Mira Nair to open Venice film festival

Plus: Man breaaks into Bachchans' home, Jism 3 is coming - in 3D, and Asin Thottumkal wants to move beyond comedy.

Mira Nair. Charles Sykes / AP

The Doha Film Institute-financed adaptation of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, directed by Mira Nair, has been selected to open the Venice film festival next month.

The film, which tells the story of a Pakistani man chasing success on Wall Street who becomes caught up in a symbolic conflict between his homeland and the American dream, is based on the bestselling novel by Mohsin Hamid, and stars Riz Ahmed in the lead, along with Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland and Liev Schreiber.

"The festival's opening night will feature a film that provides much food for thought," said the festival's new artistic director Alberto Barbera. "Mira Nair has made an exemplary film adaptation of a novel that deals with the topical issue of fundamentalism of any kind or nature."

The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which is also expected to go to the Toronto film festival, was shot in Atlanta, Istanbul, Lahore, New Delhi and New York, and features original music by Peter Gabriel. It will be the fifth time Nair has shown in Venice, having won the Golden Lion prize in 2001 for Monsoon Wedding. The festival runs from August 29 to September 8.

Man breaks into Bachchans' home

A 20-year-old allegedly broke into Amitabh Bachchan's home in Mumbai on Friday. He was caught by the actor's staff, who handed him over to the police. The man reportedly pocketed 8,000 rupees (Dh527) from a drawer inside the house. Bachchan wrote in a statement: "I spent some anxious moments since we had a break in! Cops and security are in overdrive now. In the end nothing is secure, irrespective of how much precaution one takes." Bachchan lives in the home with his wife Jaya, son Abhishek, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai and granddaughter Aaradhya. * IANS

Jism 3 planned - and will be in 3D

Pooja Bhatt's Jism 2 is yet to hit the screens but the actress-turned-director announced she has started working on the third film of the thriller franchise. "I had my script ready a long time back. I want to get it out of my system. I will make Jism 3 in 3D," said Bhatt, adding that she plans to shoot the film early next year. "I don't want to talk about the cast now. We have increased our take with Jism 2, so Jism 3 should be bigger and better. It will be a step ahead in every way." Jism 2, starring Sunny Leone, Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh, is scheduled to arrive in Indian cinemas on August 3. * IANS

Asin wants to move beyond comedy

After featuring in back-to-back comedies - Ready, Housefull 2 and Bol Bachchan - Asin Thottumkal says she is looking for more challenging roles. "I would like to change the pattern. Now I am looking for more well-written roles and characters that have a scope for performance. I am looking for roles where the woman's character is more fleshed out, but by that I don't mean it has to be a woman-centric film." Thottumkal will next be seen in the action comedy Khiladi 786, opposite Akshay Kumar, which will receive a December release. * IANS