Amid rumours that Baahubali writer and Devgn are collaborating, Prasad recalls pitching film set against the 1992 Mumbai riots to superstar in 2018; rues that the ‘national integration’ drama didn’t materialise
Ajay Devgn
In 2018, rumours were rife that Ajay Devgn and famed writer KV Vijayendra Prasad were teaming up for a drama set against the 1992 Mumbai riots that followed the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. While the project didn’t materialise then, recent chatter suggests that the duo are revisiting it. However, Prasad—who was to also helm the film—dismisses the rumours, stating that he will be busy with his directorial venture, Bhagwa Dhwaj, this year.
The writer-director says the film, titled Ayodhya, captured the theme of national integration through its four central characters. He reveals the fictionalised story began with a 14-year-old boy Kabir. “When the riots took place in Mumbai, many Muslims and Hindus lost their lives. [In the story], a Muslim family is killed by Hindu fanatics and their child Kabir [is the sole survivor]. He comes across two Hindu boys whose parents have been killed by Muslim fanatics. None of them have a family to rely on. Then, Kabir sees a temple of Lord Ram and says, ‘Just like Lord Ram and Lakshman, let us vow to stay together and take care of each other for the rest of our lives.’ They also adopt a one-year-old boy, without knowing which religion he belongs to. They promise that religion will never separate them.” The film would then follow the characters’ adult lives.
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KV Vijayendra Prasad
The Baahubali writer says he had narrated the script to producer Pahlaj Nihalani, and then to Devgn, who was to play Kabir. “Ajay had come to Pahlaj’s office for it. Mid-way into the reading, Ajay said he liked the story immensely and would do it. But afterwards, I don’t know what happened as they didn’t take it forward. This happened five years ago. How could I ask Ajay then, ‘Will you do it?’ At that time, I had thought of directing it, but now, I won’t.” The writer strongly believes that the drama about national integration is a “relevant story today”. “Ajay can still do the film. We can show him as Kabir, a married man in his 30s with his children.”
When mid-day reached out to Nihalani, he said that he was never in talks for any such movie. “I’ve never been in favour of making controversial projects. Vijayendra Prasad ji, who is a good friend, and I were in talks for another movie that didn’t work out.”
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