Rohit Shetty set to direct Shaktimaan’s slick reboot

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Rohit Shetty decided against Ajay Devgn for the lead after the actor insisted on the title 'Shaktimn"

Yesterday evening, Dhillin Mehta, CEO of Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd, made an announcement that made waves in the entertainment industry. Come fall, Mr. Mehta plans to begin the shooting of the much-awaited Shaktimaan film. The official announcement also said that director Rohit Shetty is going to be calling the shots.

Rohit’s earlier works include Golmaal, Golmaal Returns, Golmaal 3, and Singham. His directorial style is a subtle blend of picking a different novelty vehicle for each movie and then blowing them up, and paying Ajay Devgan (Devgn? Dvgn?) crores for acting that would put a fine leg of Parma ham to shame.

Shaktimaan, a cult classic from the nineties, is a series following the adventures of the eponymous Shaktimaan, who is a man endowed with superhuman strength, the power of flight, and body parts that shoot lasers. His alter-ego is a quiet,unassuming photographer for a newspaper. Geeta Vishwas, his love interest, is a reporter who works at the same newspaper. The character and his premise have often been praised for their striking originality.

The new film promises to hold delights for new fans of the superhero, and also for the original fan base of twenty-somethings who will be sneaking in to the halls to relive their childhood. Director Shetty has stated that this new Shaktimaan will be refreshing, and young, and a lot more action-oriented. ‘People come to my movies looking to be entertained, not to be lectured. So Shaktimaan is going to be beating villains up, dancing in item numbers, and probably wearing shaded aviators. Its a really revolutionary new image, and I’m sure people are going to love it.’

As to what his choice of vehicle-dynamite would be, Shetty remained uncommitted. However a source tells The Unreal Times that in an attempt to stay relevant to the current campaign against cruelty to horses in Mumbai, Shetty will be blowing up Victoria carriages. After all, he doesn’t intend for Shaktimaan to completely lose his moral voice.

Several actors had been approached for the role of Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri aka Shaktimaan, including Ajay Devgan/gn/gun, Tusshar Kapoor and Sonu Sood, until finally Dhamaal star Aashish Chaudhary was signed. Aashish has a long string of movies behind him and has acted in classics such as Three: Love Lies and Betrayal and Fight Club. Not the one directed by David Fincher. The one written by Sohail Khan. Aashish tweeted that he was ‘dam xcited to b part of dis’ (sic) and that he was ‘relly lukn forwd 2 it’ (sic).

Shaktimaan: Man Ki Shakti will be out in theatres in June 2013. If you love action, explosions and lots of half-naked chicks, buy a ticket. If you loved Shaktimaan as a kid, buy a ticket. If you think Tusshar Kapoor is a comedic genius on par with Steve Carrell, buy a ticket. Above all, if you live in Bombay, buy a ticket, because its not like you can party anywhere, instead.

(Reported by Special Correspondent, Mohini Mukherjee)

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