Suhaib Ilyasi, best known for his TV show, is making a film on the Dowry Act

Garima Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; June 12, 2011)

 

Filmmakers often look at their own lives for inspiration. That said, Suhaib Ilyasi has found pretty much everything for his debut movie in his own life. Ilyasi, widely known for his show India’s Most Wanted, was charged under the Dowry Act (498A) after his wife committed suicide in 2000. A decade later, he is making a movie called 498A — The Wedding Gift and has shot 85 per cent of the movie.

Says Suhaib, “People always thought I was arrested for killing my wife Anju. But the truth is that I was arrested under the charge of demanding Rs 10,000 as dowry. My movie is based on IPC Sec 498A, yeh dahej lene waalon ko rokne ke liye banaya gaya tha. But it’s being completely misused these days.”

He adds, “It’s an absolutely commercial film. Cinema ke through, bahut strong messages diye jaa sakte hain. It’s a balanced mix. There are songs by Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan, etc, but the topic is serious. The lead roles are being played by Delhi-boy Harsh Nagar and Shrishti Gautam, a class X student of Delhi’s Sanskriti School.” A class X student? “Yes. I wanted a young and fresh face. Shrishti agreed — she’s a younger version of Katrina Kaif and a wonderful performer. Farida Jalal, Alok Nath, Reema Lagoo and Deepak Tijori are also in the film.”

The team will shoot in Delhi. Says Ilyasi, “We are keeping the film More >