Rumi Jaffery

The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotris remark on the term Bhopali being synonymous with homosexuality has puzzled Viveks close friend writer-director Rumi Jaffery who is from Bhopal.I dont know why Vivek Agnihotri would say something so absurd, Bhopali Rumi Jaffery is puzzledI dont know why Vivek would say such a thing. My first response was that of disbelief. I thought he was being misquoted. Then I saw the video, and it seems he did say it. Baaton baaton mein kuch ajeeb sa keh diya. Hota hai, says Rumi, adding that he did not want to comment on it.Vivek is a dear friend. We have worked together. In fact, during the pandemic, we completed a film together which I wrote and he directed. We have the same circle of friends. If it was someone else saying something like this, I would be much more vocal. However, Vivek I do not know where he got his statistics. There are so many well-known artists from Bhopal in Bollywood, says Rumi.

Updated: Aug 2, 2021 - 6:07 PM IST After being traumatized for more than a year, Rhea Chakraborty has bounced back. Filmmaker Rumi Jaffrey, in whose suspense thriller Chehre, Rhea makes a comeback of sorts, was happy to host Rhea at his daughters pre-wedding festivities last week.She is at peace with herself. She has come to terms with whatever happened to her. Now shes more thoughtful and quiet. But ready to work again, says Rumi.The problem is, all those loud mouthed proposal makers posing as filmmakers who promised Rhea movie offers whenever she was ready to return, have disappeared. Apparently, one such fly-by-night producer who had committed himself on social media to working with Rhea was warned by his superstar-master to stay away from trouble.Of course this producer listened to his masters voice. It is now up to Rumi Jaffrey to plan a comeback vehicle for Rhea. He admits she doesnt have much to do in Chehre.But Ive a script in mind where Rhea will play one of the two protagonists. I think she deserves a second chance, dont you? asks Rumi.She certain does.

Having forgotten the fiasco that was God Tussi Great Ho, Big B, Amitabh Bachchan is all set to team up with writer-director Rumi Jaffrey again. This time Rumi will direct the Big B in a contemporary thriller of the kind the iconic star-actor has never attempted before.

Says Rumi, "I've burnt my fingers once already with God Tussi Great Ho . I don't know what went wrong with that. It had everything going for it. It had a potent mix of Bachchan Saab, Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra. (Producer) Sajid Nadiadwala told me he would've gone through the roof with a cast like that. Unfortunately, my producer was stuck with another film and my film just became a victim of so many circumstances beyond my control." This time, Rumi wants to make sure that his collaboration with Big B doesn't go wrong.

Says the writer-turned-director, "It's very kind of Bachchan Saab to even entertain another offer from me after what happened in our earlier film. I guess somewhere he has faith in me." Interestingly, Rumi insisted that Big B read his script. "I told him I won't narrate the script. It's an idea that comes alive only in reading it. I've written a thriller for him which only he can do justice to. Also, I had to make sure it was something he had never attempted before. At this juncture of his career, Bachchan Saab needs new challenges." Barring one other established actor, all the actors in Rumi's Bachchan vehicle would be fresh actors.

"Look at English Vinglish. Other than Sridevi, everyone from her husband to sister to friends were played by fresh actors. This added so much to the film," says Rumi enthusiastically.