Filmmaker Jagmohan Mundra, know for making movies based on real life incidents like Bhawandar and Provoked announced a biopic on Congress President Sonia Gandhi a couple of years ago. That upset Congress party leaders and they slapped a legal notice on Mundhra
On October 10, 2006, Mundhra met up with Gandhi and some Congress leaders and showed them the film's script.
"After listening to the script, Mrs Gandhi had no apprehensions about the script, as it is a human interest story," said Mundhra, who is currently in Mumbai. "It is just a love story."
Congress party leaders, who thought that Mundhra had a political agenda behind the film, were also pleased with the story. But Gandhi informed him that she was a private person and did not want anyone to make a film on her.
However, the Congress and Gandhi seem to have changed their mind now. They have given Mundhra the green signal to go ahead, but only after the Lok Sabha elections next year. Their reasoning is that they do not want other parties to think that Gandhi is using this movie for her political gains.
Mundhra is not talking to the media about the film either. "Even though I met Mrs Gandhi, I did not want to tell the press. Only when Society magazine did a special on Mrs Gandhi, I spoke about
Though the film took a long time to get on track, Mundhra claims that he has not shelved it. He feels that this is one interesting love story that needs to be told. The film starts when she met late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi until the time they got married.
Once the Lok Sabha elections are over, he will speak to Gandhi once again to convince her to give him permission to make the film.
Mundhra prefers to make movies only on real life incidents because there is 'so much drama in real life.'
"From the drama comes the conflict," he continues. "And this conflict is a good fodder for a good script. That's why I make movies that the common man can identify with. But I am not against fiction."
Meanwhile, Mundhra is getting ready with his films. He will direct a commercial film, with Govinda and Ayesha Takia. A comedy, the film will be about a person, who cannot interact with women socially. It is inspired from the film, The 40 Year Old Virgin.
He is also making a thriller with Gul Panag, Amrita Rao and Anupam Kher. But first, we will see Mundhra's Shoot On Sight, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Gulshan Grover and Greta Scacchi. It will release on July 11.