Staging a shoe story

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has found his new hero in Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoe at former US President, George W Bush, during a Baghdad press meet in December, 2008.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has found his new hero in Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoe at former US President, George W Bush, during a Baghdad press meet in December, 2008.

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This time, it's not a film, but a play that Bhatt is producing. "Yes, I have decided to do a play on al-Zaidi's life. To me, he is a brother who lives in Iraq. I, too, believe that back then, the worst terrorist was not in Iran or Iraq; he was sitting in the White House," says Bhatt.

The play, directed by Arvind Gaur, will see the character of al-Zaidi being played by actor Imran Zahid. Zahid, who has been interacting with al-Zaidi for the role, says, "He is a follower of Gandhi, and wishes to visit Raj Ghat." Al-Zaidi will be part of the screening of the play in Delhi, in March.