This story is from March 15, 2007

Germans unhappy with Himesh

The people of Cologne were angry with Reshammiya for shooting a musical in a church and making it a virtual film set.
Germans unhappy with Himesh
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INVITING CONTROVERSY: Members of the diocese of Cologne were angered by the takeover of the city's 100-year-old church of St Agnes by the crew of Aap Ka Suroor, the film in which Himesh makes his acting debut. (TOI Photo)
NEW DELHI: A house of prayer that usually reverberates with the sound of organ music echoed with Himesh Reshammiya's nasal twang on Tuesday as a Bollywood unit took over a church in the German city of Cologne.
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But this time, it wasn't his singing that upset anyone. Members of the diocese of Cologne were angered by the takeover of the city's 100-year-old church of St Agnes by the crew of Aap Ka Suroor, the film in which Himesh makes his acting debut.
The semi-autobiographical musical is being shot in Germany. Over the last two days, an 85-strong crew descended on the church and transformed it into a film set, moving church benches, covering altars and setting up portable toilets outside.
A huge stage was also erected for Himesh to sing and dance cheered by 800 extras playing the role of fans.
"We were not consulted. If we had, we would never have given our permission," said Christoph Heckeley, a spokesman for the diocese of Cologne.
The priest, however, justified the use of the church as a backdrop for a concert, saying the church was strapped for cash and needed the money.
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