Nikhil Advani, director of Kal Ho Na Ho, Salaam-e-Ishq, Chandni Chowk to China and Patiala House is currently working on a number of scripts, one of which is a female orientated multi-starrer, reportedly featuring up to eight Bollywood beauties. Names that are currently being touted include Madhuri Dixit, Dimple Kapadia, Rani Mukerji, Karisma Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Genelia D’Souza.
Ask Nikhil and he shares “It is too premature. I am talking to everybody and it is quite exciting because it will give me an opportunity to work with some of the actors and actresses who I think are known as ‘classic’ in the film industry.” However, the last time Nikhil attempted a multi-starrer was with ‘Salam-e-Ishq’ back in 2007, which despite twelve stars, including the likes of Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham and Vidya Balan, failed miserably at the box office, with both fans and critics alike.
Readers may also recall Raj Kumar Santoshi’s attempt at a women-centric multi-starrer back in 2001, Lajja, which although a serious and powerful film, did not make waves at the box office, to which Nikil responds “It is a fun masala Bollywood movie with a lot of women. It is not like Raj Kumar Santoshi’s film. It is a lot of fun. It is a multi-starrer film. It is the kind of the film I grew up watching.”
The untitled film is potentially one which he plans to make next year. Nikhil is desperately in need a of hit film, which he is yet to achieve after leaving the Karan Johar camp, having delivered a hattrick of flops since then. Here’s hoping he has learnt from the mistakes of his past and comes up with a stellar script and cast list to match it!
