javed akhtar

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Courtesy: IndiaFM

Vipul Shah's is all set to start work for his first Indo-British venture Namaste London in July 2006. The movie has an interesting cast of Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Upen Patel, Rishi Kapoor and host of Hollywood actors that are still to be finalized.

Vipul Shah has also hired Peter Field as director of photography who has shot Brad Pitt starrer Troy, Tomb Raider, Da Vinci Code and the Bond flick Tomorrow Never Dies. The Hollywood heavyweight has been hired with a specific purpose of making looking London look very different. He has been hired at an astronomical amount that reportedly exceeds a crore which perhaps makes him the costliest director of photography in Indian cinema.

Now for the first time Vipul Shah is bringing the unique combination of stalwart lyrist Javed Akhtar and current music sensation Himesh Reshmmiya to compose music of Namaste London. Despite the fact that the two personalities have been hugely popular in their respective musical fields, they surprisingly have never worked together. Vipul Shah brings the two maestros together.

Javed Akhtar says...
Himesh and I wanted to work with each other from a long time... our love story began in Holland when Vipul, Himesh and I decided to work together. For creating music we lyrists need a good script or a beautiful story, fortunately Vipul has given a very good opportunity in Namaste London.

Himesh and I come from such a varied background and music sensibility that it creates new opportunity to create new sounds and music. When Himesh called me and expressed his desire to work together, he told me to write without bothering about the sales of the music. He said Sir, you write what ever you want... just don't bother whether it will sell or not. He gave me enough space to create what I wanted. Himesh has a very distinct style. I found him to be a very thoughtful person. He is very analytical. It is amazing to work with an aware person.

I was in London few months back and small kids there were asking me if I knew Himesh and if I had heard him... When I said yes, they asked me if I can make them meet Himesh when they are here. Himesh is such a rage even abroad.

Himesh Reshammiya says...
I am honored to work with Javedji. He has got great caliber which he has proven in so many years. I myself called him up to ask if he would work with me and he obliged me. I am grateful to him for giving me such good lyrics and although he is as usual fantastic in this film, I have turned better. I am sure the music of the film will work and people would love the effort we both have made together. Namaste London is genuinely my best work till date... it has seven songs out of which one of the songs has an unplugged version and a club mix version.

Vipul Shah says...
For the first time I have got this unique combination of class and mass for the music of Namaste London. It's an amalgamation of best of both worlds... while both are popular in their own sphere... Since the film is about crossover culture I wanted the music to be in sync with the film... and I am proud that we have managed to create some good music.