bollywoodmasti

To play a caring, nurturing teacher in Paathshaala

Shahid Kapur has always idolised Aamir Khan. In choreographer-director Ahmed Khan’s first production Paathshaala, Shahid gets to pay tribute to his favourite actor.

The film, directed by Milind Ukey, has the actor play an English and music teacher who comes into the lives of a group of young, troubled students.

The similarities to Taare Zameen Par are delightfully direct.

Ahmed Khan, who is also Shahid’s close friend, says that Taare Zameen Par has made a huge difference to the way we look at movie entertainment and at the parent-child relationship.

Bachcha party

“I’d happily admit that Paathshaala is inspired by Taare Zameen Par, except that it was conceived and written a year ago. It’s about a sensitive, nurturing teacher.

I’ve signed some talented kids like Swini Khara (Cheeni Kum), Ali (Fanaa) and Dwij Yadav (Nanhe Jaisalmer). It’s about time we addressed issues regarding children in a serious but entertaining way.”

Interestingly, Ahmed himself was a child actor who did a role in Shekhar Kapoor’s Mr India. “Shahid too was a child actor. So we’re all putting our minds together to look into the mind of a child and the child within a man.”

Ahmed has directed two other films, the dumb Lakeer and the dumber Fool N Final. About the latter, Ahmed says, “Please don’t blame me for it, blame the producer. For the first time in Paathshaala, I’m doing a film straight from my heart.”

Paathshala’s set representing the school has been erected at Film City. “We even have a basketball court as part of the school set,” says Ahmed.