Sneak Peek: 'Highway'
Imtiaz Ali returns to direction after nearly three years, post his acclaimed Rockstar which won Ranbir Kapoor accolades back in 2011. His next, Highway, is smaller in comparison and stars a much lesser known cast, Randeep Hooda, who's been growing his profile of late and a one film old, Alia Bhatt, who made her debut in 2012's frothy Student of the Year.
Highway tells the story of a young city girl and how her life changes when she's abducted by a group of rustic criminals while she's on the highway with her fiancé in the middle of the night. Panic strikes among the kidnappers when they realise the girl is a daughter of a leading Industrialist with strong political connections. But the leader of the group is adamant to go ahead with the plan. Days pass as the Tempo runs and miles turn, and after the initial horror of dealing with her rustic captors, the air changes and she feels that she has changed as well. A strange bond begins to develop between her and the oppressor. She starts feeling free in this captivity. She does not want to return and wishes that this journey would never end. But they are not made for each other. Maybe this feeling is just a passing phase. Maybe not.
Shooting for Imtiaz All's Highway took Alia to several places in north India, be it Kashmir or Punjab. Rajasthan also plays an important role in the film. One of the places the film's crew set up, their shoot was a salt factory in Sambhar (Jaipur). Born and brought up in a city like Mumbai, the world of Sambhar, where anything and everything has over a pinch of salt, was a revelation for Alia. "Highway took me to all these amazing places that I probably wouldn't have ever seen otherwise. Sambhar, the salt factory was the most beautiful and the weirdest experience for me. I celebrated my birthday there as well... in many ways, I think it was here that I truly started feeling like Veera (her character in the film)," says Alia.
Films capture journeys but in this film, the journey made the film. which was shot across six states in India capturing the landscape of the different regions as it went along.
Highway has been produced by Imtiaz Ali's production house, Window Seat Films and is its first production.
Imtiaz says, “Highway was made on the road, on the go. It needed more care. Luckily I had the best people in the team. And the movie has changed us all a bit.”
Sajid Nadiadwala adds, "Presenting a film like Highway is a matter of honor for me. The film was mounted and executed in a very short time and I am so happy with the way it has turned out. Imtiaz's craft and Rahman's music have come together like always to create the magic that they are known for. Now with the trailer out, we are waiting for the world to join us on this special journey."
Highway hits theatres worldwide on 21 February 2014 and on 20 February 2014 in the UAE.
Are you looking forward to Highway?
Posters: Highway
Theatrical Trailer: Highway
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