Charlie Chaplin’s grand-daughter debuts in Bollywood

Legendary slapstick comedian’s grand-daughter to star in Aisha director Rajshree Ojha’s English language flick which releases on March 16. Heaving a sigh of relief, Ojha maintains that though she was ready with the film, the market was not open to independent ventures.

Director Rajshree Ojha’s first independent film, Chaurahen (Crossroads), that she made before her Bollywood debut Aisha (2010), is finally set to release on March 16. “The film is now releasing in Delhi Gurgaon, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore,” says Ojha.

Kiera-Chaplin

Heaving a sigh of relief, Ojha maintains that though she was ready with the film, the market was not open to independent ventures. “Language was also a big issue. It’s an English film, made with the idea that it was going to be an indie subject. Thankfully, PVR cinemas (multiplex chain) took interest in it, and decided to release it,” says Ojha, whose Aisha, starring Abhay Deol and Sonam Kapoor, fared well at the box-office.

Chaurahen stars Zeenat Aman, Victor Banerjee, Roopali Ganguly, Soha Ali Khan and Shayan Munshi in pivotal roles. Ojha says, “It’s an urban film about relationships. Set in three cities, the film shows a Mumbai couple going through ups and downs in their relationship, an extramarital affair in Kolkata, and a father coming to terms with his son’s death in Kochi.” The film is based on short stories penned by author Nirmal Verma. “They were independent short stories, which we intertwined to make a single story,” she reveals.