Naseer teams up with son Vivaan for 'Mastaan'

Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has teamed up with his younger son Vivaan for "Mastaan". While the former will play gangster Karim Lala, the latter will feature as young Haji Mastan in the movie going on the floors in May.

The Rs.20 crore budgeted "Mastaan" will be set in the 1980s. This is Naseer and Vivaan's second film together after "7 Khoon Maaf" though they didn't share any screen space in the film.

In "Mastaan", however, the father-son have extremely critical dramatic scenes together. The film will be directed by first-timer Rocky Khanna.

Producer Sunil Bohra says it had to be Naseer for the older part and Vivaan for the younger role.

"Rocky was clear on that. If we didn't get Naseer saab and his son we wouldn't make the film. Luckily they both agreed," he said.

Vivaan has begun preparations for his role as Haji Mastan, reading up on the era and on the gangsters who occupied that era. However, Vivaan has been asked not to watch Amitabh Bachchan in "Deewaar" and Ajay Devgn in "Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai". The two actors have played roles allegedly inspired by Haji Mastan.

But the director doesn't want Vivaan to bring any baggage into his part.

Bohra said: "The only thing I knew about Rocky Khanna is that he had written the lyrics of a film called 'Main Meri Patni Aur Woh'. I had no clue he could write a script or direct a film. But when I heard the script of 'Mastaan', I was blown away. There have been many films about the underworld and gangsters and about Haji Mastaan. But this one is something else."

Interestingly, the film also marks a new beginning for singer Mohit Chouhan. He turns composer with "Mastaan".

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