Benegal begins shooting Netaji

Shyam Benegal started shooting his latest film Netaji, based on Subhas Chandra Bose's life, on January 23 by capturing a few scenes inside the Presidency jail in Kolkata where Netaji was once imprisoned.

"This is my celluloid homage to the great leader," Benegal told reporters at Netaji Bhavan, the national hero's home in Kolkata, where he went first to pay his respects.

Netaji is being played by Sachin Khedekar while Bengali actor Jishu Sengupta will portray him as a young man. Benegal said most of the film will concentrate on the leader's later years between 1940 and 1945.

Paresh Rawal and Rajit Kapur had been considered to play Netaji, but Benegal eventually decided not to pick a "very known face" as it could hamper the portrayal and acceptance of the character.

Netaji is believed to have died in a plane crash in 1945, a claim rejected by many of his followers, but Benegal will not go into the controversy. "My film does not deal with the controversy. I am only trying to highlight the man's spirit and contribution to the freedom struggle," he said, adding that the story will be told in flashback format.

The first day of shooting coincides with Netaji's 106th birthday. If "everything goes fine," Benegal hopes to release the film this day next year.

He is scheduled to shoot the film in Malaysia, Burma and Uzbekistan. The shooting in Kolkata will continue for three weeks.