Rishi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan to act together in `Mehrunnisa`

Mumbai: Bollywood veterans Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, who gave the hit film `Amar Akbar Anthony` along with Vinod Khanna, are coming together in the forthcoming film `Mehrunnisa`. "We were to shoot for the film in April but because of Amitabh`s health condition the shooting has been put off to October," Rishi said here last evening without divulging details of the film. Bachchan is currently recuperating in a Mumbai hospital post his abdominal surgery. Rishi, 59, who was here to launch the `India Week` at the London School of Economics and deliver his thoughts on the Indian film industry, said, "Hopefully we will have a new film under the R K banner as well." "We, the Kapoor family, have been part of Indian Cinema for about 180 years. I am very proud that the Kapoors have been working in the films for four generations." Rachel Dwyer, Professor of Bollywood Cinema at the SOAS who discussed `The Changing Landscape of Bollywood` with Rishi, said, "Bollywood is one of the few rivals to Hollywood and it is growing bigger and bigger." Answering questions, Rishi said he was selected for the hit-film `Bobby` by default. After `Mera Naam Joker` failed at the box office, Raj Kapoor wanted to make a love story sans big stars and "that is why I was selected", he said. "I owe my career to music directors of the era," he said. PTI