‘Paap’ Exclusive Info:

By Bollywood Hungama -

March 7, 2003 - 12:00 AM IST

When she was an actress to reckon with in hardcore commercial films, she turned towards meaningful cinema. Now, when she has established herself as one of the youngest woman producers, she's moved on to carve a niche as the youngest woman director in Bollywood. Pooja Bhatt has started work on her new film PAAP which marks her directorial debut. Pooja sounded more excited than ever before when this writer called her in Manali, to wish her the very best in her new role. PAAP, which went on the floors on June 27 in Manali [Himachal Pradesh], stars John Abraham with newcomer Udita Goswami [please click here to view the first look of the film exclusively for IndiaFM]. Scripted by Mahesh Bhatt, the film co-stars Gulshan Grover, Mohan Agashe, Sandeep Mehta, Denzil Smith, Anupam Shyam and Anahita Uberoi. The film is being shot in altogether 52 days shooting in Himachal comprises of 40 days, largely in Spiti and Lahaul at altitudes of 14000 feet. The unit will return from Himachal in the first week of August. The balance shooting will be completed in September, while the release is planned in December. Pooja Bhatt and Sujit Kumar Singh are jointly producing the film, which has music by Anu Malik and dialogue by journalist Niranjan Iyengar. While on PAAP, Pooja Bhatt's office has clarified that neither Pooja nor anyone from Fish Eye Network [her company] had any discussion with Bipasha Basu on casting the latter for the lead role in the film, as reported by a section of the press. The question of a higher remuneration therefore never came up, Arun Karumbaya [Exec. Director of Fish Eye Network] states, We always had a new face in mind. PAAP is a love story that develops around the hero, a cop, who, in highly unusual circumstances, meets a very beautiful girl belonging to the pristine and pure environment of the Himalayan monasteries. It is the world of violence catching up with the non-violent environment, Ashok adds.