to overwhelming response

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) It was a response which would have left even the most phlegmatic of filmmakers overwhelmed.

A tremendous response and rave reviews greeted Naseeruddin Shah debut directorial venture as the much-awaited venture had its world premiere at the ongoing Eight Asian film festival here last night.

Tickets for the premiere show for the film at Delhi's Siri Fort auditorium were booked almost a day in advance and many cine buffs eager to catch a glimpse of the brilliant actor Naseeruddin Shah's film had to return disappointed.

The auditorium where the film was to be screened was filled up well before the start of the show, as a result many who made a late entry had to sit in the aisle.

Speaking on the occasion, a clearly overwhelmed Naseer, who was here with the cast of his film including wife Ratna Pathak Shah, Konkona Sen, Jimmy Shergill and Irfan Khan, said 'Yun Hota to Kya Hota' was an attempt to convey that the random and arbitrary nature of fate could just with one stroke shatter lives and change one's destinies.

''For example, what is it if not fate that the people who died in the Mumbai blasts happened to be there when the blasts occurred. In short, what my film wants to convey is that any tragedy could befall any of us at any given time, leaving one wonder whether it is cosmic elements that led to our being at the scene of the given tragedy,'' Naseer said.

Starring a host of accomplished stars like Paresh Rawal, Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen, Ratna Pathak Shah, Jimmy Shergill and newcomer Ankur Khanna,, 'Yun Hota to Kya Hota' is a story of four different people from four disparate worlds of dissimilar backgrounds and diverse motives but whose lives become interwined when fate selects them to play their assigned roles in one of the most horrific events of recent times- the September 11 bombing of the World Trade Centre in the US.

Speaking on the occasion, actor Konkona Sen said working in a film by Nasser, whose films she had grown up on, was nothing short of a dream.

''The main reason for my doing the film was Naseer. I have admired his films as a child and nurtured a desire to work with him.

Even if he had given me a "walk on" role or a guest role in the film, I would have willingly done it,'' she said.

Actor Irrfan Khan said when he was offered the film, he was completely blown over by the script which had him totally engaged.

''And, having watched the film now, I would say 'Yun Hota To Kya Hota' is a unique film in the history of Indian cinema. Nothing like this has ever been attempted in Indian cinema,'' he said.

UNI AR DKB HS1012