It started with the announcement, “This groundbreaking production will showcase a Bollywood mega-star and a Hollywood movie-star sharing top billing in a major motion picture. The film is destined for both the subcontinent and international markets. In fact, Xtrme City is already in the process of casting the two star leads. The film is going to be a hugely mounted affair with a multi million budget.” Now rumors are flying that Shah Rukh Khan and Leonardo DiCaprio will be starring in that film together. Yes, you read that right; Leo and SRK on screen together… cue the swooning fans.
Xtrme City is reported to be a crime thriller set Mumbai that will have comedy, action and of course drama plus the requisite song and dance numbers needed for a Bollywood film. The film has been co-written by Mushtaq Shiekh, who has also penned the screenplays for Shah Rukh’s Om Shanti Om and the upcoming Ra.One and Paul Schrader who wrote Hollywood classics like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Schrader will also be directing the film, which will be both a Bollywood and Hollywood production. Talking about working in India and the film, Schrader said, “I see Bollywood as the next great frontier. Xtrme City is a cross-cultural entertainment that merges the cinematic traditions of Bollywood and Hollywood. I am indeed excited to make a film which is accessible and meaningful to both Indian and American cultures.”
If that wasn’t cool enough, Martin Scorsese, one of Hollywood’s best filmmakers, is producing it. According to a leading daily, Sheik himself confirmed the news when talking about Scorsese joining on as producer, “It’s true. We are all elated. This is the best news I have heard in a long time. Martin loved the script and it meant the world to me as the writer of the film along with Paul Schrader. But when he comes in as the producer of the project, then I am thrilled as it takes the film to another level completely. Inshaallah, all goes well from here onwards. Fingers and all parts of the body crossed.”
Apparently this was all first discussed at a meeting at the Berlin Film Festival last year. A source told Joginder Tuteja, “Not many know but when Shah Rukh visited Berlin for the premiere of My Name Is Khan, his agenda also included a groundbreaking movie deal. He was power-dining with Hollywood bigwigs like director Martin Scorsese and screenplay writer Paul Schrader over the project which is touted to star Bollywood’s reigning superstar with Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo Di Caprio. Karan Johar, David Weisman and screenplay writer Mushtaq Shiekh were present at the meeting.”
It seems Scorsese is a huge fan of Bollywood, which Shiekh found out at that meeting in Berlin, “I was amazed by how Martin Scorsese was completely in sync with all that is happening in Bollywood. His knowledge about old Hindi films left me shocked.” Scorsese is also interested in preserving the classic films of India. His World Cinema Foundation, set up to preserve classics of film history around the globe, is working on restoring the print of 1948’s dance classic Kalpana directed by Uday Shankar.
It remains to be seen if it will actually be Leo and SRK as the leads in Xtrme City, but what is known is that this is a film to keep your eye on. You can be sure we will stay on top of this story and bring you all the latest, so stay tuned right here at BollySpice.com!
