With Salman Khan’s ‘Kick’, Chetan Bhagat Makes Debut as Screenplay Writer

MUMBAI: After his bosom buddy, producer Sajid Nadiadwala whom Salman Khan persuaded to take over as director of ‘Kick’, it is now author Chetan Bhagat’s turn.

Chetan Bhagat, the eminent writer whose books have given B-town films like 'Hello', the blockbuster '3 Idiots' and forthcoming projects '2 States' and 'Kai Po Che' will turn scriptwriter for 'Kick' - the upcoming movie of Sajid Nadiawala that stars superstar Salman Khan.

‘Kick’ will start in April right after the first lengthy schedule of Sohail Khan’s ‘Sher Khan’.

Chetan Bhagat seems all geared for the new challenge of turning into a screenwriter. Of course Salman is the big incentive. “I wanted to work with Salman since ‘Hello’. I couldn’t have hoped for a better debut as a screenplay writer. I hope to make this Salman’s best film ever. The challenge here is to restructure the original screenplay and take it to a new level. We could easily do a faithful and simply re-gurgitate the entire Telugu film into Hindi because with Salman anything and everything works.”

“I saw the original film in Telugu and loved it. But I felt there was potential there to take the content deeper. It is the story of a guy who lives for kicks. Everything he does, he does for the thrill of it. I want to explore that theme of living for pleasure, take it to another level. I wanted to do a a script that wasn’t my own story. Now I get to do it for the country’s biggest star. Not only that, one of the country’s top producer Sajid Nadiadwala makes his directorial debut in ‘Kick’. So I get to make my debut along another major debut. His (Sajid’s) vision for Kick is huge. I hope I am able to make his vision come true,” added Bhagat.

Both Sajid and Chetan apparently share good rapport. The rights of Chetan's best-selling novel '2 States: The Story of My Marriage' was bagged by the filmmaker, who also took over the directorial reins of the film from Shirish Kunder. Apparently later he thought of bringing in the writer on board for 'Kick' to do the changes in screenplay.

When contacted Sajid Nadiadwala confirmed Chetan Bhagat as the screenwriter for ‘Kick’. “We have Chetan to write the screenplay and Rajat Arora to do the dialogues. I didn’t want to turn director without being sure of the writing. Now I am confident it will be kick-ass.”

Pictures of Aamir Khan With Shahid Afridi at Mecca On Way to Hajj

Aamir Khan, who is on Haj pilgrimage along with his mother, had an unplanned rendezvous with Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi. The superstar of Hindi cinema met the Pakistani cricketer at a religious gathering at Mecca.

Aamir Khan With Shahid Afridi at Hajj

Aamir Khan and Shahid Afridi also met Maulana Tariq Jamil, one of Pakistan’s most influential clerics, during a gathering in Mekkah. The duo also interacted with Islamic scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil, who spoke about the significance of Mecca. Pakistani former singer Junaid Jamshed was also present on the occasion.

Aamir Khan and Shahid Afridi With Maulana Tariq Jamil

After catching up with Afridi, Aamir left for Haj, while the all-rounder made his way to Saudi Arabia

Pictures of Rani Mukerjee at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Cremation

Rani Mukerji was in the forefront of Yash Chopra’s funeral along with his sons Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra. Below are Rani Mukerjee Photos at Yash Chopra's last rites/funeral

Rani Mukerjee at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Cremation

Rani Mukerjee at Yash Chopra's Cremation Funeral

Rani Mukerjee at Yash Chopra's Last Rites Funeral

Yash Chopra Cremated, Pictures of Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Rites

Veteran director Yash Chopra has been cremated Mumbai's Vile Parle crematorium. Mr Chopra died of multi organ failure on Sunday (October 22). The legendary filmmaker’s final journey took place in the presence of teary-eyed friends, family and fans, who came to pay their last respects.

Mr Chopra's body covered with flowers and garlands, was taken to the crematorium in an ambulance from Yash Raj Studios. The late director's body had been kept overnight at the studios for people to pay their last respects.

Yash Chopra's Funeral Pictures

Shahrukh Khan at Yash Chopra's Funeral

Katrina Kaif at Yash Chopra's Funeral

KAtrina Kaif at Yash Chopra's Funeral

Rani Mukerjee at Yash Chopra's Funeral

Rani Mukerjee at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Cremation

Rani Mukerjee at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Cremation

Yash Chopra's Last Riots, Yash Chopra Funeral Held at Mumbai's Vile Parle crematorium. Yash Chopra's son Uday Chopra also spotted in the picture

Amitabh Bachchan at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Rites

Deepika Padukone at Yash Chopra's Funeral

Deepika Padukone at Yash Chopra's Last Rites

Imran Khan at Yash Chopra's Funeral, Last Rites

Rekha at Yash Chopra's Funeral, Cremation

Ashutosh Gowariker at Yash Chopra's Funeral, Last Rites

Preity Zinta at Yash Chopra's Funeral, Last Rites

Preity Zinta at Yash Chopra's Cremation, Funeral.

Kajol at Yash Chopra's Funeral, Cremation.

Arjun Rampal With Wife Mehr at Yash Chopra's Funeral, Last Rites

David Dawan

Abbas-Mastan at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Riots

Anu Malik at Yash Chopra's Funeral, Last Rites

Deepti Naval

Prateik Babbar at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Rites

Prathik Babbar Patil at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Rites

MINIssha Lamba at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Rites

Kabir Khan and Wife Mini Mathur at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Rites

Prakesh Jha

Shyam Benegal at Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Rites

Rohit Shetty and Homi Adajaat Yash Chopra's Funeral/Last Rites

Rajpal Yadhav

Parikshit Sahani

Shankar Mahadevan and Ehsan

Chunky Pandey With Wife

Bharat Shah and director Satish Kaushik

Saroj Khan

Music Director Jatin at Yash Chopra's Funeral

Yash Chopra's Funeral

at Yash Chopra's Last Rites

Sarika at at Yash Chopra's Funeral

Resul Pokutty at Yash Chopra's Funeral

Pritam at Yash Chopra's Funeral

Yash Chopra's Funeral Videos

Celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Adnan Sami, Mukesh Bhatt, Preity Zinta, Anil Sharma, Pradeep Sarkar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Prateik, Manish Malhotra, Shreyas Talpade, Raj Kundra, Rohit Shetty, Satish Kaushik, Javed Akhtar, Kirron Kher, Siddharth Roy Kapur, and Gauhar Khan, attended the last rites.

Mr Chopra was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital on October 13 with dengue fever. On October 17, he was reported to have improved and was expected to be discharged soon.

"He passed away due to dengue and multiple organ failure today evening. He was in the ICU," Lilavati Hospital spokesperson Dr Sudhir told PTI on Sunday.

An official statement from Yash Raj Films, the production company founded by Mr Chopra, had said: It is with deep regret that we announce the sad demise of Mr. Yash Chopra, who breathed his last at around 5:30 PM today. Details of his last rites will be communicated to all a little later.

Mr Chopra's 22nd film, Jab Tak Hai Jaan starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, will release this Diwali.

Yash Chopra directed films like Deewar, Silsila, Kabhi Kabhie and Lamhe in his five-decade long career. His production company, Yash Raj Films, produced films such as Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Bunty Aur Babli and Mohabbatein.

In an interview with Shah Rukh Khan on his 80th birthday, Mr Chopra had announced his retirement from directing, saying that Jab Tak Hai Jaan would be his last film.

Mr Chopra is survived by his wife Pamela and two sons Aditya and Uday.