Lucknow: Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi says her forthcoming movie Umrao Jaan is a mainstream Hindi movie, unlike the artistic version made 25 years ago.
"It is an entertaining film, a complete departure from Muzaffar Ali's version," Shabana told reporters on Sunday during a visit to Lucknow.
Muzaffar Ali won numerous awards in the 80s for Umrao Jaan, which became a classic of Bollywood cinema and was a major hit despite artistic leanings.
Shabana is doing the same role in the film that her mother, Shaukat Azmi, performed in the earlier version.
Directed by J P Dutta, the film has been shot in Jaipur and in villages around Lucknow. It is likely to be released later this year.
"My mother gave me tips on everything from costumes to diction. I hope I am able to do justice to the role," Shabana said.
Shabana said it was probably the first time in India that a daughter has been cast in the same role played by her mother in an earlier version of the same movie.
The film tells the story of a courtesan, Ameeran, who was kidnapped from her home and sold into a brothel in the erstwhile kingdom of Oudh, centered around Lucknow.
Aishwarya Rai plays the role of Umrao Jaan. Abhishek Bachchan, Shabana Azmi and Suneil Shetty also feature in the film.
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