padmini Kohlapuri, Ishita Arun, amongst a host of other celebrities.
Post the premiere of the movie, the cast and crew of Slumdog Millionaire headed to the JW Marriot’s club Enigma to shake a leg. Clearly there’s enough and more reason to celebrate!!
All eyes are now on 22 February when the 81st Academy Awards are slated to take place. Will Rahman do India proud? From the looks of it, it certainly seems so!!
