Special birthday surprise for Jaya Bachchan

Jaya Bachchan turns 61 today (April 9). The makers of her new film tentatively titled Chaassni have planned a very special surprise for her.

They"ve decided to pre-pone the commencement of the film"s shooting by a month to coincide with Jaya"s birthday.

Divulging details reluctantly the film"s softspoken director Revathy Varma says, “Yes, we"ve quickened the process of starting the film. April 9 is a very auspicious day. And my film is about honouring and giving a respectable place to the aged in our society. So what better proof of the film"s intentions than to dedicate it to Jayaji"s 60th birthday?"

The preponement was so sudden that actress Raveena Tandon, who plays a pivotal, role is totally taken aback. “I thought the shooting was supposed to start in May. This is the first time I"m hearing about the April 9 shoot. But I"m happy. We"re all fans of Jayaji. And the film is about making her character happy." Adds Revathy, “We"re doing just a brief shooting on April 9. Then we have a detailed schedule."

The film already made in Tamil entitled June R was based on the director"s own life. “I adopted a mother from a foster-home. She is no more. But the love she gave me has given birth to Jayaji"s character in the film."

Revathy is planning it as a full-on commercial film with songs composed by Salim-Suleiman. “They can give a contemporary feel to the project."

The Tamil veteran actress Saritha had played a pivotal role in the original. Says Revathy, “The Hindi version will be radically different from the Tamil. I"ve just taken the core of my Tamil film and re-written it completely in Hindi."

Ayesha Takia plays Jaya Bachchan"s daughter in the Hindi version. Jaya whose on-screen chemistry with her make-believe daughters from Karisma Kapoor in Fiza to Preity Zinta in Kal Ho Na Ho has always been extra-special, looks forward to getting motherly with the newly-married Takia.