The Film: Shararat
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Hrishita Bhatt, Amrish Puri, Helen, Om Puri, Dara Singh, Daisy Israni, A K Hangal and Monish Behl.
Producer: Suraj Bhalla
Director: Gurdev Bhalla
Expected Release Date: July 13

The film is expected to be Abhishek Bachchan's first release in 2001 and with his previous three films having received a lukewarm response at the box office, Shararat will be a crucial test for the actor. Abhishek in his own words described his role in the movie, “It is a character often seen on the Indian scene, that of a spoilt brat who, at the end of the film, is a reformed man. But what I like about the film and the script is the manner in which he undergoes the transformation and the circumstances under which he is reformed. That, to me, is the novelty of the film,” maintains Abhishek. The plot revolves around the rich brat who is sent to work in an old peoples home as a penalty for a crime he has committed. The experience with the oldies changes him for the better.

First-time director Gurudev Bhalla, who has assisted director Mahesh Bhatt in the past, is directing the film. For Bachchan, who has not made the grade with established directors such as J P Datta and Raj Kanwar, a young new director may just prove to be the lucky strike. Bhalla spent three years working on the script. He feels it's a theme not often churned out of Bollywood. ”I have neither seen nor heard anything like this in my lifetime. I believe I have seen quite a bit of world cinema and I choose to believe that such a script has not ever been made in this country or worldwide,” observes Bhalla in a rather exaggerated fashion.

The film stars newcomer Hrishita Bhatt opposite Abhishek. The young actress has so far worked in television serials and ad films, making Shararat her debut film. She seems very excited about her debut and believes this one could be her lucky break, “Basically, if you are doing a film and if the film is well noticed, so are you. My role is substantial enough. I know it will create a mark and will fetch me a place in Bollywood.”

Shararat is in its final stages of completion and should be ready for release any day now March. After lukewarm start to his career, a couple of fresh faces might be just the thing Bachchan Jr. needs. Watch out for him in this one.