Raees (film)

Raees

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Rahul Dholakia
Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani
Farhan Akhtar
Gauri Khan
Written by Rahul Dholakia
Harit Mehta
Ashish Vashi
Niraj Shukla
Starring Shah Rukh Khan
Mahira Khan
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Music by Ram Sampath
Cinematography K.U. Mohanan
Production
company
Distributed by Red Chillies Entertainment
Release dates
  • 26 January 2017 (2017-01-26)[1]
Country India
Language Hindi

Raees (English: Wealthy) is an upcoming 2017 Indian action thriller film directed by Rahul Dholakia and produced by Gauri Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under their banners Red Chillies Entertainment and Excel Entertainment.[2] It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Mahira Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.[3][4][5] Raees, which is based on the life of criminal Abdul Latif,[6] is scheduled to be released on 26 January 2017.[1][7]

Plot

The film is set in 1980s Gujarat. It tells the story of the bootlegger Raees Alam whose business is highly challenged and eventually thwarted by a police officer, ACP Ghulam Patel.

Cast

Production

Filming and development

Shooting of the film began in April 2015.[2] The film has been shot in Mumbai,[8] and sets were re-designed to depict Ahmedabad slums.[9] The last schedule of the film was shot in Gujarat in January 2016.[10] Despite protests, the film was shot in Bhuj without disruptions between January and February 2016.[11][12][13]

Release

The film was scheduled to be released on Eid, 6 July 2016,[14] but was postponed due to clash with Salman Khan starrer Sultan.[1] The film was then rescheduled to be released on 26 January 2017, but again falls in the trap of clash with Hrithik Roshan starrer Kaabil. Afterwards, the release of Kaabil was preponed.[15][16]

Controversy

There was a clearance issue by Archaeological Survey of India for shooting at Ahmedabad at the ancient mosque and tomb complex, Sarkhej Roza.[17][18] In March 2016, a legal notice was sent by an alleged gangster, Abdul Latif's son, Mustak, asking how or why a film on his father's life is being made.[19]

A few days after the 2016 Uri terror attack, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) banned films featuring Pakistani actors on the basis that the actors were not openly condemning terrorism.[20] Raees was on their list, because cast member Mahira Khan is Pakistani.[21][22] MNS put forward a condition to lift up the ban, that producers shall never cast Pakistani artistes in future and they have to give ₹5 crore as penance to the Indian Army welfare fund, but Indian Army refused to accept it by saying sacrifices should not be politicised.[23][24] Later, ban was lifted without the conditions on Raees as demanded by MNS.[25]

Farhan Akhtar, co-producer of the film said Raees will never pay, and was threatened by MNS.[26][27] The Chief Minister of Maharashtra and member of the BJP and the RSS, Devendra Fadnavis said at the meeting with MNS and the producers ₹5 crore as contribution to the Indian Army welfare fund was not quoted compulsory and was never a condition for lifting ban on films featuring Pakistani actors demanded by MNS, and earlier at an event praised Shah Rukh Khan as an "icon" and a "proud Mumbaikar".[28]

Ankita Shorey was the first choice for the female lead of the film, but Mahira Khan got the role, Shorey confirmed that the consideration was not due to the nationality, the script needed a real Pakistani look.[29] Shorey later stated that she did not speak about replacement, and did not spell "part of the project" phrase in her last interview regarding Raees, the actual phrase was "strongly considered for the project", the journalist who took her interview apologised for it.[30] Farhan Akhtar clearly stated that Mahira Khan is in the film like before and nothing has been changed for her part, and the film is ready to release, he further said that if they started the whole film shooting after the terror attack then they would never have signed her depending on the present situation, and concluded by saying showing solidarity to Indian Army is up to them, and only Indian government has the authority to brief them regarding dealing with their conscience, and not by any outsiders.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Shah Rukh Khan's Raees to release in January 2017, won't clash with Salman's Sultan". The Indian Express. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Shoot of Shah Rukh starrer 'Raees' begins!". Daily News and Analysis. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "SRK shooting special song with Sunny Leone for 'Raees'". The Times of India. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Iyer, Meena (25 March 2014). "Nawazuddin to put on 20 kilos for Raees with Shah Rukh". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "For Mahira Khan, a Pre-Bin Roye Photoshoot Before Leaving Pakistan For Mumbai". NDTV. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Gangsta glam | The Asian Age". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  7. ↑ "Raees: Shah Rukh Khan-starrer trailer will release on December 7". The Indian Express. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "SRK, Mahira Khan shoot for Raees with in Mumbai". The Indian Express. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  9. ↑ Subhash K. Jha (22 June 2015). "A never seen before Shah Rukh Khan in Raees". Bollywood Hungama.
  10. ↑ Subhash K. Jha (21 February 2015). "Shah Rukh Khan's look & accent for Raees". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  11. ↑ "Shah Rukh Khan, Mahira Khan's look from Raees revealed". The Indian Express. 16 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "Revealed: Nawazuddin Siddiqui's look from 'Raees'". The Indian Express. 15 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "Good news for Shah Rukh Khan fans: Despite protests in Bhuj, 'Raees' shooting not disrupted!". Daily News and Analysis. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Raees Teaser | Shah Rukh Khan I Mahira Khan | Nawazuddin Siddiqui". Red Chillies Entertainment. 16 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Hrithik Roshan's Kaabil won't be directly clashing with Shah Rukh Khan's Raees". Daily News and Analysis. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  16. ↑ "Kaabil's release date preponed, will not clash with Shah Rukh Khan's Raees". The Indian Express. 3 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "ASI stops Shah Rukh Khan's 'Raees' shoot in Ahmedabad". The Times of India. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "Shah Rukh Khan attacked by VHP activists during Raees shoot in Ahmedabad". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "Shah Rukh Khan in a legal soup yet again". The Times of India. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "Pakistani Artists Refused To Condemn Uri Attacks". The Times of India. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  21. ↑ "Ban on Pakistani artistes". The Times of India. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Mahira Khan reacts on the ban". The Indian Express. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "The sacrifices of the armed forces shouldn't be politicised". NDTV. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "A terrible precedent". The Indian Express. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "MNS won't oppose Raees". The Indian Express. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  26. ↑ "There's No Question Of Paying Rs 5 Crore For Raees: Farhan Akhtar". The Quint. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "MNS threatens Farhan Akhtar". The Times of India. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  28. ↑ "CM Devendra Fadnavis: ₹5 crore to Army Welfare fund never decided at meeting". The Times of India. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  29. ↑ "Initial choice for the female lead of the film". India TV. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  30. ↑ "Ankita Shorey: I am not a part of 'Raees'!". The Times of India. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  31. ↑ "Mahira Khan stays". Deccan Chronicle. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.

External links


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