Saira Banu is against remakes of old Bollywood classics

Mumbai, Sep 17 (UNI) Actress-producer and yesteryear heart throb of many, Saira Banu says she is vehemently against remaking of old Bollywood classics.

''It is not good to remake movies which have become cult among cine goers,'' she told reporters during the promotional event of her Bhojpuri film 'Ab Ta Banja Sajanwa Hamaar', at her residence in Bandra yesterday.

Many years ago, Sohrab Modi wanted to remake 'Pukar' starring herself and her husband Dilip Kumar. The original film starred Saira's mother Naseem Banu. ''But, Dilip Saab and myself urged Modi to drop the plans because cult films cannot and should not be remade,'' she stressed.

She recalled that Sanjay Leela Bhansali had first revealed his plans to remake 'Devdas' on her interview-based show on television. ''My instant reaction was 'Sanjay, please don't do it','' Saira said.

When asked whether she had seen Bhansali's 'Devdas', Saira said the production values were extremely good and there was lot of grandeur. ''But there was no soul. I would identify myself with Bimal Roy's Devdas not because Dilip Saab played the lead but because there was lot of soul in the film and close to what the character Devdas should have been'', she added.

About her Bhojpuri film, she said the movie releases on October 27. Bhojpuri cinema has good potential because Bhojpuri was ''zameen ki bhasha'' (earthy language) and was very close to Urdu and Hindi.

The thriving Bhojpuri industry has a good future ahead, added Saira.

Saira said she would continue to make films in Bhojpuri as well as in Marathi. When asked about her Hindi film 'Palkhon ki chhaon mein' announced few years ago and then shelved, she said she had shelved the project because she could not run after stars for dates.

Replying to a question on turning director, Saira said she would like to be a director, but she did not have the time to weild the baton. She disclosed that Dilip Kumar had written a few scripts which were lying with her. ''I would like to make films based on those scripts and if Saab (Dilip Kumar) is willing , I would like to bring him before camera once again,'' she said.

'Ab Ta Banja Sajanwa Hamaar' stars Bhojpuri stalwarts Ravi Kishen and Nagma as well as Mona Thiba, Anant Jog and Tej Sapru.

Dilip Kumar made a brief appearance at the media get-together and announced his arrival by whistling. He welcomed journalists and photographers by speaking to them in Marathi.

When asked about his views about movies in general, the 80-year-old legendary actor said, ''I have been told to speak less because if I begin speaking, it is difficult to stop me.'' Answering few questions, the veteran star of Bollywood classics like 'Ganga Jamuna', 'Naya Daur' among others said, he was familiar with Bhojpuri language and the people who speak it.

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