Vidarbha's first locally made Hindi film to hit theatres on April 26

NAGPUR: Claiming cinema to be his passion, city based educationist Deepak K Bajaj has been bitten by the film bug. Ready to release his maiden film 'Chehra The Unknown Mask' in 300 theatres across the country on April 26, Bajaj is confident that his debut effort will win him audiences.
Touting it as a film of Vidarbha and by Vidarbha, Bajaj said on Tuesday that he has tried to give a platform to local talent who otherwise go to Mumbai and rough out to make it big."The technical support for the film has been locally obtained. I know how many problems that created for me as people here are not as skilled and proficient as their counterparts in Mumbai," he said.
The two hour film has been shot entirely at different locales in Nagpur and Chikaldhara. The cast has actors from Marathi cinema and many new faces selected locally. "I have even taken actors who perform at Zadipatti," says Bajaj. The film written, produced and directed by Bajaj has been made with rural audience in mind. It is a horror film with liberal dollops of superstition, black magic and oomph. "There are five songs in the film and also an item number for that dash of masala," Bajaj said.
A veteran of short educational films, he has made about 50 of them, Bajaj says that he has all the facilities and equipment required for making a film. "I have a studio where all the process associated with filmmaking can be undertaken. And with such a facility available I plan to launch a film and television training academy in the city soon. Besides training young talent the academy will also produce at least two films in a year to provide practical training to students," he said.
Made on a budget of Rs 4 crore the film was completed in one-and-half years. Bajaj, who runs the Sindhu Education Society, says that he is confident of recovering the cost through satellite and overseas rights.
Marathi film actress Sheetal Pathak and newbie actor Shaheem Khan play the lead roles. The film will be released in Aashirwad and Laxmi theatre in Nagpur.