‘Taxi Driver’

By Bollywood Hungama -

March 24, 2004 - 12:00 AM IST

Akbar Khan has mighty plans up his sleeve! Besides giving finishing touches to his colossal project TAJ MAHAL, the film-maker is planning to start not one, but two projects one after the other. But more on that later As of now, Khan is preoccupied with TAJ MAHAL, which should hit the screens by June-end. I'm planning to dub the film in English and Persian languages, Khan tells me, The English version will be released in North America and Canada simultaneously with the Hindi version in India. We will dub the film in Persian later. Khan, who made his directorial debut with HAADSA, is planning to start another historical once TAJ MAHAL releases. But I wouldn't like to reveal the subject of the film or the historical figure the film is based on. Let me keep it under wraps for the time being, he smiles. There's a valid reason for the film-maker to behave in that fashion. When I announced AKBAR THE GREAT [television epic], a number of producers announced serials on Emperor Akbar. And don't we know what happened when I announced TAJ MAHAL? A number of projects got announced pronto, he says, sounding slightly bitter now. But he sounds excited the moment he discuss his ambitious plans for the future. Prior to making a historical, I hope to start a film called TAXI DRIVER. This film will be produced by me, but directed by someone else, he divulges, not wanting to reveal the name at this stage. I've decided to tap talents from within my company, is all that he states. A quickie, TAXI DRIVER will be shot in a 4-month start-to-finish schedule. The film will be shot for 15 days in Mumbai, while the balance major portions will be shot in the U.S., he adds. Though Khan hasn't finalized the star cast of the film yet, he does reveal that he has Manisha Koirala in mind to enact a pivotal role in the film. Interesting!