Peepli Live directors to make a high class masala film now

Mahmood Farooqui’s visits to Lucknow as the dastango trying to revive the art of Urdu storytelling have been so many in the past, now, he is back with their second film, Opium, based on Amitav Ghosh’s ‘A Sea Of Poppies’.

“We have the screenplay ready,” reveals Farooqui, who was in Lucknow for another Dastangoi performance, and adds, “Now, we are waiting for the money bags!” “This is a creative process and in a creative process differences are bound to arise. And that is what happened. When we look back, the most important thing is that the film was so well liked and enjoyed by everybody.

Coming back to Opium, Farooqui shares, “It is an adventure epic, set in the 19th century. It’s about a group of Indians and a group of Britishers, and how their lives come to be intertwined on a ship Anusha and Farooqui plan to make this into a “high class masala film, with songs”. “But there will be no stars,” adds Farooqui, “because there is no role for a star in the script. We’ll be casting some newer actors.” The film is expected to be shot in UP and Bihar.