Aftab Shivdasani, who has turned producer with his just-released “Aao Wish Karein”, says he is grateful to superstar Shah Rukh Khan for having lent his voice to promote the fairytale love story.

“I was looking for a very popular voice… which people can easily recognise and could think only of Shah Rukh. He readily agreed to lend his voice and I am thankful to him for that,” Aftab told IANS.

He admits that a producer’s job is more difficult than an actor’s, having experienced both sides now.

“This is my debut production, and I found that a producer’s job is tougher than that of an actor,” Aftab said.

“While doing other films I had to concentrate only on acting, but in this case I had to be multi-tasking, which became tough at times,” he added.

“Aao Wish Karein” is like a fairytale where a child’s life gets transformed after his wish to be a grown-up actually materialises, said Aftab.

“It’s a very positive story about hopes, imagination, wishes and miracles,” he added.

“‘Aao Wish Karein’ is a full-fledged entertainment which a family can enjoy together,” he said.

Directed by Glenn Baretto, Aftab and Aamna Shariff play the lead roles in the film.

he refuses to comment on her relationship with Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani, but actress Aamna Sharif admits that she shared a high comfort level with him while working on their second film "Aao Wish Karein".

"Since this is my second film with Aftab (after ‘Aloo Chaat’), the comfort level is definitely higher. He is a wonderful actor and this film he has produced and co-written too," Aamna said over phone from Mumbai.

Releasing Nov 13, "Aao Wish Karein" is being produced by Aftab.

"It was great to see how he managed both the roles of an actor and a producer. He took care of everyone in the crew and mine too. When he had to shoot, his whole concentration used to be on acting. But after the pack up, he used to completely become a producer looking after different things," she added.

Aamna, who became a household name after featuring in the popular daily soap "Kahiin To Hoga", forayed into Bollywood with "Aloo Chaat". She says that she accepted Aftab’s home production because she liked the script.

"I was offered this film on the sets of ‘Aloo Chaat’. I gave my nod to it not because it had Aftab, but because I loved the script and my role," she said.

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Aftab Shivdasani  is through with the roller coaster ride of ten years in the meanest industry. He gets candid in an interview and talks about his journey so far, and shares his future plans.
Why do you want to turn producer?

One of the reasons is that I want to do films of my type and secondly I liked the script.
So will you be working with establishes directors or newcomers?
I would want to work with established directors like Rakyesh Mehra and Raju Hirani.
Are you satisfied with your graph so far?
Little more success was welcomed. All the films that released in 2008 irrespective of their box office results satisfy me as an actor, as each character is different from other. As far as the whole career is concerned, I agree I did make a few wrong choices of films. As wisdom dawn upon me little late, I now look for quality not quantity, in fact what I then thought was quality turned out to be quantity.
So what made you take up Daddy Cool?
I always wanted to do a crazy role. As that’s the part of my personality, I am very laid-back about my looks and attire. I got to do something that I can closely relate to so I grabbed it.
Are you disappointed for Aloo Chat not doing well?
It was a family centric film. I am glad that people are watching it on satellite and it is making money. But had it been watched in multiplexes when it released, it would have benefited actors too.
Anuj said once that you and Amna did not promote his film Aloo Chat well?
One has to point finger at someone so he must have told this. He will not take the blame on himself. Otherwise there are so many reasons for a film to not work.
Would you do any award winning film?
What is the definition of an award winning performance? Most of them who win according to me do not deserve. Awards are not important to me, but are just another feather in my cap.

Like all other films this week, this one too is interestingly titled. But Aloo Chaat’s content is not as palatable as the film’s mouth-watering name.

The story is admittedly inspired by Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’s plot, except for the gender switcheroo. Nikhil (Aftab Shivdasani) is an America-returned Punjabi munda –the kind who, at his age, asks for his parents’ permission to take his fiancée about town. The lady he’s supposedly engaged to (Linda Arsenio: Kabul Express, Mumbai Salsa) is just a false front for his real love.

Since his actual girlfriend’s name is Aamna (Aamna Shariff), Nikhil fears his family’s immediate rejection over her religion. So along with uncle Hakeem Tarachand (Manoj Pahwa), a sexologist who claims to cure “anything” within 15 days, Nikhil devised a sneaky plan.

As per their design, they got a “gori”, a crude colloquial for a foreigner, to pose as Nikhil’s bikini-sporting and culture-less fiancée, who far from cooking an Indian meal, also comes from a divorced family.

Accompanying her is Aamna, posing as a friend, but actually working on winning the hearts of Nikhil’s family by cooking dinner, singing a folk song at the sangeet, lecturing about Indian culture and wearing the world’s most boring clothes, almost all in white. The film then has some interesting story turns, with the family’s idiot Chhadami (Sanjay Mishra) always suspecting something’s not as it seems.

One can’t help being surprised at the overtly chauvinistic tone of the film. This, when the film otherwise maintains a fresh and lighthearted tone. As for the family, it’s full of the usual suspects, made somewhat likeable by the superb actors.

There’s the patriarchal family head (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), his conservative yet comical mother (Dolly Ahluwalia, to die for), his kitchen-bound wife (Meenakshi) and her brother Chhadami who, for some strange reason, everyone treats disrespectfully. For laughs, there’s a Punjabi pop star with rings on every inch of his fingers, who visits the sexologist uncle discreetly; and two aloo chaat vendors who we meet at key junctures in the story.

Of the central cast, the limelight stealer is Linda Arsenio who plays her character as the sometimes confused, but always bright and sprightly do-gooder. Aamna maintains her straight-haired, traditional look from television and doesn’t have much to do except throw us a glossy-lipped smile off and on.

Aftab, a good actor yet to get his due, gets a bit lost among the melee of actors. But his chemistry with both the female actors is crackling, especially with Aamna. Manoj Pahwa and Sanjay Mishra (once seen together in the TV serial LOC) are both fabulous.

Songs are interesting (the film credits four talents as music directors), and most have a north-Indian flavor. Director Robby Grewal (Samay, MP3) has got the Delhi-based Punjabi family nuances just right (except for the family’s tradition of not eating food cooked by a Muslim), adding his own imaginative touches like the band that’s plays a western tune to welcome the foreigner bahu.

And that, coupled with a few moments of hilarious developments (the granny worries about Nikhil’s sexuality after watching “BrokenToota Mountain” on TV) makes you realise the film it could have been.

One can’t recommend Aloo Chaat simply because the `who’s-a-good-bahu’ recipe has turned stale, and the audience’s taste has since evolved.

Aftab and Aamna Shariff have been couple for a year now. We’ve reported that she has been a regular to his home town, (Ab Aftab Ki Kashish, Hitlist, August 19) and he at her Lokhandwala home.

They have also been spotted at various hot spots of the city. It is clear that this is no passing fancy, and now Aftab’s parents, Prem and Sandha are pressuring them to make a commitment.

Says a close friend of the couple, “Affy’s parents and sister are very fond of Aamna and they want him to get married to her. They think it’s time for him to settle down and as they think the world of Aamna, they are all pressuring him to set the date soon.”

But though seriously committed to each other, Aamna and Aftab are in no hurry to get hitched. The friend adds, “They both want to concentrate on their careers
. Especially Aamna, who is just starting off her big screen debut with Aloo Chat. They haven’t discussed marriage they’re taking the future as it comes.”

Although they are discreet, Aamna spent ten days with Aftab in Los Angeles on her birthday last year, when he was shooting for Kambakht Ishq.

Love is…same ringtone

Aftab and Aamna have the same caller tune a song of their film Sabse Peeche Hum Khade (produced by Aftab himself). Initially, people thought their love story is a publicity stunt for the film Aloo Chaat, but they’ve proved that they are serious about each other.

Romance blossomed between them on location in Delhi. The friend reveals, “Aftab was very impressed with Aamna’s attitude and was instantly attracted to her. He found her sensitive and caring and they found an instant comfort factor. Their friendship turned to love very quickly but they kept it a secret even after the film was over.”

It became known when he signed her for his home production. Aftab and Aamna remained unavailable for comment.

Promotion of Aftab Shivdasani-Aamna Shariff-Linda Arsenio starrer ALOO CHAAT has kick started with a bang and the trailers have done the trick. Not just has the title managed to get itself instantly registered in the mind of movie buffs, even the fun quotient of this laugh saga belongs to not-to-be-missed category which is helping the film generate good buzz around itself.

”This was the intent when the film was titled ALOO CHAAT. We had loved the title from the writing stage itself and intended to stick to it throughout”, says an elated Robby Grewal who is happy with the way his film is being promoted, ”We knew that a title like ALOO CHAAT will result in good curiosity. It was supposed to raise a question mark amongst audience (in a nice way of course) and I am glad that it has succeeded in doing so.”