Bollywood reacts to Ram Gopal Varma's Taj tour

Bollywood has reacted with horror that one of their own toured the Mumbai terror sites in the immediate wake of a seige that has left the whole world gasping, condemning his intentions, if any, to make a movie on the carnage. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has now said he did not go to the Taj and Trident with this intention; that his being inside the hotel was a “mere coincidence”.

News channels have turned the focus on RGV’s visit with Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, his film actor son Ritiesh and, allegedly, with his (Varma’s) assistant director. The CM has resigned.

“What was he (Varma) thinking?” said actor Aashish Chaudhary, who lost his sister and brother-in-law in the terror attack at The Trident. “It is not a tourist site or an exhibition.” Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who started his career with RGV, didn’t spare his mentor and said, “No one knows his intention behind taking a tour of Taj. But knowing RGV, one can suspect that he might be interested in making a film on it. If that is so, it’s extremely insensitive of him.” An insider from RGV’s unit said the director was glued to the TV screen like millions of Indians during the dramatic 59 hours of the seige, and had discussed making a film.

The fraternity feels it’s a bit too soon and “immature” to be seen trying to cash in on the tragedy. Actress Simi Garewal said, “Ramu’s act can put the entire film fraternity in question. He should have considered the implications. It is also completely mindless and uncharitable on the CM’s part to take them (RGV and Ritiesh) along.”

Some say he should get the benefit of doubt. “I am not aware of his motives. One should let RGV be. The biggest concern is everyone’s security — that is much more significant than any Ramu paying visit to the Taj,” says director Imtiaz Ali. Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha said, “Ram Gopal Varma seems to have gone a little too far in his attempt to bring realism to the screen. It’s bizarre and shameful.” Rahul Dholakia, who made Parzania, a film based on the Godhra incident, said, “If at all he is planning to make a film, he better be sensitive and have his facts right.”

Ashok Pandit, filmmaker, said, “He has clearly put us to shame. Filmmakers are often accused of capitalising on human tragedies. Being a part of this industry, I find such accusations extremely demeaning. But what can one do when we have people like RGV who just refuse to improve and show any sort of solidarity.”

Celina shares friend Ashish Chowdhary's grief

Celina Jaitley is a good friend of actor Ashish Chowdhary, who lost his sister and brother-in-law in the Mumbai terror attacks and she now asks a question that is in the minds of many Indians - "Where will all this end?"
"I didn't know Ashish's sister that well. But I know that they all doted on her and her husband. What a terrible tragedy. Where will all this end?" Celina said.
Ashish's sister Monica Chhabaria and her husband, who had gone to the Oberoi Trident Hotel Wednesday for dinner, were killed in the terrorist attack. The couple had gone to the Tiffin restaurant of the hotel, which was among the 10 places the terrorists attacked on Wednesday night.
Ashish, recently seen in the film "EMI", was waiting since Wednesday night for a word on the wellbeing of his sister and her husband, but he broke down when he came to know that they were brought out of the hotel by security forces on Friday.
Celina said that Ashish went through several ups and downs in the period of uncertainty before the tragic news of Monica's death reached him. He and his family had remained hopeful that they would somehow survive the ordeal.
"One girl from his sister's dinner group had run out and somehow fled from the attack out of the hotel. However, she was heavily sedated and Ashish couldn't get any information from her and kept hoping against hope," Celina said.
Apparently on Thursday Ashish ended up getting wrong information from helpline services. He was told that his sister was in hospital.
"Poor Ashish. He rushed to the hospital, only to see it wasn't his sister. His hopes were dashed as hours turned into days."
According to the security forces, all the diners who were at Tiffin that night were killed in terrorist firing.

Bollywood actor's kin killed in Mumbai terror siege

The sister and brother-in-law of Bollywood actor Ashish Choudhary are among the victims of the terror attacks in Mumbai.Mumbai’s 59-hour terror siege ended on Saturday morning, leaving behind a death toll of close to 150 people. Among the dead are several innocent people that were held hostage by terrorists at the city’s two major hotels.Ashish’s sister Monica and brother-in-law had gone to The Oberoi Trident on Wednesday night for a dinner at Tiffin with some friends. Ever since the news of the terror attacks came, Ashish, along with his friends and family, had been keeping vigil outside the hotel, hoping for his sister and her husband to walk out alive.
“My sister Monica and her husband have been inside the hotel along with maybe 40 other hostages. They came here for dinner last night, but now they are not answering any calls,” Ashish had told a news channel on Thursday.On Friday, when the NSG neutralized the terrorists at the hotel, dead bodies of several people were found. Among them were Ashish’s sister and her husband.According to reports, they were first shot in the leg and then in the head.Aashish broke down after getting the news of their death. The hospital will hand over the dead bodies to the family on Saturday.