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Zaira Wasim to work with Priyanka Chopra and Abhishek Bachchan

Newcomer Zara Wasim, who shot to fame after playing the childhood version of wrestler Geeta Phogat in Aamir Khan’s Dangal (2016) and then went on to cement her position as a powerful performer with Secret Superstar (2017), has bagged another plum project.

According to reports, the National award-winning actress has been roped in to play the lead character in filmmaker Shonali Bose’ next directorial. The yet-to-be-titled film is based on the life of Aisha Chaudhary and stars Priyanka Chopra and Abhishek Bachchan in principal roles. Wasim will play their daughter in the movie.


A well-placed source reveals that Zaira has already given her consent to star in the film. “Zaira really liked the script and has given her nod to the project. Shonali is currently busy with the pre-production and is hoping to start shooting by the middle of this year in Mumbai. Priyanka and Abhishek will play parents to Zaira’s character.”

For the uninitiated, Aisha Chaudhary was born with an immune deficiency disorder and was later diagnosed with a serious lung disease called Pulmonary Fibrosis. However, her belief in herself, persistent optimism and calm perspective on life changed her life forever and she became a motivational speaker and the author of a book called My Little Epiphanies. She finally lost her battle on 24 January, 2015, at the age of 18.

The film on her life is being produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur.

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Yash says Ravana in Ramayana must connect with Western viewers as film eyes global audience

Praised for visuals, but some criticised Western-style asura designs for not fully reflecting Hindu roots

Instagram/thenameisyash/YouTube

Yash says Ravana in Ramayana must connect with Western viewers as film eyes global audience

Highlights

  • Yash says he humanised Ravana to help global audiences relate to the character.
  • Asura designs in the first glimpse drew criticism for looking too Western-inspired.
  • Producer Namit Malhotra compares the film's tone to Lord of the Rings and Gladiator.
Yash, who plays the demon king Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, says his portrayal was shaped by one clear goal: making the character relatable beyond Indian audiences.
Speaking at CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week, where the film was presented alongside major Hollywood releases, the actor said he worked to strip away the purely mythological reading of the role.

"I have tried to internalise the whole essence of Ravana and tried to make him as human as possible at times," Yash told Reuters.

"It is important for people to relate to him, and since we have global ambitions, we need to make it familiar to a Western audience as well."

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