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Although dismissed by critics as a remake of Michael Bay's The Rock (Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage), Harry Baweja's Qayamat did good business at the the box office. To celebrate its success, the filmmaker threw a lavish bash at Mumbai's J W Marriott Hotel.
All the cast members of the film were present at the occasion. Ajay Devgan came in straight from the sets of Rajkumar Santoshi's Khakee and had his regular vodka. Arbaaz Khan dropped in with wife Malaika Arora and sister-in-law Amrita Arora. Sanjay Kapoor made a quick appearance since he had to leave for London the next day. The film's female leads Neha Dhupia, Isha Koppikar, Riya Sen, in black, white and peach respectively, added a touch of glamour to the party.
Aashish Chowdhary looked rather pleased that his debut film was a success.
Only Suniel Shetty, who was away shooting in South Africa, was conspicuous by his absence.
Baweja said he was now looking forward to launching his son Herman and starting work on two new films that will star Sunny Deol and Devgan respectively. All the three films will go on the floors in 2004.
He will also produce an action thriller starring John Abraham. The untitled venture will mark the directorial debut of Qayamat's cinematographer, Sanjay F Gupta, and will be written by former rediff.com staffer Suparn Verma. Gupta, a Columbia Film School graduate, formerly assisted filmmaker Shekar Kapur.
Priyan against female infanticide
After making a series of comedies like Hera Pheri, Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar and the recently released Hungama, director Priyadarsan is keen on making a film on female infanticide. He says he feels seriously about the issue.
The film, which will be shot in Tamil, will be dubbed in Hindi; it will have English subtitles to help it reach a larger audience.
Apparently the filmmaker discussed the subject with Sridevi and the actress has indicated her interest in the project. Interestingly, Sridevi was supposed to make her comeback in hubby Boney Kapoor's Shakti -- The Power. But she became pregnant with her second child and was replaced by Karisma Kapoor.
Aimed at an international audience, the yet-to-be-titled film will have no songs and will be shot in the villages of Theni in Tamil Nadu.
Priyadarsan's earlier attempt at serious cinema -- Virasat -- a remake of Bharathan's Thevar Magan, was well-recieved by the masses and the critics.