FILM INTERVIEWS: CAST OF 'AASHAYEIN'
Bollywood Stud Partners With Adorable Actress in Heartfelt Drama
Sonal Sehgal (Ishq Unplugged) was a tad worried about whether Aashayein would ever get off the ground, while Bollywood hunk John Abraham (New York) just wanted Nakesh Kukunoor’s film to get some well-deserved attention. Alas, the latest drama to hit wide release in Bollywood multiplexes is indeed Aashayein, if only delayed a bit more than two years after the red light went on. Produced by T-Series and Precept Picture Company, shot in Pondicherry and Hyderabad and also starring Pradeep Singh, Girish Karnad, and Farida Jalal, Aashayein will probably be one of the most heartfelt Hindi films of the year when it releases on August 27th.
A film about a compulsive gambler who wins a rather large fortune shortly before discovering he only has 90 days to live, Aashayein follows the dramatic life of Rahul Sharma. In staying true to the literal and figurative meaning of the film’s title (“Aashayein” literally translates to “hope”), John Abraham told the press in a recent chat that he was very hopeful Aashayein has an opportunity to screen in front of large audiences both in India and around the world.
“(My) first wish was that (Aashayein) should release. Now (that) it is releasing, I am very happy. My wish is that it should be a positive film in audiences’ minds, and I am confident that it will be a (well-received) film in the mind of the audience,” Abraham humbly confessed when promoting the film earlier this month, adding that he waived his standard acting fee to take on the production’s lead role. “Commercially, it is a small film, but it will create big impact on minds, so I think that, commercially, it should be a plus-film.”
The actor, who also appeared in blockbuster productions such as Yash Raj’s New York and Dhoom, added that he is a true thespian in that he always pushes himself to become a better actor, even if it means making significant sacrifices to his personal life. According to news reports, not only did he not accept payment for starring in Aashayein, but he also dropped an estimated 35 pounds (16 kilograms). [Editor's note: There is one conflicting news report quoting a source who stated John actually did receive numerations.]
“In my effort, I would like to improve my performance qualitatively and perform in good films,” he announced during his chat with the press. “Every actor wants credibility, so Aashayein is that film where I am looking for critical and credible acclaim.”
Of course, John Abraham is not the only person with high hopes and expectations. His co-star, Sonal Sehgal, was on pins and needles awaiting the release of Aashayein — not so much because of her rather intimate romance scene with Abraham but instead because she did not want to see such a great film and opportunity go to waste.
“I’m so happy, I’m bouncing off the walls. It’s a beautiful story in which I play a girl who believes that love makes the world go round. She’s absolutely devoted to her boyfriend,” Sehgal excitedly confessed about the film and her character, Nafisa, during her promotional interviews with the press. “This movie was to be my launch vehicle, and when it got delayed, I was upset. But the situation was not in my hands, and beyond a point, I had to move on. I could not just sit around.”
Oddly enough, Sehgal certainly hopes audiences and moviegoers would sit around and appreciate what Aashayein has to offer, mostly because of the message the film delivers about the meaning of life and how people react to unplanned or unforeseen circumstances.
One thing she certainly hopes will not be a turn-off is the passionate love-making scene — an element of film-making that Bollywood fans are still not yet accustomed to. According to a source attached to the film who spoke to the press anonymously, the intimate sequence is up there with a similar scene in another John Abraham film in New York.
According to the source, however, the scene is essential to the plot development and adds depth to Abraham’s character, therefore it is not worthy of raised eyebrows or unnecessarily negative attention.
“John and Sonal’s love-making scenes come at a crucial point in the film and take the story in a new direction. Before shooting it, Nagesh explained the motive behind the passionate scene to both the actors,” the source informed the media through a statement.
Thankfully, such passion and love was not just limited to the intimate scene between Abraham and Sehgal. Instead, Seghal believes such strong emotion about the film’s concept existed from the day Kukunoor started making people aware of what Aashayein was about. Sehgal herself said she felt strongly about the film from the very moment Kukunoor approached her about it.
“I got the call for this movie when I had lost all hope after auditioning for the role three times. I was so excited when Nagesh called me that I pulled the brakes in the middle of the road while driving,” she sheepishly told the press. “To get a chance to work with a director of such repute early on in one’s career is a great thing. I am hoping that this movie will translate into good offers for me in the future.”
The young actress went on to explain why she felt the film meant so much to her and what she hopes audiences will walk away with once Aashayein’s end credits begin to roll.
“It’s an inspiring story,” she humbly and candidly told the press. “We face ups and downs in our lives all the time, so it doesn’t matter whether the movie releases now or two years later — the subject will always be relevant.”
Fortunately for moviegoers, no one has to wait much longer for this relevant story to be told, as Aashayein will set its hopes on touching people’s hearts this weekend.
Aashayein hits movie theaters and multiplexes around the world on August 27th.
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