After 'Talvar,' Meghna Gulzar back with 'Calling Sehmat'

After the well received 'Talvar', Meghna Gulzar hopes to get into action by mid-next year with her directorial based on another book by Harinder Sikka called 'Calling Sehmat'.

It revolves around a Kashmiri woman married to an army officer across the border who provides the Indian Intelligence with invaluable information during the 1971 Indo-Pak war and almost single handedly torpedoes Pakistan's war plans with courage, wit and determination, saving the lives of scores of Indian soldiers.

The story behind the film is as fascinating as the story of the book.

Priti Shahani, President of Junglee Pictures, had been trying to acquire the rights two years ago and last year when 'Talvar' was coming up for release she had sounded Meghna out, asking her if she'd like to direct the film.

 

Fascinated, Meghna gave her nod, only to be told a couple of months later that talks had fallen through.

"It was a tad serendipitous and I happily took it on but again things didn't close with that production house. By that time I had developed a personal rapport with the author because of frequent interactions and I suggested we go back to Junglee Pictures," Meghna shared and added, "I'm glad we're back together because there's no better way to complete the circle 'Talvar' opened."

"What makes it all the more surreal is that when the book came out, the author had come to my father, Gulzar, asking him to direct it. It's like I have a karmic connection with the story," says the 42-year-old.

Even though the protagonist is a woman, the story Meghna points out is so large in its implications that gender becomes inconsequential.

The film is set against the backdrop of the 1971 war but it won't have action scenes like 'Border' because the story leads up to the intended war rather than the actual conflict.

When spoken about whether her father will be a part of this project, she said, "Well, he did say during 'Talvar' that he had taught me everything except writing songs. He's my guiding spirit and once I complete the script I'll go to him for feedback and then for the songs.