How does the thought of Jennifer Aniston of Friends and Brad Pitt fame, crooning Tum pukar lo tumhara intezaar hai strike you?
Well, the scenario isn’t that far off now.
For the First time in the history of world cinema an Indian film is all set to be remade
in Hollywood.
And chosen film for this startling cultural makeover is the complex 1969 psycho-drama Khamoshi about a nurse in a mental asylum who falls in love with her patient and finally loses her mind when she can’t get her quota of sexual and emotional succour in life.
To be entitled Silence, this version of Khamoshi will be in the English language. It will have Jennifer Aniston playing Waheeda Rehman’s role. Two major Hollywood actors will play the roles that Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra immortalized.
This startling crossover endeavour will be produced by LA-based restaurateur Sanjay Patel who has already spoken to Aniston.
Says Patel excitedly, “She’s a regular at my restaurant and I have spoken to her about doing Waheeda Rehman’s role in Khamoshi. Now she wants me to give her the full script which we’re working on.”
Apparently when Aniston heard the idea of the healer getting sick in Khamoshi she had tears in her eyes.
“She was very moved, ” admits Patel who says he’ll spare no expenses to make sure that his version of Khamoshi reaches a global audience.
“I’ve been a major film buff from childhood, ” says Patel. “For some reason Khamoshi has stayed with me. I’ve watched it repeatedly. It’s a story that can never grow old.”
Though Patel intends to stick to the basic plotline he’ll also incorporate many changes in the new-age Hollywodized version of Khamoshi.
“For example, Dhamendra’s role in the original (of the nurse’s first patient) was very sketchy in Khamoshi. His face wasn’t even shown in any frame. We’ll flesh out that character in Silence and offer it to a top Hollywood actor.”
Marquee names like Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeeves are being considered for the male leads.
So will Jennifer Aniston and her co-stars sing Humne dekhi hai un aankhon ki mehekti khushboo, Wohshaam kuch ajeeb thi and those love songs written by Gulzar.
“I don’t think so. My Khamoshi isn’t a musical. Sanjay Leela Bhansali did Khamoshi The Musical, ” ends Patel cheekily.
