February 12th, 2009
Ayesha Takiya’s decision to get married and quit the film industry has inconvenienced only those filmmakers who had not started their projects with her.
She has served a notice to all the filmmakers who haven’t started work with her saying she’d like to opt out.
One such director who’s left in a panic situation is Jagmohan Mundhra whose Indianized version of The 40-Year Old Virgin is now heroine-less. This is the second film in a row after Rumi Jaffrey’s Life Partner when Govinda is stranded without a proper leading lady even after shooting extensively.
Says Mundhra, "That’s because we can’t sign any and everyone opposite Govinda. He’s a a huge star and a brilliant actor. And his co-star needs to match his comic timing. Ayesha Takia fitted the bill in every detail."
The role required an innocent chulbuli, totally Indian girl oblivious of the facts of life.
Says Mundhra, "It’s almost the role of a child-bride…. innocent and tomboyish, like Jaya Bhaduri in Uphaar or Moushumi Chatterjee in Balika Badhu . I could only think of Ayesha Takiya… Even Amrita Rao who would seem like a natural choice for innocent characters is now turning into a glamorous entity on magazine covers. So I guess we’re really short of innocence in Bollywood these days. I don’t know what to do because Govinda has given us dates in November. I’ve less than a month before I shoot the Indian portion of the romantic comedy. We shot the British portion of Govinda’s romantic comedy in September with a French actress Lucia. "
With no sign of the childbride for Govinda among the established actresses, Mundhra has now decided to cast a newcomer.
"Javed Akhtar has recommended Aditi Sharma. She was featured in Subhash Ghai’s Black & White. I’ll watch the film and take a final call. But, in principle, Aditi is on."
