By
KOMAL NAHTA
Life gives everyone a second chance. The intelligent ones take it and make the most of it. Everybody has the right to be happy, dream, and live those dreams.
This, in gist, is the basis of producer Hirachand Dand’s Gujarati film, Fari Ek Vaar.
Supriya Pathak and Tiku Talsania play the leading roles in the film, which also features younger actors like Avani Modi, Netri Trivedi, and Utsav Naik.
The film also stars Morli Patel, Bharat Thakkar, Komal Panchal, Hitesh Thakkar, and Nirali Joshi.
Supriya Pathak takes pride in flaunting her Gujarati roots and has made it a point to regularly act in Gujarati films.
Of course, the script must be to her liking! Otherwise, the super-talented actress politely turns down the offer.
Considering that she is such a fine actress, there is no dearth of Gujarati film offers coming her way, but she always looks for something worthwhile — not just in her character but in the script as a whole too!
Fari Ek Vaar passed that test because Pathak found the story very progressive and unusual.
She plays the owner of a match-making agency, which Tiku Talsania’s character approaches in search of a life partner for his daughter.
A unit hand informs that Supriya Pathak had made it clear right in the beginning that she would shoot only during the committed hours, but “the output is so phenomenal that there’s no problem if she won’t exceed her shooting hours”.
Tiku Talsania almost lost the film after being signed to play a lead role in it. That’s because he suffered a heart attack after signing the film but before shooting could begin.
That’s when Hirachand Dand contemplated replacing the actor, as any sort of delay could’ve cost him dearly.
However, it was Tiku Talsania’s sheer willpower that made Dand change his mind.
When he saw that Tiku was ready to face the camera a couple of weeks after his hospitalisation, he gave in and decided to make the film with the actor who was his and director Akhil Kotak’s first choice.
Recalls Tiku Talsania, “I pleaded with my doctor to allow me to go to the studios as soon as felt, I could shoot comfortably.”
Tiku is thankful that his doctor realised his recovery would be faster if he were allowed to work than if he were asked to be laid up in bed for weeks.
My doctor asked me to take rest and eat a proper diet,” recalls Tiku with gratitude for his doctor in his eyes.
“He also asked me to let my wife accompany me to Ahmedabad for the shooting. That’s why I’ve brought her along with me from Bombay, something I’ve never done in the past.”
The film is being shot in a bungalow in Ahmedabad. I visited the set. The scene shifts to Akshar Cruise on the Sabarmati riverfront the next day.
Choreographer Jayshree Kelkar is busy giving instructions to Utsav Naik and Avani Modi, who are participating in the picturisation of a very catchy song.
A large group of young dancers are in the background, going about their dance steps with energy and gusto.
Although the dance is being picturised at great speed, director Akhil Kotak appears a bit tense.
That’s because “I have to also shoot a scene on the cruise,” reveals Kotak. The reason for the tension is the limited time for which the popular cruise is available for the shooting before it is thrown open to members of the public in the evening.
A quick lunch break is announced, and Hitu Kanodia and his wife Mona Thiba Kanodia, make it to the cruise around that time.
The beautiful couple seems to be the perfect ‘dessert’ for the eyes. We are informed that Hitu and Mona make special appearances in the film, just like Aghori Muzik does!
There is a bevy of actors making special appearances in Fari Ek Vaar.
Besides the aforementioned three, the other actors in special appearances are Maulik Chauhan, Jitendra Thakkar, Sunil Vishrani, Harshida Pankhaniya, Dr. Jayesh Pavra, Pushpraj Gunjan, Vivek Shah, Chha, ya Soni, and Shefali Trivedi.
Fari Ek Vaar, written by Kajal Mehta, is complete now, and it is being readied for release in June.
However, Hirachand Dand is already in talks with Vandan Shah, the super-energetic distributor and exhibitor of Gujarat, for chalking out the best release plan for his film.
Why, Vandan Shah also makes it to the cruise to discuss the release strategy with Dand even while the song is being picturized.
The cool confidence on Hirachand Dand’s face gives one the impression that he is more than happy with the shooting of his. Frankly speaking, having heard the Odhni song, w, to,o can’t wait for the film to release.
