National Award winning director to make movies starring acid attack survivors

AGRA: Rajeev Bhatia, director of National Award-winning Haryanvi film Pagdi: The Honour, has announced he will be making a commercial film on the lives of acid attack survivors working at Sheroes Hangout. Bhatia will be casting the survivors in lead roles and visited the café a couple of days ago to discuss the project with them.
Talking to TOI, Bhatia said, “My first film 'Pagdi' was based on the social evil of honour killing.This movie will talk about issues related to acid atatcks which are quite rampant. I have been working on this (acid attacks) subject for a long time now and wanted to meet the survivors here. As I was in Lucknow to attend a theatre and film festival, I thought I should not waste this opportunity of meeting them. I have heard their stories. I will make a fictional film based on their lives.”
“I will try to shoot film in Agra itself with the real characters after March. It will be realistic in nature, but handled in quite interesting and engaging manner. In my last film, many new comers had worked, who did not have any training in acting. I am quite sure these survivors will do a wonderful job in the movie, although a final casting will be done. There will other actors and actresses who will act in this movie,” he added.
Bhatia explained that the movie will be on the lines of movies like Gangs of Wasseypur, which do not have any item songs, but are story and content based.
I am working on a film right now. It will be released in March and soon after that I will start working on this film, said the 45-year-old director.
Bhatia was all praise for survivors and said the Hangout has given them a new identity and helped them gain confidence. “I hope that after the film is released, many more people will get associated with them. The issues of easily availability of acid in market, police’s failure in registering FIRs on time and how survivors are threatened will be part of the film,” he said.
Bhatia has been in the film and TV industry for the last 20 years. He has directed many TV serials including 11 for Ekta Kapoor, including Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
His film Pagdi: The Honour had bagged two prestigious National Awards-Best Film and Best Supporting Actress.