Rock on, Farhan, Ashok Banker!

Ashok Banker���s screenplay Sid is now officially a major big-budget English-language feature film going into production.
And, guess who���s backing it? A little bird tells us it will be produced by Farhan Akhtar and Riteish Sidhwani, and directed by Abhishek Kapoor.
Will it be an international project? Though a reticent Banker simply won���t spill the beans on his script or put a number to the figure, sources tell us it is the Rock On! trio of Farhan-Riteish-Abhishek who are the men steering the deal.Given the Oscar buzz around the LA release of The Fakir of Venice, it is speculated that a Slumdog Millionaire type Hollywood-Bollywood crew could be a part of the deal, since the duo are said to have their sights set on the Oscars. However, none involved are willing to confirm the details of the venture.
It is also speculated Farhan will be acting in the English-language venture, tentatively titled 'Sid' and views it as his ticket to Hollywood.
According to the ���twitter���, Banker���s original screenplay, which he ���wrote on spec, was bought by the very first producers I showed it to, and sold for the highest sum paid to any Indian screenwriter ever ��� I���m told it���s 10 times higher than the highest previous sum paid. Not that the money paid is important in itself ��� no, wait a minute, hold on, what am I saying? Let���s be honest here... of course, it���s important, dude!���
The screenplay apparently is not based on any book, and an original one. It���s nothing to do with Banker���s Ramayana series or any other book, the writer tells us.
And the script���s received rave views, even if he does so say so himself! ���Apart from the price tag on the script, the fact that one of the boldest, most daring, ballsy screenplays ever attempted (not my words, those are some of the terms used to describe it that the people who bought it and other ���first readers��� have commented) is being made into a major big-budget English-language film for international release is itself pretty great news, don���t you think? Forget great. I think it���s freaking awesome!���
Was the transition from author to screen writer a difficult one? ���After 430 hours of television scripts (produced, I mean, not counting untold unproduced scripts and pilots), 11 previous produced feature films, award-winning documentaries, etc, etc... no, it wasn't a very difficult 'transition'!���
Most people though know him as a novelist. Not that he minds. ���It's okay,��� he says, ���that's the case with most people. I���ve broken front-page news/cover stories, had over 2,000 published bylines, been a widely published poet, ad copywriter, scriptwriter, etc... but novelist is what I love being the most. Am happy to be known as just a novelist!���
And, now we look forward to the film!
Check out Farhan Akhtar���s pics