Director casts the older Mrs B in an 'orphaned' mom's role

It's not often that Jaya Bachchan steps on to the big screen nowadays. The actress is extremely particular about the project and the characters she plays.
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The Big B's wife recently gave her consent to act in Preya Arora and Subhash Singh's maiden production Phir Tum Mil Gaye to be produced under the Hari Om Sai banner.

Still directing

The film is a remake of the 2004 Tamil flick June R, directed by Revathy S Verma that starred Surya and Jyotica. For the Hindi version, too, Revathy wields the directorial baton.

Return brigade

Apart from Jaya, the film's cast includes Ayesha Takia, Madhavan and Raveena Tandon who returns to the big screen post motherhood as reported ('Ravs makes a comeback'; Hitlist, January 6).

Says Revathy, "Jayaji's confirmation is a big achievement for us. She is a great actor and we are looking forward to working with her. She is rarely seen on the big screen, so it is great to see her."

Phir Tum Mil Gaye is about a 20-something girl who 'adopts' a mother from an old age home. "We always hear of couples adopting babies from orphanages, here it is the reverse process of a young girl wanting a mom. The mother's character is extremely optimistic," points out Revathy.

While casting, the name of Jaya to play the mother who is up for adoption was topmost in Revathy's mind. "When we were in talks for the Hindi version, one thing was sure that she would be in the cast."

Jaya was last seen on the big screen briefly in Drona and earlier in Lovesongs: Yesterday Today and Tomo-rrow and Laga Chunari Mein Daag.

She won't say no

Though the director and producer had not interacted with the Big B's biwi, they were sure that she would not turn down the offer. "We sent a bound script to her office and waited with bated breath. We were delighted when she said yes."

Preya has had a brush with B-Town being part of Priyadarshan's Bhaagam Bhaag crew. "Shooting for Phir Tum Mil Gaye begins from April 3 in Mumbai. We have also planned another project after this with Aziz Mirza as director," she says.