Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Live
JAIL BAND COMES TO HOME TOWN
Driven by a fabulous script, actor Farhan Akhtar agreed to be a part of director Ranjit Singh’s maiden venture Lucknow Central. “Script is always the first thing for me to take up a project. Jail band is an amazing concept, which actually happened in this part of the world. Second, the film is set in Lucknow, which is personally very close to me and this is for the first time I got an opportunity to shoot a film here,” says the actor on his visit to Inox multiplex in the state capital with the entire star cast of the film.
Apart from his roots what connects him to Lucknow is its food. “Connecting to my roots was a very emotional experience. Yesterday I went to Khairabad (Sitapur), my ancestral village. Another reason that I love coming here is food, which is so amazing,” adds Farhan (far right).
Director Ranjit Singh says he was surprised to read about the Healing Heart band formed by Lucknow Jail inmates a couple of years back. “I had never read something like this before. When I came here to research for the film, I was highly motivated by the band. This film is not their biopic but inspired by a true incident. It’s a very realistic film, which belongs to Lucknow and that’s the reason we shot the film here,” he says.
Farhan leads the band in the film with actors Deepak Dobriyal, Gippy Grewal, Rakesh Sharma and Inaamulhaq.
Deepak best known as Tanu Weds Manu’s ‘Pappiji’ will be seen playing a jail inmate who doubles as an engineer. “This is a different kind of plot, which I am sure the audience will love. I have shot three films before this in Lucknow — Omkara, TWM and TWM returns. All of them have been superhit and I hope and believe that this one too becomes one,” he says.
Singer-actor Gippy Grewal, who plays band member Parmender Singh Gill, shares that it was not just the script but getting an opportunity to work with Farhan is what got him on board. “When LC was offered to me, I knew I would want to do this film because of its star cast that included Farhan Akhtar. And then when I got a narration of the story, I couldn’t say no. Getting to play a Punjabi was a bonus.”
Playing musician Diikat Ansari, for Airlift-fame Inaamulhaq did not require much preparation though he is from a non-musical background, “I know nothing about music but I still gave my best shot for the film like I always do for my roles. Being a choosy actor I opt for very selective roles. This is why I have done only four films in last eight years.”
Inaamulhaq has earlier been to Lucknow in 90’s when he came for a month-long workshop at Bhatkhande Music Deemed University, “It was a different Lucknow then
with more of a ‘nawabi shehar’ touch.
Though I’ll like to mention that people have not changed but the city and the culture has undergone a significant change,” he said.
MS Dhoni and Bajrangi Bhaijaan fame Rakesh Sharma will be seen as another jail inmate Purushottam Madan Pandit. “He is a tailor who stitches clothes for jail inmates. Pandit has nothing to do with music and band but joins the team for a personal motive and ends up becoming a drummer in the band,” he tells. Rakesh learnt drumming for the film.
Cocktail actor Diana Penty plays NGO worker Gayatri who is commissioned to form the band of prisoner for a band competition. This is her second film in Uttar Pradesh after Happy Bhag Jayegi, which was partially shot in Agra.
Ravi Kishan plays the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. “I won’t name anyone but my role is inspired by a chief minister which audience can make out from the film. In fact, I studied two CMs to get into the character. The scene where I cut the cake with a sword has also happened in the past,” says actor.
The fiery cop at jail has been played by Ronit Roy. The jail sets was erected in Mumbai. “As per orders no one is allowed to shoot inside the jail so we created Lucknow Central jail back in Mumbai,” tells the director.