MUMBAI: The film that brings the Deol family together on screen for the first time, has just completed a chunk of its shooting.

Titled Apne (changed from the original Chupke Chupke), it is jointly presented by Sangeeta Ahir and Prime Focus. The movie is scheduled to release in May 2007. The movie is produced by Rahul Sugandh and directed by Anil ‘Gadar’ Sharma, and is said to be budgeted at around Rs 230 million (Rs 23 crores).

“We have just returned from Bangkok after shooting a major part of the film. The balance 10 to 12 days of shooting will be done in Australia. I am planning to release the film in the summer vacation, so that the children can watch it along with their parents,” says Ahir.

“Apne marks Anil Sharma’s return to the emotional genre of family-oriented films, after he made his debut with the melodramatic Shraddhanjali. Apne has Dharmendra and sons Sunny and Bobby, playing their real life roles in reel life, for the first time on screen. Neeraj Pathak has written the screenplay for the film, which has action as well as family drama with the three Deols in mind,” she adds.

Ahir has even worked out plans for marketing and distribution of Apne. Like her earlier films, she is planning tie-ups. Himesh Reshammiya has provided the musical score for the film. T-Series is said to have acquired the music for Rs 15 million (Rs 1.5 crores). Ahir is already being offered Rs 50 – 60 million (Rs 5 – 6 crores) per territory. Sunny Deol has offered to acquire the Mumbai and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh rights for the film; but Sangeeta Ahir wishes to release Delhi-U.P. herself. Her next will be written and directed by Anees Bazmee, she informs.

The film also boasts of Shilpa Shetty, Katrina Kaif and Kirron Kher.