Ketan Anand to revive his father's banner

Ketan Anand is all set to revive his father, Chetan Anand's banner Himalaya Films with a psychological love story titled Petrol Pump.

The film which revolves around the lives of two boys and a girl who meet at a lonely petrol pump on a highway one night, will launch Ketan's cousin, Vaibhav as one of the leads. The rest of the cast is still being decided though Ketan says that he's likely to opt for an established actor for the other part.

"My father gave a break to his younger brother Goldie uncle as an actor in Jorroo ka Bhai. So it's only right that I launch Vijay Anand's son," says Ketan.

"Vaibhav is a trained actor and has assisted Sooraj Barjatya and Ravi Chopra. His father would have flagged off his career himself had he not died prematurely."

Last gift
Petrol Pump was written by Chetan Anand some 30-40 years ago. He had wanted to direct the film himself with Raaj Kumar and Rajesh Khanna in the lead. But things didn't work out. The script was his last gift to his son.

"He told me that if I could modernize the story, I could make it. I'm sitting on the screenplay with a young writer Asif Ali Baig who wrote the English lyrics for Dhoom 2," informs Ketan.

"We should start shooting by the middle of the year with Dev Anand's blessing. He will attend the mahurat."

Out of the blue
Vaibhav is still in a daze. "For five-and-a-half-years I've been strug gling to get off the block. Then suddenly, one day out of the blue, Kunki bhai (Ketan Anand) told me about this script Chetan uncle who was a master craftsman had written, and asked me if I would consider doing it. I said ‘Sure' and that was it. I'm not allowing myself to feel anything. Let's get it down on paper and then I'll know I'm going somewhere," Vaibhav says with a wry smile.

You wonder what Vijay Anand would have said to the proposal of two Anands coming together once again and he quips, "‘It's about time', that's what dad would have said."

There's another offer that Vaibhav is dying to speak about. "But not before Kunki bhai makes his announcement," he says. "I can promise you it's as big as this one."