The bold and sensuous Huma Qureshi who sizzled the screens in Anurag Kashyap’s crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur (GOW) is all geared up to make her Malayalam debut. Huma will be seen in director Uday Ananthan’s third outing White wherein megastar Mammootty will play the lead.
“Mammootty plays Prakash Roy, a middle-aged billionaire, who is a financial consultant. Huma will play his love interest,” says Uday.
Be it her character Mohsina in GOWs or Jhimli in Badlapur, Huma is known for her intense, raw and engaging performances.
Ask the director on choosing Huma, he says, “We wanted a strong heroine for the film because the female lead in the story has a pivotal role. And while deciding on the cast, we did not restrict ourselves to Malayali faces and wanted someone who is perfect for the role.” Huma will essay the role of Roshni Menon, who is on a six-month deputation in London.
The film which will be shot extensively in London, Budapest, across Europe, Bangalore and Kerala will not just be a romantic outing, promises the director.
“White will be an out-and-out entertainer with a simple story told in a clear mode. More than a romantic story, it is about relationships and explores the life of the single and separated Prakash who is pursuing a girl in her late 20s,” says Uday who has penned the script along with Nandini Valsan and Praveen Balakrishnan.
Mammootty, though now mostly seen in family-oriented and serious movies, will play a playful and unpredictable character in White.
“Though Prakash Roy is a middle-aged man, he is all fun loving and flamboyant. He can do anything, he is chaotic, brash and crazy,” says Uday who made his debut through Pranaykaalam and got much acclaims for his segment Mrityunjayam in Kerala Cafe.
More about the title ‘White’, the director says, “The title represents Prakash Roy and Roshni, the protagonists in the movie. White as a colour represents purity...a clean slate which can be turned into anything.”
“Other than the lead casts, rest of the cast is not yet finalised,” adds Uday.
The music is composed by Rahul Raj and will have five songs. “Both melodies and peppy numbers will be there in the movie,” he says. Ganesh Menon will crank the camera while Achu Vijayan will be the editor.
White produced by Dixon Poduthas and Joby George under the banner of Goodwill Entertainment will hit the floors on August 10 in London. “The film is planned for a Christmas release,” says Uday.