Meet the celluloid Prime Minister 

By IndiaFM News Bureau, November 30, 2004 - 07:45 IST

Dev Anand lives his style. A few months back, he was totally kicked about his film, Beauty Queen. With auditions in full swing in search of the face, he finally found one and the film was all set to go on the floors. That's when Devsaab did a total turnaround…

Beauty Queen is on hold, Mr. Prime Minister it is going to be…

What's it about?
“The film is both utopian and as well as modern in its concept. It is extremely relevant in today's time” is all that the filmmaker is ready to give. The evergreen actor adds, “I want India to be the most respected country in the world and my film is a possible solution to the problems plaguing the country”

The film was to be shot in two months start-to-finish schedule and would feature as the first Navketan film to have a minimal of 2 songs. An item number featuring newbie Sofiya has already been shot. The film was launched in Mumbai at theTaj Mahal suite and Matoshree, the recreation suite of Shiv Sena. Both the locations were exclusively thrown open for Devsaab's film.

So who's Mr. Prime Minister?
So inspired was he by the plot that he wrapped the scripting in 20 days flat! No talent hunts for this role, he would play it himself!

Supporting cast
The remaining cast was picked from the best that Bollywood has to offer today. Tara Sharma, Anjan Srivastava, Mohan Joshi, Boman Irani and Milind Gunaji form the supporting cast. Boman Irani plays a political leader while Tara Sharma plays a Muslim terrorist.

Location hunting
Devsaab stayed true to his tradition of locking horns with challenges when he decided to film the movie at the quake struck ruins of Bachua, Gujurat. The actor recollects that he almost felt a karmic connection with the strife torn place when he first landed there for location hunting. The actor further details, “More than 40 tears ago, when we shot for Guide in Gujarat, the place had a striking semblance to Bachau”

Logistic nightmares
The film infrastructure was taken care by son Suniel who imported the best technology and gadgets from London.

The shoot
The relentless actor shot for 17 days at a stretch and canned four major political rallies, riots and an election. The last time Dev Anand shot a film at such a pace was in Kathmandu for Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Thousands of people gathered to both watch as well as participate in the crowd scenes that were crucial to the film. The septuagenarian fondly recollects, “Not did once I have to call for a cop-control. The crowds were so totally disciplined and co-operated with me to the minutest” he says with that touch of emotion. And guess what the stalwart is going to be doing in return?

“That's right, I will hold the world premiere of the film in Gandhidham, Gujarat” he assures. The filmmaker was specially felicitated at a function thrown by Bank officials and was presented an iron shield with sword as a token of respect. Two vital scenes remain to be canned. One at the Heathrow airport, London and the other at Pompei, Rome.

Nepal honours evergreen Devsaab