Das not interested

Nandita Das has opted out of Sanjay Gupta’s film based on the novel Vine of Desire.

It has been six months since actress-filmmaker Nandita Das was reportedly approached by White Feathers production house to direct its screen adaptation of author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel, Vine of Desire. Sanjay Gupta of White Feather productions then confirmed: Tabu and Vidya Balan will play the two female leads."

A few months ago, Das reportedly stated that it was “too soon to talk about the project,” as she hadn’t read the book yet. The update is that Das has still not gone through the novel and says that she will not be a part of the project anymore.

Why? “For starters, I haven’t read the book!” she exclaims. Ask her if her impending pregnancy is the reason for not directing it and she quips, “Yes, that is one of the reasons. Chitra is a very sweet lady, but I’m not directing the film and I don’t know why there is still so much speculation about it,” says Das.

Story of two sisters, Vine of Desire is Divakaruni’s third book getting a screen adaptation. Her earlier books Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart were made into a film and TV series, respectively. The author, however, says that she never writes with an adaptation in mind. “But I do think in visual terms. I was a painter for many years, and that tends to affect how I write. I am quite excited that Vine of Desire is being made into a film,” she explains.