Bollywood A-lister Anushka Sharma has dismissed reports in the Indian media that her latest film, the Punjab-set romantic comedy Phillauri, was inspired by animated fantasy Corpse Bride.
“I have seen those stories,” says Sharma. “I think what happens is when people see a film the first thing all they do is think of another film, and because there is a ghost and a love story, it is a natural thing to compare it to a film like that, but for me, there is no similarity whatsoever with that film.”
She goes on to admit she has not watched the Tim Burton cult classic, and while director Anshai Lal has, she stresses it was not something that influenced the film.
"I think Corpse Bride is very much in that Tim Burton-kind- of dark place, and that is not my thing, it is no fun for me. You will see when you watch the film, this is very much a fun family film, so I think when it comes to those comparisons everyone should just ignore it."
Phillauri tells the story of Kanan (Suraj Sharma), who is persuaded by his friends and family to marry a tree to ward off the bad luck afflicting his love-life.
To Kanan’s surprise, his supernatural endeavours awaken an ancient tree spirit, Shashi, played by Anushka Sharma, and his love-life becomes even more complicated as he attempts to help her return to the spirit realm.
The plot certainly shares conceptual similarities with Burton's 2005 work, which sees Johnny Depp's Victor dragged into the underworld by a tree and finding himself in a strange love-triangle with the deceased corpse bride (played by Helena Bonham Carter) and his earthly love Victoria (Emily Watson), though Phillauri's theme of marrying inanimate objects at the behest of a superstitious family perhaps takes on even greater significance, given the debate around arranged marriages in India.
Anushka, however, does not want to overplay the social significance of the film. “I don’t really think it’s making too much of a comment on anything socially,” she insists. “It’s just a fun film. People have their beliefs and I’m all for everyone believing what they want to believe, but we’re just having fun with the film.
“My brother’s actually getting married soon and we tried to get him to marry a tree to help publicise the film ... he refused.”
Phillauri also saw Sharma add "producer" to her CV, in addition to her job in front of the camera. And the actress seems to have taken the greater responsibility in her stride.
“Every film comes with its own challenges,” she admits.
“With this film being producer and star was a challenge, but it was actually very easy.” The film releases on Thursday, a day ahead of its release in India.
cnewbould@thenational.ae
The%20specs
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)
Saturday
Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)
Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)
Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)
Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)
Sunday
Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
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About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Tips to keep your car cool
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Company%20profile
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Newcastle United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Tottenham (Alli 61'), Davies (70')
Red card Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Fandim, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Harbh, Pat Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
4pm: Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
Royal Birkdale Golf Course
Location: Southport, Merseyside, England
Established: 1889
Type: Private
Total holes: 18
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars