Monday, Dec 5, 2005
Taj Mahal – Plays the ‘Hero’ in a Grand Bollywood Movie!
- Vimla Patil
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Vimla Patil was associated with Femina, India’s number one women’s magazine, published by the Times of India Group for 29 years. Femina is Vimla Patil's personal success story. Today, FEMINA is one of the strongest international brands with a vast readership in India and abroad. She initiated the Miss India contest in the mid-sixties for the journal and brought it to its present international stature. Vimla Patil promoted Indian textiles and fashion garments – especially handlooms – for decades by presenting over 4000 fashion shows in India and most countries of the world.
After finishing her long stint with Femina, she built a brand new career for herself as a freelance multi-mediaperson with writing, events, public relations, shows and many more activities in her portfolio!
Vimla Patil will be delighted to answer readers' questions. Please click on the comments page link at the bottom of the article to post your questions for her or to comment on her article.
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Akbar Khan’s film Taj Mahal premiered in the presence of a celebrity audience in November. Made with a view to put a glorious period of Indian history before the world, the film has received a grand reception because of its fabulous sets, ambience and haunting music by Naushad, the creator of some of the greatest musical scores for Bollywood films. Zulfikar Syed and Sonia Jehan act in the lead roles in the film
 It took Akbar Khan years of patient waiting. But as the Khan family gears up to celebrate many joyous events this winter season, the youngest Khan brother is also celebrating an entirely different kind of event. Akbar’s brother Feroz Khan is busy arranging the ceremonies which precede the wedding of his son Fardeen Khan with Natasha Madhwani, daughter of former Bollywood beauty Mumtaz and Mayur Madhwani, an industrialist in East Africa and now resident in London. Fardeen’s mother Sundari is busy designing the ensembles and jewellery for her daughter-in-law. In the other Khan home, Sanjay and Zarine Khan, parents of Zayed Khan, have completed the dhamaal of ceremonies and parties which accompanied his wedding to childhood friend Maleika Parakh on 20th November 05. The entire Khan khandaan is in Mumbai for this huge celebration, the like of which Bollywood has not seen for a long time.
 Zulfikar Syed and Sonia Jehan in a scene from Tajmahal But there is a third dimension to this grand event. Akbar Khan, the fourth Khan brother in Bollywood, is at last releasing his magnum opus Taj Mahal, which has been languishing because of its non-top star cast. Now that its music promos have attracted vast audiences, the film has been released with a fanfare and is drawing huge crowds because of the wonderful music by Naushad Ali, the grand costumes and the impressive sets. Shah Jehan and Mumtaz Begum’s roles are played by model Zulfikar Syed and Sonia Jehan, the granddaughter of the great singer Noorjehan, who migrated to Pakistan after the Partition. The film tells the love story of Khurram, the son of Emperor Jehangir, the Moghul Badshah, and Arjumand, the beautiful niece of Empress Noorjehan. When Khurram became Emperor Shahjahan, he married this exquisitely beautiful woman and named her Mumtaz Mahal. The couple had 14 children and Mumtaz died in her last childbirth. And according to his promise, Shahjahan built a beautiful mausoleum in memory of their eternal love. This is the Taj Mahal where both Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal lie buried side by side.
Irshaad Alam, the producer of the film, says, “The film was made in 245 days – over 2 ½ years – and this is a record. Twenty-two sets were constructed, each more elaborate than the other. The film recreates a grand era in Indian history and the money invested is huge. The film will promote India throughout the world. I am planning a film on the life Chengiz Khan on the same scale for the same purpose. The world must know how India’s monarchs brought the art of architecture, dance, music and sculpture to a pinnacle.”
But director Akbar Khan’s mega-film, despite such fabulous sets, music and visuals, has been languishing without release for a long time. Now it looks like the lucky phase of the Khan family is here – for with the two weddings in the family, this film has had a roaring start in many theatres and is doing exceedingly well. Also starring in this film are Kabir Bedi, Manisha Koirala, Pooja Batra and Kim Sharma. With the beautiful Sonia Jehan acting as Mumtaz Mahal, the eternal love story has come to vibrant life and touches every heart!
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