Three-in-one

Babbu Maan, the Punjabi singer, will essay a triple role in Banjara – The Truck Driver. Acting along with Maan as a female lead of the film is television actress Shraddha Arya, who has appeared in television shows like Main Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki, Tumhari Paakhi and Dream Girl and has also acted in films like Paathshaala and Nishabd. 

Presently, she is playing the role of Dr Preeta Arora in Zee TV’s Kundali Bhagya.

As the stars descend at a five-star hotel in Chandigarh, to promote their film, Babbu speaks about how he conceived the idea of the film.” I wanted to deviate from the traditional film and do something different,” he says. Maan was last seen in Baaz (2014) as a police inspector and he is making a comeback in this film which is helmed by Mushtaq Pasha who is the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award-2016.

The film is penned down by ace screenplay writer Dheeraj Rattan and the dialogues are written by Surmeet Mavi (who also wrote the dialogues of Punjab 1984). 

Talking about his role, Maan shares, “In this film I am playing the son, the grandson and the grandfather; it’s a triple role! I am playing all these characters in the young avatar of their respective times. The film will highlight eras of 1947, 1984 and 2018 showing love interests of three generations in their younger days.”

Shraddha’s role is that of a damsel in distress, who is on a mission to reach the court and give a statement for a heinous crime that she has been a witness to. “There’s no romance in this film. I am playing the role of a girl called Simmi and she works in a bar. Having witnessed a murder, she is running away from the goons to reach the court where she can stand as a witness to give her version,” she says. This film marks Shraddha’s debut in Punjabi cinema and she is pretty excited about the film.” I had seen films like Jindua and Angrej. It was exciting to see Aditi and Sargun act in these films and I so wanted to act in regional cinema. Though I struggle with Punjabi language, I am totally hooked to the songs and films of Punjab’s entertainment industry,” she smiles.

On working with Maan, she says, “Initially, I had a little trouble because he is quick-tempered and would tell me what to do and what not to do, but then I am a Leo and I cannot be dominated. He eventually understood that I would listen to all but do my own thing in the end. Also, I took a little time and approached him with no preconceived notions and with a view to make friends with him, so we gelled later,” she laughs. 

Along with Babbu Maan, the cast of the movie includes Rana Ranbir, Shradha Arya, Rana Ahluwalia, Rana Ranbir, Jia Mustafa, Sara Khatri, Gurpreet Kaur Bhangu, Malkeet Rauni and Parkash Gadhu. Music is composed by Maan.

 —TNS