Director Onir To Remake Chashme Baddoor

It’s the season of remakes. Old classics are being remade by new directors and production houses. Call it the lack of creativity by our new generation or a means of playing tribute to these old classics. But remakes are here to stay. The latest to join the league of remake directors bandwagon is director Onir, who has made quite dark and critically acclaimed films like My Brother Nikhil and Bas Ek Pal.

Director Onir has been signed up by Studio 18 for the remake of Sai Paranjpe’s, Farooque Sheikh starrer cult classic Chashme Baddoor (1981).

Confirming the developments, an elated Onir said, “Yes, that’s true. I was signed on yesterday and I am really looking forward to this assignment. Studio 18 has also bought the rights from the original producers so now it is legally possible too for us to go ahead.”

So how did Chashme Baddor happen?

 “Studio 18 and I were in talks about this film for last few months. I was a little apprehensive earlier since Chashme Baddoor has been seen by each and everyone over the years and hence I was unsure about how audience of today would react to it. Moreover the original was quite simple in feel and hence it had to be ascertained that how it would fit in current scenario. But later after some prodding I decided to take up the challenge and add on some ingredients to make it an interesting experience.”

Has he finalized the star cast of Chashme Baddoor?

“Not yet. I do have some actors in mind, mainly established stars who are also very good actors, but nothing is on paper yet. For the roles immortalised by Farooq Shaikh, Deepti Naval, Ravi Baswani and Rakesh Bedi, you need to be doubly careful about who comes on board.”

But he would certainly be having someone in mind?

“See, since the film is also about three college going friends, it is imperative that my cast is young and look compatible with each other. Beyond that let me keep the cards close to my chest”, he smiles.

How much of a difference is he planning to make in the remake version of Chashme Badoor?

“One thing that I and my writer would be ensuring is that the film caters to today’s sensibilities. A thorough adaptation is required since times have changed, market dynamics have changed and audience taste also needs to be taken into consideration”, he reasons.

The original film was set in Delhi. Does he move his characters to Mumbai in his version?“Certainly not”, says Onir, “Mumbai isn’t the city I want to work in for Chashme Baddoor because a) I don’t really enjoy shooting in the city, b) The city has been overexposed and c) The film will be better off if it is shot in North India. Yes, Delhi is certainly an option I have in mind but right now we are still in the process of deciding about how the film would be put on course and where would it be set.”

What’s the kind of timelines that have been designed for the Chashme Baddoor?

“Film is currently in the stage of scripting and by end of year it should be on floors. We are looking at a mid-2008 release.”

So what happens to his much in news ‘You and I’ that was rumoured to be Karisma Kapoor’s comeback film?

 “It is on hold for the moment. That’s all I can say for the moment. But yes, it is good to be on a chill out zone with Chashme Baddoor after My Brother Nikhil and Bas Ek Pal.