Here is some good news for the cinebuffs in Assam. Brand ambassador of Assam tourism Priyanka Chopra has come forward to invest in Assamese film industry and her first project is the Jahnu Barua directorial ‘Bhoga Khirikee’. The film has been co-produced by Shahnaab Alam, who had earlier produced critically acclaimed movie ‘The Lunchbox’.
Made with a budget of Rs 3-3.5 crore, the movie was filmed in thirty two days in Kaziranga and Bokakhat. The movie stars noted artists like Zerifa Wahid, Seema Biswas, Bishnu Khargoriya, Sanjay Khargoriya and Jai Kashyap.
In a media interaction on Thursday, Jahnu Barua said, “The film is based on a true incident. I can’t reveal much of the story now. It is based in a village in Upper Assam. The story is about a progressive minded young woman and her struggle. The timeline of the film is based in 2015.”
Zerifa Wahid, who is playing the role of the protagonist Togor said, “Shooting the film has been a wonderful experience for me. Working with Jahnu da is always special because you get to learn so much. I have worked with him in the past in ‘Baandhon.’ I play the role of Togor, a simple girl from rural area. Though she stays in village, she has her own set of ideologies.”
Veteran actor Seema Biswas who plays the role of Zerifa’s mother said, “The mother-daughter bonding is very strong in the film. It is a very humane story with a socio-political context. We stayed for a long time in Kaziranga. This was in fact my longest stay in Kaziranga.”
Meanwhile Priyanka Chopra who couldn’t attend the event due to her commitments in Hollywood, sent a video message with her best wishes for the team. Her mother Dr Madhu Chopra, who is also the director of her production house, Purple Pebble Pictures hinted Priyanka might visit Assam to promote the film in April. “However, even if she doesn’t come, she will promote the film from there via social media,” she confirmed.
Terming ‘Bhoga Khirikee’, a film about ‘strong women characters who are rooted in their value as well as progressive’, Dr Chopra said her house will try to take this film all over the country.