Namesake

Mira Nair’s next directorial project “The Namesake” that is based of Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel with the same name will have its world wide release in March, 07. Tabu, Irfan Khan and Kal Penn form the main star cast.

But would you trust me if I say that for Mira, Tabu wasn’t the first choice to play the Kolkota-born Ashima in the novel. Mira had first approached Rani Mukherjee for the role of Ashima and had asked Abhishek Bachchan to play her son’s role. But because Abhishek was told that he will have to do a semi-nude scene and some kisses, he retracted from the project and Rani followed the suit (for reasons unknown). Well…I don’t think Abhishek has a clean record of no on-screen kisses! But he better follow the rule he has set for his would-be wife Ash. And for Rani…I am amazed that she dropped such a good project. But then to think of it Mira wouldn’t have got a fine actress as Tabu to play the role of Ashima.