Lara Dutta as Paro in the new Devdas

Courtesy: IndiaFM
Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Lara Dutta and Shiney Ahuja will be seen sharing the screen space as Paro and Devdas in Sudhir Mishra"s Devdas. Lara was a natural choice for the role as she easily fits the bill claims Mishra. Says Sudhir, “Yes, Lara has been signed for Paro"s role as she has this amazing self confidence in her. Moreover, it depends on how I am interpreting Paro. I am seeing Paro as a strong woman which Lara definitely looks like."

Mishra also claims that his Devdas will be very different from Bimal Roy and Sanjay Leela Bhansali"s, though the film revolves around the three characters from the original story. He explains, “I am not making Devdas...I am giving a new dimension to the story. However, Devdas is a character in public consciousness. What if they were here and totally new film was born? It"s just like taking Munnabhai and Circuit and putting them in another story. I am taking part of the characters and giving new blend to their stories, putting their relationships and understandings in a new place in a new time.

But why give a political touch to Devdas? Mishra further explains, “I wanted to make a political film and I was interested in using these characters. Devdas became a man with political lineage. Political dynasty in our country follows from parents to children. What if Devdas was like that? He comes back from London with a political dynasty and Paro is a commoner the same way as in classic Devdas."

It is learnt that Soha Ali Khan will be signed as Chandramukhi for this film. Mishra confirms, “As per my knowledge, its Soha who will be playing the role of Chandramukhi." Also, Saurabh Shukla has been roped in for one of the characters. The film will be shot in Rajasthan, Delhi and Gurgaon.

The film will go on floors in October and the shoot is expected to be wrapped up by March.