Director Priyadarshan on a roll

By Sanu George Nov 13, 2006, 3:31 GMT

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 13 (IANS) Ace director Priyadarshan, who started his career with Malayalam films, has four mega projects in hand and is likely to tie up with an international film company.

Priyadarshan held talks also with Walt Disney on a possible film collaboration during his recent US visit, but was rather upset with its attitude.

'I was called by them because they found out that I make the best comedy films in Asia. But I realised that there was an attitudinal impediment between us. I just can't digest the way they look down on us,' Priyadarshan told IANS in an interview.

On the deal with an international film company, he said: 'See I am getting old and I have to secure my future. I am finalising my talks with the foreign film company. Since I have a non-disclosure clause with them, I am unable to divulge any details regarding it at the moment.'

The director has his hands full with four mega projects lined up.

His upcoming 'Bhagam Bhag' is a multi-starrer that includes Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal and Lara Dutta. It is slated for release Dec 22.

'This film is shot in London and it sees the return of actor-turned-politician Govinda after a gap of five years,' said the director who was here recently.

Priyadarshan's next is 'Dhol' starring Tusshar Kapoor, Sharman Joshi and Tanushree Dutta. It goes on floor Nov 17 in Pune.

'This is a thriller-comedy where four boys cook up a story to hook up a girl by getting her sympathy. But to their dismay, it turns out be a true story of people who are in hot pursuit of these four boys,' he said.

Also in the pipeline is the Hindi version of blockbuster Malayalam film 'Manichithrathazhu' which was recently made into Tamil.

'Then I have a project with Amitabh Bachchan which is about an assassination. It is similar to 'The Day of The Jackal'. Bachchan and I have discussed this film and it is in the scripting stage. Apart from this, there is a film for Shah Rukh Khan's production house.'

The director is also making a Tamil film 'Kanchipuram' which is not commercial in nature.

'This is a 90-minute film on the weavers of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu and is set in the period between 1942 and 1957. I have to finish it before August 2007. The film stars actor Prakash Raj apart from other Tamil theatre actors,' Priyadarshan added.

© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service