Crackling effect

Actor Mahie Gill turns producer for Punjabi film Aatishbaaze Ishq. She shares her experiences from the behind the camera this time

Jasmine Singh

There are some syllables that perfectly fit the bill, when it comes to sultry and a good mix of traditional looking actress Mahie Gill. Fearless, enterprising, audacious, beautiful, devil-may-care, lightsome, insouciant… Mahie wouldn’t actually care of being tagged with right words. Shooting under the sparkling sun, on the roads and fields of Ferozepur, Punjab for her under production Punjabi film, Aatishbaaze Ishq, Mahie has added a new word to her curriculum vitae, she has turned producer with this film.

When everyone around is the Punjabi film industry hit turbulent waters, this actress has gone ahead and invested money along with another partner, Vineet Khetarpal in the film. With this new role, things haven’t changed much….she still greets you with utmost affection, makes sure everyone on the sets is comfortable, more than anything else, Mahie ensures she keeps up with everything.

She throws her head back, runs her finger through her curled up hair and smiles, “Oh yes, I have turned a producer with Aatishbaazi Ishq, isn’t this good?” She takes a minute to answer this herself. “I know the status of Punjabi films, and how their hold is dwindling, but I thought why I should be bogged down by it. I still feel if we put in our best in all the departments, we can still have a good Punjabi film,” says she.

Mahie plays a very different character in the film, something that Punjabi cinema hasn’t seen before. “I play a hockey coach who is a motor-mouth, she does all the chores herself,” adds Mahie who talks about the film that also introduces Ravi. “It is basically a story of three athletes, where Roshan Prince plays the role of a boxer and Ravi is the wrestler. The DOP of our the film Raja has won national award for work in Marathi cinema,” adds the actress who is hopeful that this romantic film will strike a rapport with the audience.

With the new role of a producer, Mahie definitely knows it is an added responsibility. “Not many people know that I have produced a short film earlier Navaad, which was widely appreciated. So, when I decided to produce this Punjabi film, there were people who stood by me in this. I am aware of the new responsibility, but I have a great team that manages everything well. In the end it is all about team work.”

There is another word that has come to settle in her dictionary- challenging! “Indeed, producing a film is tough, I ensure that the problems I faced as an actor, my crew doesn’t have to face that. All the same, I am thankful that I have a supportive crew and everyone is pitching in their best for the film.”

The film stars actor singer Roshan Prince as well. “He is a lovely singer and a good actor, the amount of hard work he is putting in the film is simply amazing,” shares the actress who doesn’t believe in making up anything. The film is directed by Amit Subhash Dhawan is already the talk of the town for its Bollywood treatment its cast of Kulbhushan Kharbanda, BN Sharma. The film has famous choreographer and now actor Ganesh Acharya whipping up the main dance and song sequences. Sunidhi Chauhan, Neeti Mohan, Sudesh Kumari, Roshan Prince and Labh Janjua have sung for Aatishbaazi Ishq while Shubarna has done the costumes.

"Not many people know that I have produced a short film earlier Mavaad, which was widely appreciated. So, when I decided to produce this Punjabi film, there were people who stood by me." — Mahie Gill

jasmine@tribunemail.com