Much as he is with cinema worldwide, Shakespeare is a favourite with Bollywood. The funny thing is, most cinema watchers don't know it yet. For a start, there are references to Romeo and Juliet strewn liberally -- from Ek Duje Ke Liye to Saudagar. Then there are those stock scenes adapted from the playwright's best tragedies, inspiring barely-talented directors in innumerable ways.
In the hands of a craftsman, however, Shakespeare shines in Hindi just as beautifully. Take Vishal Bharadwaj's Maqbool. It may explain why the director wants to revisit that period of English literature, with the help of another classic, Othello.
Helping him out this time are National Award-winning actors Saif Ali Khan and Konkona Sensharma, with Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi. Produced by Kumar Mangat, the film is set to release by April 2006.
Text: Preetee Brahmbhatt | Design: Uday Kuckian