Salman Khan to 'Rock' in London Dreams

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 (EST)

‘London Dreams’ is expected to be released early 2007. It remains to be seen if Salman Khan’s impending legal cases hinder the shooting schedules.

First, Bombay Dreams; Now, London Dreams! The film project comes four years after Andrew Lloyd Webber opened his production of Bombay Dreams in London's West End, where it is still playing. London Dreams directed by Rajkumar Santoshi rolled the camera for its first auspicious shot at The Golden Temple, Amritsar on March 25 this year with lead actor, Salman Khan. Salman with his family attended an ardas followed by a dip in the holy sarovar, He subsequently shot some scenes for the movie.

London Dreams is being shot partly in Punjab and predominantly in London. The film stars Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Priyanka Chopra in the lead roles while other characters will be played by British Asians. The music is by AR Rahman and screenplay is by Sridhar Raghavan, though this is based on a story by Rajkumar Santoshi. After the disappointing performance of Family in the box office, Santoshi has optimistic expectations of this project. This is allegedly one of his most expensive projects to date, estimated at around Rs. 20 crore

The movie is about a rock band in England. Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan portray childhood friends who grow up to become rock musicians. Salman is playing a Punjabi guy in the movie. Priyanka will be essaying the role of a singer. In fact all three actors will be getting some training to play music instruments to get comfortable playing their respective roles. To give the film an authentic look Santoshi is auditioning real life musicians to play part of Salman and Ajay's rock band. London Dreams is about individuals, their dreams and desires, as brought together by their music. The unit moves to London end of June to commence shooting and is expected to wrap up by end of the year. This is provided there are not too many restrictions on Salman’s overseas travel.

Salman Khan’s impending legal cases are a concern for delays in the schedule. In fresh trouble, a Jodhpur local court framed charges against him on June 19, 2006 for allegedly hunting a Black Buck in Kankani village in October 1998. He pleaded not guilty to the charges following which the Magistrate fixed July 3 for commencement of trial. Salman had earlier filed a revision petition in the case and an Additional District and Sessions judge had directed reframing of the charges. Hearings for Salman's appeals against his conviction in two other cases, for killing a Chinkara in Bhavad and Black Buck in Ghoda farms, have been deferred to August. Filming of Sajid Nadiadwala’s Jaaneman starring Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta had suffered major delays because of Salman Khan’s tape controversy that ensued from Salman’s alleged phone conversations with Aishwarya Rai and later because of his hair problems. The film that was budgeted at Rs 40 crore has gone well over that figure because of delays in shooting.

If all goes as per schedule, London Dreams should be out in theatres in the early part of 2007. It remains to be seen if Santoshi can replicate the pomp and grandeur of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge, which is the endeavor with this large budget film.

Priyanka turns singer!

Though Priyanka Chopra is still a little far away from getting behind the mike in real life, she has managed to do so in reel life at least! In Raj Kumar Santoshi’s forthcoming film London Dreams, Priyanka is set to play the role of a singer. Confirming the news, the actress also agreed that she will learn to play a musical instrument too. The lead actors with Priyanka are Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan and the music is composed by A R Rahman. The movie is slated to roll on from August this year. Besides Priyanka, actress Sushmita Sen will also playing a singer for Tanuja Chandra’s Rocking.

Bollywood rocks!
Raj Santoshi is auditioning rock musicians to play band members with Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan in London Dreams
Subhash K Jha
Raj Kumar Santoshi's London Dreams is Hindi cinema's first full-fledged rock film. Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan are being finalised to play two close friends who share a common love for music. Santoshi intends to cast real-life musicians as part of Ajay-Salman's rock band to make it look authentic. There are plans underway to have the two leads learn the basics of the instrument they are supposed to play.According to its writer Shridhar Raghavan, the film is “about an Asian rock band in London, the rise of underground music and the perils of success.”The entire team is currently in London auditioning actors. Santoshi is on the look-out for an international cast comprising British and Asians to play the other members of the band. A couple of them will be from Pakistan. The plot starts in Amritsar in the 1980s and moves right up to present times. A bulk of the film will be shot in London.Besides Rahman who is doing the music score, Santoshi has signed on Suzanne Caplan (of Dil Chahta Hai fame) to do the art direction. The shooting starts in June and will be wrapped up by year-end.

• Santoshi is on the look-out for an international cast comprising British and Asians
Bollywood rocks!s

Salman’s real busy...

They’re back again. Filmmaker Raj Kumar Santoshi and actor Salman Khan have once again teamed up after the romantic comedy Andaz Apna Apna, in Paramjeet Singh’s London Dreams. Once again, a two-hero project after Andaz Apna Apna, this time Salman will have Ajay Devgan as his partner in crime. The mahurat shot of the film was canned at the Golden Temple in Amritsar for the very first time in the history of the temple. Salman and Ajay will dance in the paddy fields of Punjab as the film will be partly shot there and in London too when the duo become rockstars in this musical. AR Rahman is composing the music for this film.

London Dreams is about two rock musicians who wants to taste international recognition. The film will divulge into their growing up as childhood friends and then their struggle to make it big as two rockers in England.

Santoshi is now casting for the other roles. He will require some actors from London and an African-British actor. About eighty per cent of the story will unfolds in London and the rest take place in India.

Some facts about London Dreams…

By IndiaFM News Bureau, April 1, 2006 - 00:45 IST
After a nightmare called Family, director Rajkumar Santoshi attempts to make his dreams come true with London Dreams. While there were immense speculation in the media of whether he would make a historical on Prithviraj Samyukta or a mythological on Mahabharat or a biographical on Chhatrapati Shivaji or the multi-starrer Samna (on which we didn’t hear any news post its launch), Santoshi has surprisingly started an altogether different project – London Dreams.

Apart from his favorite Ajay Devgan, Santoshi teams up with Salman Khan for this film, after Andaz Apna Apna. Here is some interesting trivia on the movie you might not be aware of…

* The movie is about a rock band in England. Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan, who are shown as childhood friends in the movie play the role of rock musicians. Salman is playing a Punjabi guy in the movie.

* The leading ladies are yet to be finalized.

* London Dreams is about individuals, their dreams and desires, as brought together by their music.

* The shooting for the film commenced with an initial stint at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

* The unit will now move to London in June-end and the film will be complete by the end of the year.

* A couple of actors from London will share the screen space with Salman and Ajay.

* An African-British actor will also be a part of the movie and auditions for this role are in progress.

* About eighty per cent of the story unfolds in London; the rest takes place in India.

* R. Rahman will compose the music for the movie. The movie will have around seven to eight songs.

* The screenplay is by Sridhar Raghavan who has written several of Raj Kumar Santoshi's films like Khakee and Family.

Exclusive - Santoshi´s ´London Dreams´ Commences At The Golden Temple (Amritsar)
By: Abid

Rajkumar Santoshi's next after the 'Family- Ties Of Blood' fiasco , 'London Dreams' , got underway at the Golden Temple in Amritsar yesterday (Saturday). Actor Salman Khan who was present on the occasion ; participated in the 3 pm 'Ardas' according to the rituals . Salman was accompanied by his mother , both sisters and brother Sohail Khan and his wife Seema . In between the shots Salman took a dip in the holy 'Sarovar' .

Salman's mother , after performing the 'Ardas' placed the 'Rumala Sahib' (covering for the holy book )that she had brought from Bombay on the 'Shri Guru Granth Sahib' and prayed for her son , Salman's welfare .

At the occasion , director Rajkumar Santoshi said that he had made ' Legend Of Bhagat Singh' because of his special liking for Punjab and its rich heritage , culture and History .

Dressed in a spotless white 'kurta pyjama' with a white scarf covering his head , Salman looked every inch the 'gabru'(chilled out) Punjabi that he is playing in the movie .

Salman Khan coming out after paying obeisance at Golden Temple during the shooting of his new film at Amritsar on Saturday, March 25, 2006. Salman Khan takes a dip in the holy sarovar of the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Saturday

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