‘Udta Punjab’ director Abhishek Chaubey says he is happy about stars in his film shedding their star persona to become various characters in his film. At the launch of the film’s song ‘Ikk Kudi’, Chaubey was asked how despite the presence of four stars – Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Diljith Dosanjh, the film didn’t look like it belonged to one particular star.
He said: “When I’m writing the script I don’t know who’s going to play it. You first create the character and then find the right actor to play it. I’m happy about the fact that these four are different kind of actors, and good actors. But they have come to shed their star persona to become a character.” The first look at all the four characters – Shahid as rockstar, Kareena as doctor, Diljith as cop and Alia as labourer were revealed together and the trailer of the film also gave equal importance to all the four.
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Chaubey’s first two films, ‘Ishqiya’ and ‘Dedh Ishqiya’, had romance, comedy and crime, but ‘Udta Punjab’ seems to be an out-and-out serious film based on the issue of drugs. About the film, he said: “The most difficult film that I made and I’m still making it. What the film will be for me, I’ll only be able to tell in about 5-10 years time. But right now, it’s been a wonderful journey; a wonderful experience and I’m still in the middle of it.”
Alia’s look as a Bihari labourer has got some criticism for its ‘stereotyping’ of people belonging to Bihar. When asked if Bihar will be shown in a positive light or negative light, he said, “This film is about Punjab, there is no take of mine on the land of Bihar in this film. She is just one character in the film.” ‘Udta Punjab’ releases on 17 June.
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