Straight Answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Gurinder Chadha </span>Director on what really inspired her to make a Bollywood style film.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What was the reason for making a Hollywood film in Bollywood style? </span><br /><br />I had been wanting to make a Hindi style picture for a very long time.I even attempted that with the Deols, but for some reason that never worked out. My film is intended to make the Bollywood style of films popular with people who have heard about it but don''t know what it is like. <br /><br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Bend It Like Beckham</span> was a typical British Asian film while <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Bride & Prejudice</span> is a combination of three styles as the story is based in the US, Britain and India. Also, the actors are from three nations and traditions. <br /><br />It has music by a guy who is so Bollywood (Anu Mallik) while the choreography is by another Bollywood legend (Farah Khan). <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What were your Bollywood references while making this film? </span><br /><br />If you watch this film then you will surely find references of the great Bollywood legends that I have grown up watching. Manoj Kumar''s film <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Purab Paschim</span> was one of the foremost films that influenced me. Then there is Yash Chopra and Raj Kapoor who have inspired me. But must say <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Dilwale Dulaniya Le Jayenge</span> was my first real inspiration to make a Bollywood kind of film. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What made you cast Aishwarya? </span><br /><br />I think the character of Elizabeth Bennett is very much suited to Aishwarya. The character of Elizabeth is very feisty, aggressive and very proud of who she is. We made it the same, but the only difference is that she is from Amritsar and is proud to be an Indian. So when Mr. Darcy lands in India and expresses his criticism of India, she is the first one to clear his point-of-view. <br /><br />I cannot even imagine seeing Aishwarya in a Bollywood film after my film. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What was the reason for selecting the novel </span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Pride And Prejudice</span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">? </span><br /><br />That novel is popular not just in England but around the world. Most people in Britain know the story as it is taught in schools and so I thought of adapting a popular story. </div> </div>