Sudhakar Bokade passes away

The producer's upcoming film with Rajeev Khandelwal was all set to roll this month

The week started on a sombre note with producer Sudhakar Bokade passing away on Sunday night following a heart attack. The 57-year-old filmmaker is best known for his films like Saajan, Izzatdar, Sapne Saajan Ke among others. Incidentally, Bokade was all set to revive his banner with his upcoming film starring Rajeev Khandelwal.

Bokade was also working on releasing his long-pending film Kalingaa, which saw the legendary Dilip Kumar turn director. The producer had been hoping to release the project, the delay of which had cost him dearly.

The filmmaker came into the industry as a producer in 1990 with Izzatdar, which starred Dilip Kumar, Govinda and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles, post which he made the blockbuster Saajan.

He also produced the much talked-about Prahaar that marked the debut of Nana Patekar as a director. His film Mera Juta Hai Japani with Rahul Roy, that the actor was to direct, also got shelved mid-way.

In the following years, Bokade tried his hand at making a comeback but remained unsuccessful. Recently, he was in talks with several actors for a string of films. His Khandelwal starrer was set to go on the floors this month. Bokade's last rites were performed at Oshiwara crematorium on Monday afternoon.

At the funeral

B-Town was missing at Sudhakar Bokade's funeral. The only actor in attendance was Shreyas Talpade. Bokade was planning a film with Shreyas, Govinda and Nana Patekar. He was apparently to shoot in Fiji but the project did not take off.

'Saajan' sequel to feature young cast, to go on floors in 2014



Director Lawrence D'Souza is all set to make a sequel of his 1991 hit film 'Saajan' featuring "younger star cast of known actors" next year. The original starred actors Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, besides Salman

Lawrence did not disclose who will be replacing these actors in the sequel, title of which is apparently not yet finalised. "The scripting is done. The basic idea of the film is the same - a love triangle -- two heroes and a heroine.

We want big stars for this film. We would go with a younger lot of known actors. We do have few names in mind," D'Souza told. In the original film, Sanjay Dutt played an orphan who is befriended by wealthy Salman Khan during his childhood.

As they grow up Dutt emerges as a popular poet under the pen name 'Sagar', while Madhuri Dixit played the role of one of his fans. Madhuri's liking for the poet and Salman coming in the frame led to a love triangle. "I had thought of remaking the film when people started asking me to remake old blockbusters," Lawrence said.

Lawrence intends to shoot the film in Kashmir from next year. Hit songs like "Dekha Hai Pehli Baar", "Tum Se Milne Ki Tamanna Hai", "Bahut Pyar Karte Hain", "Tu Shayar Hai", "Jiye To Jiye Kaise" are among the USPs of the original film.