Mumbai: Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu will star in the Hindi version of an upcoming Bengali wildlife thriller film.
With the veteran Nitish Roy as director, `Gehra Paani` will have Dutt play a mad scientist who creates a genetically evolved crocodile with individual intelligence but becomes a target of a gang of hunters wanting to capture the unique reptile for their lucrative business.
The film`s first-time producer Avik Bagchi, who runs the diversified Prayag Group, told PTI that the Bollywood duo are expected to shoot at a film city in the Maoist-infested Jungelmahal area of West Midnapore district, where a giant 100 foot long crocodile has been created using pyrotechnics and CGI.
This will be the first venture from Tollywood where such advanced digital technology and special effects have been used.
The crocodile is a lovable one and is blessed with intelligence just like dolphins.
The unconventional take on the reptile is an attempt to challenge the crocodile`s image of a stealthy cold-blooded predator and create awareness about the conservation of our wildlife habitat, Bagchi said.
In Bengali, the film will be known as `Jole Jongole` where Mithun Chakraborty plays the lead along with Ashish Vidyarthi and Tinnu Anand.
With Rs 25 crore being invested in both the versions, the films will also be shot in the forests of Sunderbans and release in 2013. Nitish Roy, who also penned the script along with Debaditya Dutta, said the idea germinated in him when he was working as an art director in the 2002 Hollywood horror film `Crocodile 2: Death Swamp`.
"Wildlife movies are rare in Indian cinema and it took me 10 years to find a producer after I wrote the script while working for the Hollywood film. Producers are scared to make films on wildlife and science fiction," Roy said.
As compared to the Bengali version, the Hindi one will have more `masala` to suit the palate of Bollywood audiences.
The winner of three National Film Awards, Roy`s latest Bengali film `Gosainbaganer Bhoot` is running successfully at the theatres.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.