Film may feature Naomi Watts
Avibrant account of Danish designer-turned writer Inger Solberg’s experiences in India since over 15 years, s, ‘Pushpa’us pa iss set to be adapted for the big screen. The makers are inn talks with British actress Naomi Watts for the lead role and were keen to cast Bollywoodwood star Ranveer Singh too.
Solberg’s book traces the lessons she has learnt in India — a country ry she describes as “incredible” — and how she fought against money-hungry, uneducated ed goons, and bureaucracy. It’s a story of hardships, ardships, faith and resolve of a woman who never lost her spirit.
The writer was initiallyially apprehensive when offers came in for a film adaptation of the book.
“Maybe I was afraid theyhey would kill the story and use it differently.y. In film language, they call it ‘killing your darlings’,” Solberg said in an email intervieww from Goa where she stays.
But an offer from celebratedbrated Indian cinematographer Santosh Thundiyil — who has movies like ‘Kuch Kuch ch Hota Hai’, ‘Pinjar’ and ‘ Rowdy Rathore’ to his credit — changed Solberg’s mind.
“He suggested that I should not sell the rights, but we should hould make the film together. Santoshh also introduced me to the screenplayplay writer Suresh Nair,” she said.
German director Franziska Buch has been locked in to direct the movie, for which the e team is “in the process of finalisingising the negotiations with Naomi mi Watts’s agents”.
“They have already given ven us the dates of her availability,” ” Solberg said
Talking of why Naomi mi Watts suits the lead role, Solbergerg said: “She looks Scandinavianan and could be a family member, ber, so I thought her a perfect choice.” ice.”
“Since the lead role iss being negotiated subject to the e script with a big Hollywood star, ar, and since it is a women-orientediented film, I have chosen to work with the European female e director Franziska Buch who also is an India lover,” addded Solberg, who says she he will work closely with the e team to make the movie a reality.
The title of her book ‘Pushpa’ comes from the name her Indian boyfriend used to call her by. He was killed in a motorcycle crash a few years ago.
So Solbergbe g wa wantedted Bollywood’so ywoods livewirevew e star Ranveer for a key role in the film.
“I had approached Ranveer Singh. I have also given him my book personally. Ranveer reminded me of one of the lead characters in the book, so he would have been the perfect artiste for that role.”
“Un f o r - tunately, he is not available before end of 2017, which is too late for us. We are now considering other options,” she said. This international feature film project is being gp proposedp on the same lines as the successful multi-cultural collaboracollabora tions like ‘Slumdog Millionaire’,Millionair ‘Monsoon Wedding’, ‘ ‘TheTh Best Exotic Marigold Hote Hotel’ and ‘Eat Pray Love’. The team has helphel from the Scandinavia Scandinavian Film Council and theth International BrandBran Sponsors, and theythe have also approached a few production houshous es. The author fee feels her book has poten potential to be made int into a film as her storie stories are inspirational tot women who need tot live independentl independently without fear.
“Lots of women, worldwide, live oppressed lives in bad marriages and other exploited situations,” said Solberg, who came to India with $40 in her pocket, fresh from a messy divorce.
“My story, my film is applicable to every woman worldwide and men too. I hope it will act as a conduit for empowering women to live in hope and not fear. After all, tomorrow is another day,” said the optimist, who wears many hats as a business consultant, interior decorator, writer, real estate developer and a fashion designer.
The movie is likely to be shot in Delhi, Goa, Shimla, Risikesh, Jaipur, Varanasi — and as Solberg puts it — “the most beautiful places in my incredible India”.
Through the film, she hopes they will “show the glory of India which I love and will always defend, as well as show the darker side of India which many people, not only foreigners are facing when it comes down to business activities”.