Talks Are On To Remake Idukki Gold In Hindi: Aashiq Abu

Director Aashiq Abu's Blockbuster Malayalam movie Idukki Gold is all set to be remade in Hindi and shooting is likely to begin by next year. The Mollywood director himself has confirmed the news stating that currently talks are going on for the Hindi version, but declines divulge more details about the film.

Idukki Gold is about a trip down memory lane for five friends in their 50s. The senior characters in the movie were played by Pratap Pothen, Raveendran (a popular actor in Malayalam and Tamil movies in the late 1970s and 80s), Maniyanpillai Raju, Vijayaraghavan and Babu Antony. Released in mid of 2013, The movie has done fantastic business at the Box Office.

Talking about the remake of Idukki Gold, Aashiq Abu, who debuted with Mammootty's Daddy Cool in 2009, said, "Talks are on to make the Hindi version of the film and I will most probably be directing it. It (shooting) will happen by next year end." His hit film Salt N Pepper is also being remade in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. When quizzed about it, the director said, "I guess shooting for all versions have been completed, and it will be released soon."

The 2012 film 22 Female Kottayam starring Rima Kallingal and Fahad Fazil was a benchmark in his career as the woman-centric movie skyrocketed Abu into the top bracket of directors and fetched him a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director. But its remake in Tamil, Malini 22 Palayamkottai was not successful. Talking about its failure, Aashiq Abu said, "The concept was bought but then others express it in their own way, they have their own perspective. To tell you the truth, I have not seen it."

Aashiq Abu's next project is with Prithviraj and the movie is titled Valathuvasathe Kallan (Thief on the right side). "Jesus was crucified between two thieves, and the story is that the thief on the right side was a good thief, but the film has nothing to do with Christ. It is kind of a satire. We are scouting for new faces for the movie," he said.