Bhagat Singh comes to life Witness a revolutionary Bobby on the sets

Bharati Dubey

Director Guddu Dhanoa is about to shoot an important scene for his prestigious project, 23 March 1931 -- Shaheed. The film is based on the life of the famous freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

A recent fire that destroyed the sets now sees the unit shoot at the Mumbai Police Headquarters, which has been converted into the Lahore Legislative Assembly.

About 450 junior artistes, some supporting actors and actor Bobby Deol take their positions as action master Tinu Verma gets ready to recreate a bomb blast. Guddu Dhanoa sits in front of the monitor, watching the scene.

As Verma yells, "Action," Bobby hurls a bomb into a well. Smoke billows out, blinding everyone for a moment. Three takes later, the shot is okayed.

Bobby is eager to talk about the Deol dream project and his role as Bhagat Singh. "If we had shot this scene on the original sets which were burnt down, I would have been happier. But one cannot help it. These things happen and compromises have to made. But I am enjoying every moment of the film."

About his role, the actor says, "This is one of the most difficult roles I have played, and it's not easy. I hope people get to know Bhagat Singh through our film."

Guddu Dhanoa, who directed Bobby in Bichhoo earlier, is honoured to be part of the project. "Sunny [Deol] wanted to make a film on Bhagat Singh. When he asked me to direct it, I was very happy," he says.

Dhanoa explains the scene present scene. "It is the assembly blast scene. We were forced to shoot it here, as we didn't have time to reconstruct our original sets which were burnt down. We have to release the film on time [June 7] and so have to make some compromises. Of course, this does match the location we wanted for the blast."

Tinu Verma says, "I was offered to do the action for Santoshi's film. But he has hired a foreigner and I will never take orders from a phirang (foreigner)! I have tried to make the action in this film look real. I have even taken clips from films division to help us. We cannot mess around with history."

The cast and crew now prepare to shift to another location in Kamalistan for a song sequence on Aishwarya Rai, Bobby's love interest.