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Home , Kareena Kapoor, Love Sonia, Richa Chadda, Veere Di Wedding

28 Cinema June 15, 2018 • www.easterneye.biz • Like us on www.facebook.com/easterneye London Indian Film Festival: Ten highlights to check out ‘Women know how to multi-task' THE London Indian Film Festival returns again this month with an- other action-packed programme, which includes premieres in three different cities. The annual festival, which runs across London, Bir- mingham and Manchester from June 21 to July 1, has a wide array of interesting movie screenings, talks and a short film competition. East- KAREENA ON JUGGLING MOVIE LIFE WITH FAMILY TIME ern Eye went through the 2018 programme to select 10 highlights... by MOHNISH SINGH

Love Sonia: There will be a world premiere of this hard-hitting film FOR an actress to keep herself relevant for two decades in a male- on the opening night of the festival. Set across three continents, the dominated industry is not easy. But has story, inspired by true events, revolves around a simple Indian village defiantly made that possible for herself. girl who finds herself trapped in the global sex trade. The interesting From making her debut with JP Dutta’s Refugee in 2000 to starring cast includes Mrunal Thakur, , Demi Moore, Manoj Baj- in some of the biggest blockbusters such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie payee, , and . Gham, and , Bebo, as she is affection- ately known, has come a long way in . Uma: Based on a true story, this emotional tale revolves around a lit- Her latest film , which rolled into cinemas ear- tle girl living in Switzerland diagnosed with a potentially-terminal dis- lier this month, has done phenomenal business and is on its way ease, whose greatest desire is to participate in Kolkata’s annual Durga to becoming another hit for the popular actress. Puja festival in October. But she may not make it till then so the entire Eastern Eye met the diva at iconic Mehboob Studio in Mum- city tries to recreate the festival in the summer as a special treat. bai to talk about her new release, son Taimur Ali Khan, chang- ing dynamics of women-centric films in Bollywood and more... My Son is Gay: The multi-layered story focuses on a mother-son rela- tionship which is put to the test when he comes out as a gay. The In Veere Di Wedding, you play a girl called Kalindi who is in poignant tale sensitively tackles themes of tolerance and acceptance. dilemma over getting married. She is sort of commitment- phobic. Do you even relate to this kind of a character? Village Rockstars: No, I ’t think so. Everyone knows I am not like that. Kalin- The award-winning di is commitment-phobic while I am not. I have always been heart-warming tale very clear, so I have never really been that kind of a person. is based on a single mother and her Of late, a lot of women-centric films have found audienc- 10-year-old es’ acceptance. What, according to you, has clicked with daughter living in a cinema-goers when it comes to such films? remote flood-prone I think there have always been a lot of women-oriented films. Assamese village. From (2011) to Queen (2014) and now Raazi, The vibrant there have always been good women-centric films that have youngster wants to done well. See, if your script set up her own rock band and has to make to do with imaginary is good and your film is guitars until she goes on a quest to get a real one. good, it will work no matter ‘Veere Di whether it’s women-centric Bhasmasur: A former thief in debt returns to his Rajasthani village or not. That is something Wedding is from the big city to hide from a moneylender and decides to sell the that I have always believed prized family donkey, with whom his son shares a special bond. The in, the audience will always trio set off across the desert and encounter various events along the back it. different’ way which brings the father and son closer. How did you manage to devote time to Veere Di Cycle: A well-kno- Wedding, considering the fact that you have a wn astrologer sees new born at home? his world slowly I started shooting for the film after fall apart when the Taimur was born.I want to spend cherished yellow a lot more time with him rather cycle inherited from than on sets. That is why I his grandfather is have decided to do maybe stolen. The life- one film a year. affirming tale of hope and happine- We heard from your ss revolves around co-star Swara Bhask- villagers getting er that you are a very together in an attempt to reunite him with his beloved bike. good storyteller... (Laughs) I just en- Hva vil folk si: The multi-award-winning film revolves around a Paki- tertain them on stani teenager living a happy life in Norway, whose world is torn apart sets. I am always when her father discovers she has a white Norwegian boyfriend. She pulling her leg, not is sent to live in , where she has to adapt to a hostile environ- telling any story or ment and makes some hard choices. anything.

Teen Aur Aadh: The interesting film narrates the story of a house in Has your life three different eras. A young boy struggles with the pressures of pre- changed again af- pubescent school life and then 20 years later the same house is now a ter motherhood? brothel, where a young virgin sex-worker has to deal with her first cli- Only in terms of ent. Then 30 years later, the place is now the home of an elderly cou- time! Like I said, ple that love, laugh and dance together. I want to spend my whole time Halkaa: The feel- with Taimur. good family film But women focuses on a slum know how to boy who fights multi-task. I back against am happy I having to defecate have got good in the open. After support and failing to convince that is the anyone to build a reason I can toilet, he teams up work and with his friends at the same and goes on a time spend mission to make one. The charming and heart-warming film was the time with winner of the Grand Prix at the Montreal Film Festival. my family as well. GIRL POWER: Kareena Mr : There will be a screening of the classic 1987 Bollywood clas- Kapoor Khan; and sic as a tribute to actress , who sadly passed away earlier this At this (above) with Veere Di year. She plays a journalist in love with a heroic invisible man known point in Wedding co-stars Shikha as Mr India, who is taking on the evil megalomaniac Mogambo. your life, Jaiswal/AFP/Getty Images Sujit © Talsania, what gives and Swara Bhasker at a n The London Indian Film Festival takes place from June 21 until July 1 Kareena promotional event across three cities. Visit www.londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk for more. Kapoor Khan the ul-