Mumbai: Celebrities like Rishi Kapoor, Gurdas Maan and Javed Akhtar didn't charge a penny for actress-filmmaker Nandita Das' forthcoming film "Manto". She says there is more to life than money.
Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays the late Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto in the film, offered to do it just for "Re 1 largely for Manto and little bit" for Nandita.
"This is the character that an actor would give an arm and leg for. But to not charge even a nominal fee is very gracious of Nawaz," Nandita said in a statement to IANS.
Apart from him, there are many eminent actors who agreed to do small parts purely to support the film.
"Rishi Kapoor and Gurdas Maan said yes in our first meeting. I also reached out to many whom I knew well and have used up all my goodwill to get a stellar cast that truly does justice to the characters in the film," she said.
"While many have done cameo roles, they all bring their talent and credibility to the characters." Actor Paresh Rawal had worked with her in "Firaaq" and now in "Manto".
"Politically, we may have differing views, but there is a mutual respect as an artiste and I am truly grateful he did the role to perfection," she said.
Talking about veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, she said: "I have known Javed Saab even before I did 'Fire'. And I have always felt that he would be perfect in front of the camera.
"I thought it would be quite interesting to have a progressive writer of today defending 'Manto'. You will see him in a new avatar. So not like Javed saab."
"Trust me, there is more to life than money! The compensation comes in the form of experience and the joy of working on interesting projects. I, too, have done many such projects and have never looked for 'monetary compensation'," said Nandita.
Celebrities like Ranvir Shorey, Divya Dutta, Purab Kohli, Rajshri Deshpande and Swanand Kirkire also worked for free for the film.
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Ajman, UAE: Karnataka Legislative Council member and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Nazir Ahmed, visited the Ajman Ruler’s Court and Thumbay Medicity, strengthening ties between Karnataka and the UAE.
At the Ruler’s Court, Ahmed met Sheikh Dr. Majid bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Court, to discuss avenues for collaboration in healthcare, education, and research. He extended an invitation to Sheikh Majid to visit Bengaluru and proposed a future delegation of high-level officials from Karnataka to Ajman and Thumbay Medicity.
As part of the visit, Ahmed toured Thumbay Medicity’s state-of-the-art healthcare, medical education, and research facilities. Praising the institution’s achievements, he described it as a global hub for healthcare excellence.
Commending the efforts of Dr. Thumbay Moideen, founder and president of Thumbay Group, Ahmed acknowledged his role in establishing Thumbay Medicity as a leader in the field. “It is a matter of immense pride to witness Dr. Thumbay’s remarkable progress and the iconic achievements of Thumbay Medicity,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay expressed gratitude for the visit, emphasizing the importance of collaborations that benefit both the UAE and India. “This visit marks a significant milestone in strengthening our shared vision for excellence in healthcare and education,” he stated.
Thumbay Medicity in Ajman is known for its advanced healthcare services, cutting-edge medical education, and pioneering research. It continues to gain global recognition as a model for integrated healthcare and education.