Joint venture: Ajay Devgan and Kajol in a still from the film U, Me aur Hum. The film hits theatres on April 11. Movie stills
It’s a ground rule of sorts. When filmmakers feature animals or birds, permissions have to obtained from the Animal Welfare Board of India. But now even digital images of birds have come under the scanner.
So, Ajay Devgan had to fly to Delhi recently to sort out the non-issue vis-à-vis
about-to-be released U Me aur Hum.
The film features pigeons in scenes shot aboard a cruise line—but these are not live pigeons, they have been created by digital animation.
Wing trouble
Maneka Gandhi, founder of People for Animals, reportedly had a problem with the scene. According to a source, the pigeons are so perfectly created that they don’t look digitally generated.
The authorities felt that real birds were used and asked if permissions had been obtained. Devgan, in Delhi, patiently explained the use of digital graphics in the movie. After the okay from Delhi, Devgan has had the film censored.
On Saturday evening, a special screening was held for L K Advani and Ravi Shankar Prasad. BJP leaders reportedly wanted to see the film and Devgan couldn’t refuse.
Also joining him at the screening were Kajol, Divya Dutta and cinematographer Aseem Bajaj.