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Jackie's gambit

V S Srinivasan

Jackie Shroff. Click for bigger pic!

Jackie Shroff may finally have something to celebrate about -- his new film, Grahan, which is expected to bring Jackie Shroff Entertainment Limited round the corner.

Both JSEL and the film had their share of troubles before work was completed. But Grahan, with an offbeat subject, might just change all the equations. The cast -- Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala and Anupama Verma -- itself could help the film tremendously.

"The film has been delayed because we wanted it that way," says Ayesha Shroff, Jackie Shroff's wife, who has taken it on herself to mind her husband's business.

A still from Grahan. Click for bigger pic!

"There have been widespread rumours about the financial problems the company is facing and that there have been some infighting within too. I do agree there were some hassles to contend with, but not what the media has made it out to be," she says.

Grahan improved its chances after Subhash Ghai, who had played a big role in bringing Jackie to films, was also seriously involved in the editing of the film. Although Jackie and Ayesha claim he was only a motivating factor and helped when needed, other unkind souls say Ghai actually supervised some shooting schedules of the film, giving director Shashilal Nair some invaluable tips.

A still from Grahan. Click for bigger pic!

He allegedly saw the rushes, had some portions deleted, some scenes reshot and others added. In short, he supervised the post-production of the film. But ask Jackie and Ayesha if this is true and they will stoutly deny it.

Though they are running a tight ship now, Grahan's biggest asset -- its original theme -- may prove its undoing.

Ayesha says the film was all along intended to be different. But Yugpurush, with an offbeat subject, failed despite starring stalwarts like Jackie Shorff, Manisha Koirala and Nana Patekar. So what are Grahan's chances, we ask.

"The film will do well. So what if the subject is offbeat. It has the trappings of a commercial film," says a JSEL spokesperson.

Ayesha Shroff. Click for bigger pic!

"The film is looking very good," confirms a senior journalist who has seen the film. And Grahan has apparently not been made with the sole intention of making a profit despite the company having to depend on it. It is actually slated to be a film with a message. Now that we've gone on and on about the "different" story theme, we'll tell you the script.

Jackie plays Jaggu, an effervescent young advocate who is on the threshold of a great career. His elder brother, Raghuvaran, his source of inspiration, is the best criminal lawyer in the city. The idealistic and principled Jaggu is in love with the chief minister's daughter Sunita, played by Anupama Verma.

Sunita's father is assassinated and the party presses her to take the job.

Meanwhile, a poor girl named Paro walks into a police station with a complaint that she has been raped by the chief minister's son Sanjay.

A still from Grahan. Click for bigger pic!

Jaggu takes up the case at Sunita's behest and wins it by proving that it was a conspiracy hatched by the Opposition and the young woman is a whore. Paro, played by Manisha, is shattered and goes into deep shock.

Later Jaggu realises that Sanjay had indeed raped the woman, locates her and ensures she becomes normal again. And is stabbed in the bargain.

Meanwhile, Sunita wins the election. Paro shoots Sanjay dead during the victory celebrations. Sunita and Jaggu find themselves against their brothers, Sunita against Sanjay, Jaggu against Raghuvaran...

Nice story you think? Well, that's what JSEL's staking its reputation on.