Back in 2004, a young Shoojit Sircar (now 45) filmed several of the outdoor shots for Rituparno Ghosh’s Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer, Raincoat. Since then, the two filmmakers have shared a close bond. In fact, in the past, Ghosh has urged Shoojit to try his hand at Bengali films. The latter, since, went on to make the Hindi films Yahaan (2005) and Vicky Donor (2012).
But he did take up a Bengali film. “We were working together on a film called Red Carpet. In fact, he (Rituparno) wrote the script too. According to me, it’s his most commercial work till date. It’s about the equation between the editor of a magazine and a girl who works in the same office. I’d even convinced him to play the editor,” says Shoojit.
Now, with Ghosh’s untimely demise, Shoojit isn’t sure about the film’s future. “I don’t know whether I’ll make that film. Rituda fit the role perfectly, and I don’t see anyone else in that character. I used to tease him that if he doesn’t do the film, I will cast Meryl Streep and he would laugh,” adds Shoojit. He says the film was supposed to go on floors early next year.
Apparently, Ghosh was always concerned about the film’s commercial appeal. “He would ask, ‘Do you think I can write a commercial film?’ And I would say, ‘Why not?’,” says Shoojit.
{{/usCountry}}Apparently, Ghosh was always concerned about the film’s commercial appeal. “He would ask, ‘Do you think I can write a commercial film?’ And I would say, ‘Why not?’,” says Shoojit.
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