Stars model for chicken feed

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

A host of Bollywood got together with Bromark and NACC to shoot an ad in favour of Indian poultry.

But tragedy struck and the footage of the ad, directed by Priyadarshan and featuring Sunil Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, VJ Sophie and Rima Sen, was destroyed in a freak accident.

Then the ad was re-shot, featuring the same actors (except Shetty), but this time, it was directed by Anubhav Sinha.

Batting for chicken

Says Amit Roplekar, a representative of Bromark, "The footage of the first ad had to be scrapped due to a technical error. The script and storyline of the second ad is the same but Anubhav, instead of Priyadarshan, has shot the ad now.

The ad has been made by Bromark and NACC to tell people that there are no problems with Indian chicken." Anubhav was flown down from Lucknow to shoot the new ad yesterday.

Priyan fell ill

Why did the director change? "Priyan fell ill and was hospitalised for some time," says Roplekar. "We want to say that eating Indian chickens is healthy. I shot for the first ad but couldn't shoot for the second as I am shooting for Apna Sapna Money Money currently," adds Shetty.

Adds VJ Sophie, "The concept of the ad remains funny. It's a chick-chasing story.

But the message is serious - eating chickens is healthy, so people should stop spreading misinformation about the bird flu. Priyan got a severe sinusitis attack and was advised complete bed rest for some time, so Anubhav shot the econd ad.

Sanju flew down from Thailand straight into the shoot. It was exciting for me as I got to shoot with two top directors and I am fond of both Fardeen and Sanju."