Actor Shahid Kapoor whose last film Padmaavat was a hit at the box-office, is all geared up for his next release Batti Gul Meter Chalu. Helmed by Shree Narayan Singh, the film is a social drama that talks about issues like high electricity bills in small towns.
While talking about the upcoming film, Shahid revealed that Batti Gul Meter Chalu is the kind of movie that is significant to people who live beyond Mumbai. "The reason we made this film is because there is a certain section of the junta beyond your regular metropolis, who face a shortage of electricity. Around 32 million people don’t have a single light bulb in their homes. When I learnt about this, it came as a huge shock to me," shared the actor.
Shahid also revealed a few interesting details about his character in the film. "In the beginning, I’m a kapti (unscrupulous) lawyer who is only interested in making moolah. Most often, he’s only interested in doing out-of-court settlements and earning a quick buck. Then something happens to his friend and he realizes that he should do something about the problem that is being faced by many. Then, I become a conscientious guy who decides to fight for people," said the actor.
Shahid further shed the light on how he got the dialect for his character right. "While practicing the line that mentions 'facts and figures', I used to say 'phacts' just like the locals there would pronounce the word. Mira (my wife) would ask me, 'Are you sure about the character you are playing?' And I would tell her that where this man comes from, the language he speaks, this is how it is," he added.
For the unversed, earlier the film was supposed to be set in a city. Later, even though it was set in a small town and the script was rewritten, the core idea remained the same. "It was about a flawed guy who chooses to fight against electricity theft, high bills, and privatisation. Electricity doesn’t reach places that need it the most like schools and hospitals. So, it’s a grassroot-level subject. Mira told me you have to make it happen," quoted Shahid.
Batti Gul Meter Chalu produced by T-Series and Kriti Pictures and will hit the theatres on September 21, 2018.
