The "Oye Oye" song from "Azhar," which is a rehashed version of the special number from "Tridev," is topping charts all over, but its good run may soon be cut short. The makers have apparently not sought permission from Sangeeta Bijlani (the actress on whom the 1980s song was featured) or composer Viju Shah.
"Forget about the song, the 'Azhar' makers haven't consulted Sangeeta even before using her name and visuals of her movie. The makers did try to approach her, but she made it very clear she had nothing to do with the project. Does that give them the right to proceed any way?," an insider told the Asian Age.
Nargis' role in this Tony D'Souza film borrows broadly from Sangeeta's life and marriage with cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin. "Nargis Fakhri, who plays Sangeeta, looks nothing like the original. She doesn't even speak her own lines," the source added.
Interestingly, Nargis believes that Sangeeta has been presented elegantly in the film; she did what her director asked her to do. The 36-year-old researched well before she took up the part. "I have read all the stuff available about her and got to know about their life from people around me," she told the leading daily.
While Nargis is excited about the film and hopes to meet Sangeeta someday, Prachi Desai, who plays the sportsman's first wife Naureen on celluloid, has already met the person she is playing on screen. Calling it an "emotional" interaction, the young star said she was left inspired by a few anecdotes from Naureen's life.
"In her personal capacity, she shared a lot of insights with me. She's a very private person but there is so much respect and dignity I have for her. She is inspiring," the Press Trust of India quoted Prachi as saying.
"Azhar" opens in theatres May 13.
