Kandahar Episode Comes To Films

By Bollywood Hungama -

September 20, 2003 - 12:00 AM IST

Rohit Shetty. The name is unknown to many, but come September 26 and his directorial debut ZAMEEN will unfold on the screen. In 1999, an Indian Airlines Airbus with 178 passengers and crew was hijacked while flying from Kathmandu to New Delhi. The captain of the hijacked plane was told to fly to Pakistan, then Dubai, then finally Kandahar [Afghanistan]. This incident seemed to have inspired the makers of ZAMEEN. For, the Ajay Devgan Abhishek Bachchan Bipasha Basu starrer, which will hit the theatres next Friday, is based on this episode. This writer witnessed portions of the film on Thursday night [September 18] and if those portions are anything to go by then Rohit Shetty seems like a director to watch. Starting his career at 15, when most people dream of college, friends and fun, Rohit chalked out a different path for himself he walked straight into the studios and enrolled himself as an apprentice with Kuku Kohli during the making of PHOOL AUR KAANTE, which marked the debut of Ajay Devgan. Besides assisting Kohli in another project, HAQEEQAT, Shetty also assisted Anil Devgan during the making of RAJU CHACHA. Ajay [Devgan] assured me that he would assign the directorial reins of his next film to me. Although RAJU CHACHA didn't work at the b.o., Ajay kept his promise, Rohit says. The actor promptly called Bablu Pachisia and recommended Rohit to him. That's how ZAMEEN was born, the 27-year-old director adds. Though Shetty shares a rapport with Devgan, this is the first time he was interacting with Abhishek Bachchan. He has really worked hard on his role. He is exceptional in the action sequences, he says. Abhishek has also been pumping iron to look the character.