Hollywood's Brush With India Continues Unabated

Actors Tannishtha Chatterjee and Nandita Das are set to act in Oscar-award winning actor Emma Thompson’s upcoming film, Sold.

The Love Actually beauty is on board as the executive producer of the multi-starrer film.

"Emma is closely involved with Sold because she likes the story a lot," says Tannishtha. "I met her briefly in London some time back. And she came across as a fantastic person.

Emma is a big star but she was very warm towards me. She is excited about the movie. In fact, Emma is planning to come down to India once the film’s shooting kicks off."

Director Jeffrey D Brown, who won an Oscar for his short film Molly’s Pilgrim, makes his feature film debut with Sold. He was the one who zeroed in on Tannishtha.

"Jeffrey had seen my work in Bombay Summer (2009) and Brick Lane (2007) and was very impressed. So, he sent me the script offering me the second lead part in the movie."

But after reading the script, Tannishtha chose another part. "Jeffrey wanted me to play the second lead since a 12-year-old girl will be the main protagonist," she says.

"Unlike my role in Brick Lane, I will play a crazy and boisterous girl, Monica. It will be challenging."

Tannishtha and Nandita apart, the film will also star Hollywood actor David Arquette of Scream fame with X-Files’ Gillian Anderson and Indian actor Om Puri.

While Nandita remained unavailable for comment, Tannishtha informs that Puri has been signed for the movie.

"It’ll be an ensemble cast because there are several interesting small roles. So, the casting is still on," says Tannishtha.

Based on a novel by Patricia McCormick of the same title, the film’s story is about a 13-year-old girl risking everything for freedom after being trafficked from her mountain village in Nepal to a brothel in India.

"Since the film will be shot in India, Anurag Kashyap has been roped in as line producer," says Tannishtha.

It will be shot in India largely around Mumbai and the outskirts of Maharashtra in May-June. Bollywood art director Nitin Desai is already designing the sets.

Tannishtha, on her part, is also excited about Charlie’s Angel Lucy Liu’s directorial debut venture, Meena.

"Lucy has finished her film. But since the project consists of four short films, we are waiting for others to wrap up their parts. Then, it will be tied into one film to release," she says.