'Tezz' makers in tizzy over work permits

Oct 2, 2010 Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, Oct 2 (IANS) The makers of 'Tezz' got into a tizzy as 14 crew members of the film were apparently denied work permit for Britain because of the film's terror theme.

However, the team now claims the film is not about terrorism at all!

Director Priyadarshan grappled with and solved the huge problem of getting work permits for 14 crew members of 'Tezz' - a film about terrorists holding a speeding train between London and Glasgow to ransom.

Skirting the terrorist issue, Priyadarshan said: 'But 'Tezz' is not about terrorism! The man who holds the speeding train to ransom does not represent any ideology or religion. He is his own person.'

Denying that the film is a remake of famous terrorist adventures like 'The Bullet Train' and 'The Taking Of Pelham 123', Priyadarshan said: 'Let people speculate on the source for my film. 'Tezz' is just about a train hold-up. I'd say the only film 'Tezz' resembles is Jan de Bont's 'Speed'.'

Now that the film is moving on the right track, the shooting of the film will begin Oct 10. The film features Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Boman Irani, Zayed Khan, Kangna Ranaut and Sameera Reddy.

'Most of us got the work permit. But 14 crew members did not get their permits. We could not start shooting without them. But now we will start shooting Oct 10,' Priyadarshan said.