The remake of 1 of Rajesh Khanna's biggest hits Aradhana will take a little bit longer than expected, as producer-director Ashim Samanta intends to show the unique story of an airforce pilot and his lookalike illegitimate son right into a modern-day Top Gun.
Explains Samanta, `When my father made Aradhana, he couldn't shoot at an air base and the scenes needed to be fudged. Those were times when permission to access defence-related locations was impossible for filmmakers. Now, we can shoot at air force bases. It was something my father couldn't do and it remained a lingering regret.`
Samanta desires to turn Aradhana into Top Gun. `I want the sequences showing the hero emerge from the fighter planes to have the same impact as Tom Cruise's scenes in Top Gun. We're practising creating the similar level of adrenaline and authenticity in the air-base sequences.`
Samanta's son Aditya will play the double role that had made Rajesh Khanna a household name after the unique Aradhana. But who will play the role of the heroine, the young girl with a son born out of wedlock who transforms into an old mother?
`My father had a difficult time casting for the role. Aparna Sen was almost finalised, but she opted out on the last minute. Finally Sharmila Tagore, who was in her 20s, played the 60 year-old woman. I HOPE an equally enterprising actress could be found for the new Aradhana.`
If no actress is located to be suitable for both the old and young avatar of the unwed mother, then two actresses could also be signed for the same role. However the hero's double role remains unchanged.
The original songs from Aradhana - Roop tera mastana, Mere Sapnon ki rani kab aayegi tu, Baaghon mein bahaar hai and Gunguna rahe hai bhanwar - will all be retained within the new Aradhana.
Says Asim, `We're keeping the songs, but we're recording them as per new technology. Why would I tamper with such classic songs?`
Courtesy: Mid-Day.com
