Mumbai, January 07: Attacks on Indian students in Australia notwithstanding, Bollywood’s filmmakers continue to shoot their films in the land of the Aussies.
And although the Oz government welcomes the film business, the question is, will they allow Mohit Suri to shoot his film Crook: It’s Good To Be Bad which derides the country for allowing foreign (Asian) students to be segregated and attacked?
Throwing light on the film’s theme Mahesh Bhatt says, “Crook chronicles the journey of an indifferent young Indian who believes in the I-ME-MYSELF creed, until the guy gets sucked into the quagmire of hate when racial war breaks out in Australia.”
The film, says Bhatt, is the story of the young protagonist — Emraan Hashmi’s — journey from apathy to sensitivity about the way young students are treated abroad.
The question is, will director Mohit Suri and his crew be allowed to Crook in Australia? If the Australian government gets to know the film condemns racial policies in the country it would be most certainly bar Suri from shooting in the country. Mahesh Bhatt, no stranger to risks and controversies will probably sneak into Australia quietly, shoot his film and return before the Aussies realise what the film is about. Or else Suri and Bhatt have another choice. They can shoot in another country and pass it off as Australia.
However Bhatt is hopeful. “We are not demonising Australia. We are taking a more enlightened view on the subject. We are hopeful there would be no problem getting to shoot in Australia. I’m certain Australians will stretch themselves to help us shoot in their land. Our film’s concerns are life-affirming.”
——-Agencies