<i>Shootout At Lokhandwala</i>

By: Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

That's the working title of the film Sanjay Gupta's White Feather Films is producing, with Apoorva Lakhia [Ek Ajnabee] in the director's seat. In fact, both Gupta and Lakhia are still vacillating whether to call the film Shootout or Lokhandwala or Shootout At Lokhandwala. "By using Lokhandwala in the title, we may be limiting its prospects," Apoorva Lakhia confides, "People in Ahmedabad or Lucknow might not be aware of the locality called Lokhandwala, you see."

So why an offbeat title like Shootout At Lokhandwala? "The film is based on a shootout that took place at Mumbai's posh Lokhandwala Complex. Hence, the title," Lakhia informs me. Currently, Lakhia and Suresh Nair are jointly writing the screenplay of the film. Shootout At Lokhandwala will be filmed in a 40-day start-to-finish schedule in Mumbai from August 1 onwards.

How did the project materialize? "Gupta and I think similar when it comes to movies. Being good friends also made things simpler," Lakhia admits. The makers have already signed Sanjay Dutt, Javed Jaffrey and Arjun Rampal for the project in question, while talks are in progress with Emraan Hashmi and Vivek Oberoi for two more important characters. "We've had meetings with Emraan and Vivek and the feedback is positive. But we haven't signed them yet," Lakhia adds.

Once Lakhia is through with Shootout At Lokhandwala, he'll commence shooting of Just Punjabi, which will star Sanjay Dutt and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles. "I cannot make two projects at a time," Lakhia smiles. Bunty Walia and Jassi Walia will produce Just Punjabi.