Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who will soon make his television debut through Naamkaran, serial which will be aired on Star Plus, said that his daughter Alia Bhatt had approved the show and the idea behind it. The serial will revolve around a 10-year-old girl and her social identity.
According to a PTI report, Naamkaran explores the journey of Avni, a curious but perceptive girl who will raise pertinent questions, which challenges societal norms. “I asked Alia how she would react if a small girl who comes up to her and asks why is her identity attached to her father in today’s times. To which, Alia raised her eyebrows and she said it is fascinating. She liked it. We are happy about it,” Bhatt said.
There were reports that suggested that the show was partially inspired by Bhatt’s own film Zakhm (1998) which had Ajay Devgn and Bhatt’s elder daughter Pooja Bhatt in the lead. The film won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. The director refuted the reports about the TV show being autobiographical. “It is incorrect to say Naamkarann is autobiographical. Like all writers who take inspiration from their own lives, the show uses my own personal narrative but it tells a much larger story. This country is too large and complex to be able to express things through one life. Some of the characters are taken from someone’s life,” he said.
Soon after the announcements of Bhatt’s TV show were made, Alia Bhatt showed her support on Twitter:
Presenting the exclusive title track of @MaheshNBhatt show ‘Naamkarann’! Hear it out now: https://t.co/daagm7dPhR #HerLastName
— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) August 20, 2016
The show will be airing next month on Star Plus with child actress Arsheen playing the lead role, and soap actress Barkha Bisht playing the mother. Singer Arijit Singh has also sung a song for the show. “Arsheen is a born actress and she’s a perfect fit for Avni’s character. Just like Alia (Bhatt) stunned everyone including me with her outstanding performance in Udta Punjab, this girl Arsheen is going to stun everyone,” Bhatt said in a statement last week.
Watch Naamkaran‘s trailer here:
Feature Image Courtesy: DesiMartini.com
