By Jilawatan

Dismissing rumours that the two leading ladies of his forthcoming film No One Killed Jessica were at loggerheads, filmmaker Rajkumar Gupta says Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan share a camaraderie and gel well.

It was reported that Vidya is not very happy with Rani because the Bengali beauty is hogging the limelight and taking maximum space in promotions. But Gupta called all the rumours baseless.

“I have been accompanying Rani and Vidya on most promotional events and they have been having a fabulous time. These are just rumours and there is no truth in these claims,” Gupta told IANS.

“I’ve seen how well they gel and the camaraderie that they share and the positivity with which they shot the film. So these are just rumours and not to be taken seriously,” he added.

Gupta, whose first film Aamir was a tale of a man’s struggle against terrorism, said that when he finished writing No One Killed Jessica, Rani and Vidya’s names instantly came to his mind for the main leads.

“Both are brilliant actors apart from being stars. Vidya has that certain kind of sensibility that was needed for her character. She is very sensitive not only as an actor but as a human being,” he said.

“Rani’s character required to have a lot of spunk and a headstrong and feisty attitude. I knew Rani will be able to do justice with that,” he added.

The film, slated to release Jan 7, is based on the murder of model Jessica Lall in 1999 by Manu Sharma, son of a Haryana politician, and the struggle of her sister Sabrina Lall to get justice for her.

It took the director, who has assisted filmmaker Anurag Kashyap in the past, three months to research about the case and seven months to write the script.

“I took up this subject as I thought it was a very inspiring story where in the course of events an entire nation came together and media played a very important role. I thought this would be an interesting story to portray on celluloid,” Gupta said.

However, his road to making this film was not without obstacles. The filmmaker said it was very challenging to give shape to the project.

“At every stage, there were challenges. The writing was the most difficult bit because the canvas was broad, there were so many characters and I didn’t want to make a documentary or a biography,” Gupta said.

“I wanted to get into the realms of cinema and make it an engaging and entertaining thriller. To get that entire thing in place, it took me some time to figure out and see how to go about it,” he said.

“I had to get a balance of fact and fiction because it was a very sensitive issue. So the script also had to be approached with a lot of sensitivity,” he added.

But wasn’t he scared that the movie might rake up many controversies because of the nature of the subject?

“This factor did come to my mind. So I tried to approach the film with as much sensitivity as possible,” the director said.

“But we must also keep in mind that the film is not about naming people or accusing anyone. That’s not my job as a filmmaker. It’s just my interpretation of the case,” he added.

After two serious drama films, Gupta is all set to make a light love story called Rapchik Romance, which is on the scripting stage at the moment.

By Jilawatan

Well, Aamir certainly seems to have inspired a lot of Bollywood artistes into following his perfectionist ways. And Vidya Balan seems set to be the next actress going the Aamir way. Vidya has decided to do one or two films a year as she wants to make sure that they will be successful at the box office.
Sources say, “Vidya is ensuring that she gives 100 per cent to her roles from the moment the script lands in her hand. She makes sure she knows her character thoroughly before taking on the role and studies everything there is to know about it. You will never see her doing ditzy roles but significantly defining ones.”
After Paa and Ishqiya, Vidya’s penchant for acting will now be seen in the role of Sabrina Lall in Rajkumar Gupta’s No One Killed Jessica, based on the murder of the model Jessica Lall. The actress has made sure that she has left no stone unturned in performing the role.
“It is necessary for me as an actor,” says Vidya. “I am constantly looking to do something different. I want to look forward to something new when I get up every morning. I want that excitement when I go on the sets or else life will be boring. Such roles make me selfish as an actor.”
Speaking about the film she says, “The film is a fast paced thriller set in the hub of political power, New Delhi. It is the story of two amazing women and their relentless pursuit of justice that mobilises an entire nation to prove that in a democracy there is no greater power than the power of the people.”

By Jilawatan

No One Killed Jessica is a poignant, hard hitting and also an entertaining film. Made on a small budget with two of the best actresses of the country, Vidya Balan and Rani Mukherjee, the film is centered on the infamous Jessica Lal murder case.

Director Rajkumar Gupta who earned recognition with his film Aamir got inspired to make the film on Jessica’s case from a headline in a national newspaper. He believes that the courtroom trial of the case was a very important event in contemporary India, signified by the society that rallied around for justice for Jessica who was shot dead point blank by the son of a rich politician. The film is Rajkumar Gupta’s dramatic interpretation of the entire Jessica Lal case.

Rani plays a passionate reporter Meera in the film, and Vidya is Sabrina, sister of Jessica, who, with her undaunted spirit, continued to fight to seek justice for her dead sister. Recently the film’s promo released, and indeed it was a thrilling watch. No One Killed Jessica is releasing on January 7.

By Jilawatan

Rani Mukherjee is back again with her next release No One Killed Jessica. She is pairing up with actress Vidya Balan as the lead characters in the film. The film is directed by Rajkumar Gupta, critically acclaimed for his last film Aamir starring Rajeev Khandelwal.

No One Killed Jessica is a film based on the Jessica Lal case. Jessica Lal was an aspiring model in New Delhi and was well known as a celebrity bartender. She was shot dead on April 29, 1999 at a party. The murder within no time became the talk of the town. Mani Sharma, the son of a politician was convicted on December 2006, accused of Jessica’s murder.

Rani in the film portrays the character of a reporter who was covering the murder mystery. Vidya Balan portrays Jessica’s sister, Sabrina. The film’s released dates are not announced, but the film’s promo will be released in next few weeks.

Rani Mukherjee was last seen staring opposite Shahid Kapoor in the film Dil Bole Haddipa. The film was based on gender stereotypes, however, it failed to make a mark at the Box Office. Taking into consideration that Rani will be seen on the silver screen after a long time, lots of expectations have definitely risen. Hope her hard work for the film pays-off. Wishing all the luck to both Rani and Vidya for their film No One Killed Jessica.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerjee had to shoot in old Delhi’s crowded areas for No One Killed Jessica. But how could that possibly happen without a mob surrounding them when Rani and Vidya are both such popular names? Director of the film, Rajkumar Gupta, who earlier made the Rajeev Khandelwal starrer Aamir, wanted to shoot the film on real lanes with hidden cameras. He wanted to shoot Vidya and Rani as part of the crowd to give an authentic feel to the film.

He did the same thing with Rajeev while shooting for Aamir in Mumbai. The candid shots with hidden cameras give a better look to the scene. He hadn’t realized the security risk he was undertaking when he asked Rani and Vidya to do it the same way.

He wanted to shoot in jam-packed lanes where vans wouldn’t be able to reach and not usual areas like Chandni Chowk. But he was suddenly very unsure of his plan when they reached the location in a van. He reveals that he was only able to do the shoot only because they assured him. The two actresses got into the crowd and shot for a while until people began to recognize them. Before the problem got out of hand, they would rush into the van and then leave for another place in old Delhi.

By Jilawatan

Vidya is indeed looking forward to the offer coming her way, especially after just signing NO ONE KILLED JESSICA where she has an author backed role. In this film which would be directed by Raj Kumar Gupta (of AAMIR fame), Vidya would be enacting the role of Sabrina Lal, sister of Jessica Lal. There is also a buzz in the town that Rani Mukherjee has also been signed for the film.

Meanwhile Vidya denies signing any other new film though she reassures that her long-in-news CHENAB GANDHI is pretty much on. “Sanjay (Leela Bhansali) is currently busy with GUZAARISH which he is directing as well as producing. Once he is through with it, we should get started on CHENAB GANDHI. It should certainly begin sometime this year”, she confirms before signing off.

By Jilawatan

Director Rajkumar Gupta, who earlier made the intense thriller, Aamir, has been planning a film on the Jessica Lal murder titled No One Killed Jessica. The crucial casting of Sabrina Lal was keeping the project from taking off. He has zeroed in on Vidya Balan for the powerful role. Vidya’s earlier stint as a strong, assertive woman in Parineeta and Halla Bol, (which incidentally had shades of Jessica’s life) and Paa has helped her land the critical role of Sabrina. Sabrina fought a relentless battle to get her sister’s killers nabbed after Jessica was gunned down in a crowded bar on April 29, 1999, in front of several eyewitnesses. Recently, the sensational case was in the news again when Jessica’s convicted killer, Manu Sharma, was out on parole, making merry in the nightspots of Delhi.

Vidya confirmed the news. She says. “Yes, I am playing Sabrina Lal in Rajkumar Gupta’s film. The minute I heard the role, I wanted to do it. It’s my first biographical role and a big challenge. I’ll be meeting Sabrina shortly. After Paa and Ishqiya, I need to move forward.”

Commenting on the film, Rajkumar says, “I start the film in February 2010. Vidya Balan seemed like the right choice from the start. Now that I have got her for the role, the rest of the casting will be easy.”

By Jilawatan

Jessica Lal refuses to die even after her brutal murder in full public glare. This time she is back in a film, which will see the talented Vidya Balan play her sister – Sabrina Lal. According to latest news, director Rajkumar Gupta, who earlier made the critically-acclaimed film, ‘Aamir’, has been planning a film on the Jessica Lal murder case titled ‘No One Killed Jessica’.

The director decided to cast Vidya after watching her powerful performance in ‘Paa’. Vidya has earlier played women centric roles in ‘Parineeta’ and ‘Halla Bol’.

Jessica’s sister Sabrina was the one who fought a terrible legal battle to get justice for her sister. Vidya confirmed the news and said, “Yes, I am playing Sabrina Lal in Rajkumar Gupta’s film. The minute I heard the role, I wanted to do it. It’s my first biographical role and a big challenge. I’ll be meeting Sabrina shortly. After ‘Paa’ and’ Ishqiya’, I need to move forward.”

Talking about the film, Rajkumar said, “I start the film in February 2010. Vidya Balan seemed like the right choice from the start. Now that I have got her for the role, the rest of the casting will be easy.”

We hope ‘No One Killed Jessica’ helps in getting justice for Jessica!

By Jilawatan

Vidya has won rave reviews for her splendid performance in Paa and people are excited about her bold and wicked turn in Ishqiya. She has signed on to play Sabrina Lal, Jessica Lal’s sister in the film, No One Killed Jessica.

The film is directed by Aamir director Rajkumar Gupta. He saw her in Paa and zeroed in on her for the role. The casting of Sabrina Lal was preventing the movie from taking off. It is a very substantial and intense role as the character of Sabrina Lal fights against the system to avenge her sister’s murder which happened in 1999. She was shot by Manu Sharma, a politician’s son.

Director Rajkumar Gupta said that he chose Vidya after he saw Paa. He felt she was the right choice and will now cast the rest of the actors as she was the main character. The film will go on the floors in February next year.

Vidya Balan said that the minute she heard the narration for the role, she knew she had to do it. She will be meeting Sabrina Lal shortly to prepare for her first inspired-from-real-life role. She said she was happy to do something completely different from Paa and Ishqiya.

Kareena Kapoor was approached to play Jessica Lal but she refused to do the film.

Vidya has portrayed strong characters in Parineeta, her debut film where she played Lolita and in Halla Bol, where she fought against injustice. Halla Bol had a sequence inspired from the Jessica Lal murder case.