Preity’s ‘Har Pal’ will release next month!

Jahnu Barua loves to surround himself with things that remind him of his roots. Like the bamboo screen, the jappi (traditional bamboo hat), or posters of Assam that adorn the wall of his office at Famous Studio in Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi.

In the midst of these sits the soft-spoken director who’s made his name promoting the northeast in his films. However, his latest, Har Pal, set to release in December, will not make headlines for being set in the region. Rather, it will be remembered as the movie that Shiney Ahuja was working on when he was arrested on alleged charges of rape. Har Pal also stars Preity Zinta, who’s making a comeback to the big screen, as a resident of Shillong, with 15 to 20 per cent of it shot in and around Shillong.

It’s A Wrap
Fortunately for Barua, the shooting of the film, which began in 2008, was completed by the time the controversy took place. “We only had post production work to complete, so we weren’t so affected by the unfortunate episode,” he clarifies. But the controversy is bound to create some curiosity. Barua is aware of that and feels it may just be a blessing in disguise. “Finally, though it depends on the audience and how they look at it,” says Barua, adding, “However, such a controversy may garner popularity for the film or work against it.”

For all that, Barua has nothing bad to say about his star. “I like him as a person, and whatever interaction I had with him, he was quite disciplined,” he explains, adding, “I am a strict filmmaker, usually the first one to arrive on set and the last to leave. None of the crew, including Shiney, ever showed indiscipline during the course of our shooting.”

As an actor, Barua seems to have liked Ahuja. “He is a good actor, and it all depends on how one is guided by the director. He has a lot of potential,” he says. “Preity, being more popular and experienced, was chosen because the girl’s character (which is stronger than the male lead) demanded someone like her. I wanted a fresh looking star opposite her. Shiney fitted the role.”

Did the controversy about Ahuja affect his work? “The film is totally independent,” clarifies Barua. “What happens to an individual member has nothing to do with the film,” he says.

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