30 July,2009 08:13 AM IST | | Shaheen Parkar
Khalid Mohamed's autobiographical venture Rutbaa finally goes on floors. The Vikram Bhatt production is about the film critic-turned-director's relationship with his half-brother who was two years younger to him. While his sibling was an extrovert with a larger-than-life personality, Khalid was shy and considered a bookworm.
Cast check
Rajniesh Duggal, last seen in Bhatt's horror flick 1920, will play Khalid in the film. Vipul Gupta (who was seen in TV soaps and features in Deepak Tijori's Fox) essays the brother's role. Ishita Sarkar, a Miss India 2009 finalist has also been signed for the project. The film will be shot in Mumbai and Rajasthan.
Says Rajneish, "I received a call from Khalid Sir asking me to hear the script. It is based on his life and I will be playing him in the film."
Adds Khalid, "I don't like to talk about my projects till they take off. But Rutbaa's story was with me for over two years. When I quit journalism, I managed to complete the story in two weeks so it was a blessing in disguise. I had approached Rajniesh for Silsiilay but at that time he was unable to do it. He has that vulnerable look in him."
Khalid's past films as director include Fiza (2000), Tehzeeb (2003), Taarikh (2003) and Silsiilay (2005).
Incidentally, Shyam Benegal's Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996) and Zubeidaa (2001) which were written by Khalid, were also autobiographical. Points out Khalid, "Rutbaa will not remind people of Zubeidaa or Mammo. Those stories have already been told about my mother and great grandmother. Now it's me and my half brother."
