Present to clap the culmination of a 24 year old friendship, Pooja Bhatt launches Imaandari Ki Maa Ki Aankh, journalist-turned filmmaker S Ramachandran’s debut production. It was a quid pro quo moment for journalist-turned-filmmaker S Ramachandran when director Pooja Bhatt graced the mahurat to do the clap for his debut production under the new banner of Sanskriti Media and Entertainment. After all, 24 years ago, Ramachandran had been present at her debut — Daddy. “I still remember when Rama was present for my first day of shoot. He was a journalist and we had met then. It is a great feeling to be present to cheer him on when he gets to be a producer. I became one of the youngest producers at age 23 so I know what it’s like. I have told Rama to get ready for the vagaries of film production. I will be there to help him out with anything on the sets and with his film,” she said with much warmth.
But for Pooja, the greater delight was hearing the film’s title ‘Imaandari Ki Maa Ki Aankh’. She burst out laughing, “The title of the film itself is so appealing that one is naturally curious to know what the film will be about. I certainly wish the entire team of the film the best, and hope they make a good one,” she said. Directed by Rashid S Khan, with music director Mudassir Ali, the film’s star cast includes Omkardas Manikpuri, Hiten Tejwani, Viju Khote, Rajesh Vivek, Mukesh Bhatt, Gopal Singh, Roopali Ganguly, Kashish Dhanoya, Usha Jaadhav, Shalini Pandey and many others.
Pooja is looking forward to the film carrying Ramachandran’s quintessential sense of humour, which she has herself borne the brunt of. “We have shared a great friendship over the years. When I got married properly — and that was one of the few proper things I have done — as a journalist, he carried footage of my scenes from Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin where my father urges me to run away from my wedding and had good fun at my expense! I was making my film Paap at that time and he mentioned that ‘Paap karte karte maine punya kar diya’ — I used that statement in all of my interviews later!” she laughed.
Ramachandran hopes Pooja’s presence will rub off on him and his debut in many ways. “She will have a lot more to do in the film than just give the clap. I have told her that I will be calling her up at every instant for help,” he says. Ramachandran is keen that Pooja’s grace and luck rubs off on the film. After all, the only other film for which Pooja has ever given a mahurat clap was Aashiqui, which went on to be a runaway hit!
The film, which is co-produced by Irshad Khan went on the floors last week and the first schedule of the film has been completed.
