The buzz in BJP and Bollywood: Anil Sharma of Gadar fame may
direct venture
New Delhi, August 5:

If the BJP is busy with CDs these days, it may soon have to reckon with a full-length feature. Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh, a voracious author, is now all set to turn scriptwriter for a Bollywood film, to be based on the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 to Kandahar and the release of terrorists in exchange for passengers.

“He wants to document the Kandahar drama on celluloid. A professional scriptwriter may be there to assist Jaswantji, but he is serious about this film on the Kandahar chapter in his book, A Call to Honour: In Service of Emergent India,” said a source close to the BJP leader.

And he has reportedly picked Anil Sharma, who has churned out blockbusters like the Sunny Deol-starrer Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, to direct his debut venture.

When contacted, Sharma said: “Nothing has been finalised as yet. I am currently busy with the Salman Khan-starrer Veer.” Asked about his recent meeting with Jaswant, he replied: “I meet many people. I will let you know when something is finalised.”

Jaswant couldn’t be reached for comment. But he could use the film to make a statement or two. If his recent flip-flop on the Kandahar hijack — whether L K Advani was in the loop or not — caused the party acute embarrassment, he could well try to set the record straight.

Like his upcoming 12-chapter book on Jinnah, for which he is sounding out experts across the world, including in Islamabad’s Qaid-e-Azam University, Jaswant would like his film to be “foolproof”.

However, the BJP has repeatedly found itself in a spot over Jaswant donning many hats lately.

It is not known, though, if the film would contain an ode to the famed “Thakur valour and solidarity”, visible during last year’s presidential elections, and more recently, during Jaswant’s high-ticket visit to Amar Singh’s residence.

Having led a distinguished public life, from the Army to the world of diplomacy to Parliament, Jaswant could also make a guest appearance in the film. During a recent NDA protest march against price rise, Jaswant wanted to stand next to Hema Malini in the Parliament complex .

The film could do the trick for Jaswant Singh.