Sonakshi Sinha’s ‘Noor’ to spread in India, not Pakistan

By Joginder Tuteja -

September 1, 2016 - 11:07 AM IST

Recently released romcom affair Happy Bhag Jayegi was set in Pakistan. Despite all Pakistani characters showed in a positive light, the film was banned in Pakistan due to reasons known to the authorities there. However, upcoming release Noor won't face any such issues. Reason? The film's Pakistani setting has been changed to India.

Sonakshi Sinha’s ‘Noor’ to spread in India, not Pakistan

"Noor is based on Pakistani author Saba Imtiaz's novel 'Karachi, You're Killing Me!'. The light hearted book tells the escapades of a young Karachi based journalist Ayesha Khan. Sonakshi Sinha is reprising this character for screen. While she is called Noor in the film, the setting too has changed from Karachi to Mumbai. It is an entirely different demographic that Noor is dealing with now," informs our source.

The decision was taken much in advance though and hasn't been influenced by Happy Bhag Jayegi.

"As a matter of fact shooting of Noor was almost over when Happy Bhag Jayegi released in theatres," our source continues, "At the time of acquiring the rights of the book itself, the makers of Noor were quite clear that the film would be based out of Mumbai. There is no point to take your film to Karachi when the audiences for which it is being made are predominantly Indians."

The book is a bitter-sweet tongue in cheek tale of the life and times of a single young woman Ayesha who is attached to her profession as a journalist but doesn't mind hanging out with her friends and be in quest of true love.

"Well, this one line plot could have been in Karachi, Kolkata or Kansas; there is no difference that would be made to the film's storyline or narrative," informs our insider attached to the book, "Yes, the book has some mild shock value in there as it has booze, one night stands and Page 3 anecdotes set in Karachi. However, these are just some of the ingredients which can be neatly integrated with a Mumbai set up too. There is a lot more to the film and it was a no-brainer for director Sunhil Sippy and producers Vikram Malhotra and Bhushan Kumar to move on from Karachi to Mumbai."

This also helped the film's shooting take place with much more ease in Mumbai.

"There is a good deal of outdoor shoot that was required for Noor and had it been set in Karachi, it would have been a difficult bet. With Mumbai, it was much more comfortable for the makers to get into a familiar zone," the insider adds.

Confirms Sonakshi, "What we have done is that we have taken the core character from the book. Sunhil wanted to set Noor in Mumbai and that added further realism to the tale. Of course the convenience of location helped too. We are now just one last schedule away from wrapping the film."

Of course, the film is pitched to release in both India and Pakistan. Given the fact that the setting too has been changed to India, guess the Pakistani authorities won't mind Sonakshi Sinha's 'Noor' not really spreading in their own country!