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Paul Schrader is not new to Mumbai or Bollywood
You are co-writer on Xtreme City, a film on criminal world in Mumbai. How did that happen?
It was around a year-and-a-half back when I was approached by Anubhav Sinha to do something with Bollywood. I didn't think much of it then and returned to New York. But the seed was planted and when I came back six months later, Anubhav introduced me to Mustaq Sheikh. I was presented with the opportunity to study Hindi films and I took it up. Mustaq and I got talking and decided to co-write the script for Xtreme City.
What is it about?
It is neither a Satya, Company, D, Sarkar or Sarkar Raj. Xtreme City is a story of two men an American and an Indian who are in the UN force. The American guy saves the life of the Indian and both part ways the American becomes a cop, while the Indian gets involved in Mumbai's underworld. Years later, the American comes looking for the Indian for help.
There's talk that Shah Rukh Khan is going to star in it...
As of now I don't know. We are looking for a person in the age group of 35-40 years and he's the best in that slot. But there are so many actors you admire and want to work with. But if they don't suit the character, there's no point in casting them; and even if you do, you are not doing any favour to the actor. But there are terrific and beautiful women like Aishwarya and Kareena with whom I may or may not work.
How will you describe Mumbai?
Last when I was here, Anubhav, Maqbool Khan and Nandini Srikant took me around the city on a kind-of recce, I've seen almost everything from Colaba to Goregaon. It is an extreme city. There is an overload of sensations intellectual, auditory, visuals and smells. It is overwhelming the first time. I actually got dizzy because I couldn't hold so many contradictions together in my head. Even Delhi for that matter; I saw a camel loaded with IBM computers walking in the traffic from my hotel window u2014 I had to go and lie down for bit!
Bollywood films that you've loved...
My favourites are Kagaz Ke Phool, Parinda, Mani Rathnam's Kelviyin Nayagan and Jodhaa Akbar, I just love the songs in it. Even the song Tumse Hi from Jab We Met is my favourite. Among the stars, I've always liked Dev Anand, he's classy.
What do you enjoy doing writing or directing?
Let's just say that when I'm editing, I want to write; when I'm writing, I want to direct, and when I'm directing, I want to edit!u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
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