Mumbai: Mahesh Bhatt discovery Rahul Roy of Aashiqui fame is back in the scene this year with a Punjabi film in his kitty. The film titled Aa Hun Chaliye was launched on 26 August at the Sea Side Hotel in Mumbai.
Produced by Praveen Kakkar, the film is being cinematographed and directed by Rajan Lyallppuri. Co-produced by Gaurav Sethi; the film stars Vivek Shaque, Sandy Sharhaan, Sheetal Bedi, Upasna Singh, Mushtaq Khan and Nirmal Pandey.
After Aashiqui, Rahul Roy bagged four more films from the Bhatt camp – Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayegi, Janam, Gumraah and Junoon. Before he ebbed out of the scenario, he had acted in more than 30 films which included Sapne Saajan Ke and Game amongst others.
Speaking at the launching, Rahul Roy says, “The film is about a young Indian who goes abroad for a better life. He shares accommodation with an Indian girl in the residence of Indians settled abroad. He wants to become rich and in the bargain plans to marry a rich and lovely woman. Things go topsy-turvy in his life till truth finally dawns on him.”
Doesn’t the film have shades of Hindi film Aa Ab Laut Chalen made by Rishi Kapoor with Rajesh Khanna, Akshaye Khanna, Aishwarya Rai and Suman Ranganathan in the cast and released early in 1999? Producer Praveen Katekar defends, “Most of the middle-class Indians staying abroad – be it America, Europe or other places have to undergo a lot of struggle to make both the ends meet. Many youngsters see it the other way round. They feel they can make more money abroad, for which they go to any length. My film may have a similar feel of Aa Ab Laut Chalen. I find it an honour that my regional film is being compared to the great Kapoor’s film. We are shooting the film in Delhi, Chandigarh and Punjab in September. We are also finalizing one location from abroad too. I am sure to complete my film within Rs 15 million (Rs. 1.5 crore).”
Roy, on the other hand, speaks about his career progress, “I have been away for five-six years from the film scenario. I have acted in one film each in the year 2000 and 2001; viz; Tune Mera Dil Le Liyaa and Afsana Dilwalon Ka respectively. With films not happening, I was occupied in my family business of importing raw wool. In 2005, a small film Meri Aashiqui was released with good box-office returns. Then in 2005 – 2006 there began a flurry of acting assignments. I played a negative role in Rafta Rafta – The Speed that had completed silver jubilee in Bombay, Delhi and other pats of the country. There is a slapstick comedy Naughty Boy. I have a Bhojpuri film Gajab Bahail Hamaar and Marathi one Chawa in my kitty too.”
