Mumbai charms Schrader

Even as filmmaker Danny Boyle realises just how tough life could get after making a successful film in India, another international face is seeking inspiration from the country. Now, Hollywood writer-filmmaker Paul Schrader plans a film on Mumbai underworld.

Even as filmmaker Danny Boyle realises just how tough life could get after making a successful film in India, another international face is seeking inspiration from the country. Paul Schrader, noted Hollywood script writer-director, is set to capture the Mumbai underworld in his upcoming film.

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Schrader, who is chairing the ongoing Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) jury, said he has finished writing the script of the film, along with Mushtaq Sheikh, who had scripted Om Shanti Om.

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha will be one of the producers of the film, which is a story about an Indian and an American soldier posted in Somalia on a peace keeping mission. “I’m looking for an American and an Indian star and the film will be set in Mumbai. It will combine commercial traditions of Hollywood and Bollywood,” said Schrader.

Giving an insight to the film’s story, Schrader said, “The American saves the life of the Indian soldier during one operation and they become friends. After completing the assignment, the two go back to their respective homes. The American becomes a cop while the Indian becomes a bhai.”

Schrader said that he is vigorously pursuing the project and has visited the city thrice in the past one year, but at the same time he was being “realistic”.