Highway to Berlin!

Feb 11, 2014 NR

Imtiaz Ali’s Highway is predictably a story about a journey – in spirit and actual. But the film seems to be on its own journey to recognition in world cinema, well before release. Surprising even the director himself comes a call from Berlin Film Festival, where the film will now be premiered.

Announcing the development, an elated Mahesh Bhatt tweeted, “Alia Bhatt has a unique connection with Berlin it's just incredible that her film Highway is premiering in Berlin.” Bhatt is the father of Alia Bhatt, the protagonist of the film.

Bhatt goes on to reveal Alia’s connection to Germany. “Many years ago, in 1929 in fact, Alia's grandmother was born in Berlin. Yes, she's German. Sadly she had to leave Berlin in 1937,” he writes, adding, “Alia's great grandfather, was running an underground newspaper against Hitler.He was found out and imprisoned for two years.” Now, that’s quite some genes!

In the meantime, this development seems to have caught even Imtiaz Ali unaware. He apparently believed such festivals are open only to filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap. The director is films such as Rockstar, Jab We Met and Love Aaj Kal hopes this only encourages other filmmakers in the country.

Highway releases on February 21. Click the Movie button below for more info:
Highway