Sudipto to meet Russell Crowe?

Though Sudipto Sen’s sources in the US have told him that Russell Crowe might visit India during end-June or early-July, the director talks to TOI about whether he can meet the Hollywood star and how he is planning to adapt Tagore’s Gora in Hindi and English
You had said that Russell Crowe was on your wishlist for making Amrit Kumbh. Has there been any development on that front?
From my side, there has been no development.Status quo remains. I personally have never spoken to him. Neither have I spoken to his agency directly. Yes, those associated with my project in the US are in touch with his agents. From unconfirmed sources, I have come to know that he has liked the concept of my film.
There is a buzz about him coming down to India along with his wife. Are you aware of it?
I have heard about it from my sources in the US. They have said that he wants to go to the Himalayas during end-June or early-July to rejuvenate himself since he has recently been introduced to Hindu philosophy. My sources haven’t said anything about whether his wife will be accompanying him during his supposed India visit. But nothing has been communicated to me regarding his India visit.
Why are there speculations of him reading your script in India?
I have not been told that he is interested in reading my script during his India trip. I don’t know where my film figures in the context of Crowe’s India visit. I have shot AK for 10 days during the Kumbh Mela. My Oscar-winning crew — AR Rahman, Resul Pookutty, Chris Dickens and Bhanu Athaiya — are on board. The shooting for the second leg of my film has been postponed to September.
But you had spoken about getting in touch with Thomas Kretschmann to play the German writer in the lead. Won’t it be unprofessional for you to get in touch with Crowe now for the same role?
I had a wishlist for the characters. Crowe figured on top of the list. I have not signed Thomas Kretschmann as yet though I have correspondences from his office regarding my film. I am off to the US in mid-June. That’s when I can take a final call on casting. I don’t want to add to any rumours.
What’s happening to your Hindi and English adaptation of Tagore’s Gora?
My script is done. This will be a co-production that I shall start after I am through with Amrit Kumbh. I am
talking to a couple of big names in Hollywood and in Bollywood to play Gora. In the novel, Gora is a son of a British couple. Shooting for the film will be done in Kolkata and Chandernagore. Since the copyright of Tagore no longer exists, I am making some changes in my script. Gora become a champion of the humanitarian movement in the middle of the original novel. But I am tweaking with this idea. My Gora begins in 1910 and ends in 2010 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore and 100 years of penning Gora.
Follow us on Twitter for more stories