Entertainment - Lamha in trouble again

Shujaat Bukhari







SRINAGAR: Rahul Dolakia’s movie Lamha is again facing rough weather with Asiya Andrabi, head of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, serving a legal notice to the makers. She has demanded that she should first see the script.

After objections from some people during its shoot last year, the producers put off the plans and returned to Mumbai. Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu play the lead role in the film. The fruit growers of the Valley had objected to reported scenes of “guns being carried in fruit-laden trucks,” on which the shooting was cancelled. Bipasha had her own reasons to leave in a huff as she complained of lack of proper security.

Now that the crew has returned and resumed shooting, the Dukhtaran chief, whose role is purportedly being played by Bipasha, has served a legal notice on G.S. Entertainment. Served through her counsel G.N. Shaheen, she has demanded that the script be produced before her within three days.

“As Asiya is a political personality and follower of Islam, she doesn’t want to be portrayed by any actress in the movie who is incompatible with her virtues,” reads the notice.

“Earlier, a meeting was arranged between Dholakia and Asiya and it was agreed by the director that before shooting the film, the script will be shown to her. However, unfortunately the script was not made available to her and as such my client was forced to serve a legal notice.”

“The reputation, honour and dignity of Asiya have been put on stake,” Mr. Shaheen told The Hindu.

Mr. Dolakia denied reports that Bipasha was playing Asiya in the film.

“Bipasha’s role in my film is not even remotely connected with the life of Asiya Andrabi. My film is absolutely a positive film about Kashmir and its people.”