Imtiaz Ali: Audience at Berlin film fest related to Highway

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Director Imtiaz Ali is on cloud nine with the response his road drama Highway received at the recently-concluded 64th Berlin International Film Festival.

Highway, starring Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda, premiered in the panorama section of the prestigious festival on February 13, a week ahead of its world release this Friday.

"I have never been invited to a film festival before. I thought this would not be the right platform to showcase my film because the audience were European mostly. But it was heartwarming to see that despite not knowing the language, they related to the movie's storyline. It felt great to be applauded by Berlin audience," Imtiaz said.

Imtiaz, 42, said while he was nervous about the screening and the audience's response, Alia was concerned about his red carpet outing.

"Alia was concerned about what I was going to wear. She took me to shopping and made sure that I buy a new pair of jeans and shoes. I bought it and teamed it up with a bandhgala," Imtiaz said.

The director said during their shopping trip to a mall, he was surprised to see that all the three screenings of Highway were houseful.

"When we went to the place, we were shocked to see that there was a ticket chaos for our film. It was a huge hall with around 800 to 900 seating capacity. It was overwhelming to see a red band showing houseful when our film rolled on the screen. All the three screenings of the film were houseful," he said.

The Rockstar director said fellow director Anurag Kashyap used to tell him to take his films in festivals.

"I always felt that only creative filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap go to film festivals and to these glamorous cities.

This is the first time that a film of mine was invited to a festival. I remember Anurag used to tell me that your films should go to festivals."
 
Imtiaz said post Berlin, he is planning to take his films to other international film festivals as well.

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Director Subhash Kapoor and Arshad Warsi will reunite after Jolly LLB for another comedy titled Guddu Rangeela.

The film, to be produced by Fox Star Studios and Sangeeta Ahir of Mangal Murti Films, will see Arshad playing the role of Rangeela. Actor Amit Sadh will play Guddu. Aditi Rao Hydari will also star in the film.

Kapoor will begin shooting the film next month, and it is slated to release in 2015.

'Set in north India, Guddu Rangeela is a story that will bring a smile on everyone's face. I am glad to once again partner with Fox Star Studios and together we hope to re-create the magic of Jolly LLB. We have an excellent ensemble cast led by Arshad, Amit and Aditi. I am grateful to my producer Sangeeta Ahir for believing in the journey of this film,' Kapoor said in a statement.

Ahir said she decided to partner with Kapoor after watching his courtroom comedy Jolly LLB. 

Guddu Rangeela will be shot in Shimla, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and other locations in North India.