Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 28: According to sources, saddled in a new avatar for his second outing, this rising star Dhruv Verma, already famous as ‘Indian James Bond’ worldwide for his intense action sequences in No Means No, has been signed for a whopping Rs. 12 Crore (Around 1.33 Million Euros) as his professional acting fees for a lead role in The Good Maharaja, a World War 2 Epic. Buzz is that the budding actors’ business manager had asked for around Rs. 20 crores (Around 2 Million Euros); but later in negotiations, Dhruv reduced his fee to in light of the economic slow down due to the Pandemic of Covid-19 to around Rs. 12 Crores (Around 1.33 Million Euros). And has even pledged a large chunk of his fees already to be donated for the betterment of Covid care facilities and Old age homes. Dhruv said on this topic “This is a severe reality and the health of my fellow countrymen is more important than money” and pledges to donate a portion from all his film earnings.
Titled as ‘The Good Maharaja’, slated for a Christmas 2022 release, the film revolves around World War II and is also the second Indo-Polish co-production venture based on a true story which is neither untold nor glorified’ is also about the lion-hearted Indian Maharaja of Nawanagar (now known as Jamnagar in Gujarat) Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja (nicknamed as Jam Saheb) who during this war came as a fatherly figure for around 1000 Polish children and sheltered them from the squalid orphanage.
Shedding more light about the film, for which shooting and principal photography has already begun, the elated actor, Dhruv says, “I am thankful and overwhelmed that the producers and directors have reposed their faith on my shoulders once again. The role is different from my debut film.” Reportedly Dhruv has read the script many times during the holidays in his ancestral home situated at Hyde Park in London, where he often does his script readings. When the Second World War began in September 1939, Poland was invaded by the Germans and then by the Russians. This is one of the timelines of the film” Keeping his role under wraps, the budding actor adds, “I know the graph of this character and have to submit to my director’s vision. I will start taking add-on training with the guns used in WWII: like M1 Carbine and Enfield M1917 rifles; Springfield M1903 with edged bayonets; Colt pistols; Browning M1917A1 heavy machine guns; Thompson M1A1 submachine guns; amongst many others under the guidance of my mentor-guru, Hollywood’s famous star Steven Segal in Russia.”
Rumour has it that the producers of the film have also restricted Dhruv from signing or working on any other film during the period till The Good Maharaja is complete.
Dhruv’s Business Manager who did not wish to be named highlights, “The Indian Maharaja has drawn bilateral ties with Poland. One of the children has even become the Prime Minister of Poland. This collaboration reminds me of the veteran filmmaker and actor Raj Kapoor’s love for Russia beginning his association with his film Mera Naam Joker and herewith our illustrious Vikash Verma’s bonding with Poland.”
Director Vikash Verma the chairman of G7 Securitas Group and G7 Films, says, “Cinema shapes our society and highlights the culture too.” Vikash Verma spoke about many controversies that arose regarding the film, The Good Maharaja, but he will take the blessings of Maharaja Digvijaysaheb’s family. Vikash said “I am sure that Maharaja Digvijay Saheb’s family will not take any objection,” Vikash said that this film’s inception was in 2016, but was put on hold for his ambitious Indo- Polish project, No Means No. And about casting Dhruv Verma… he is an ambitious, determined, and enterprising actor and he fits the bill. Sanjay Dutt plays a titular role in it. According to Sources, Roman Polanski, renowned Polish film director, and Oscar-winner for The Pianist will be approached to direct this film. He is now 87-years-old and his experiences as a witness to the Holocaust will be an added layer of realism to this film. “We will shoot this movie from start to finish once this pandemic crisis simmers down and after everyone is vaccinated, soon after we release first venture of our co-production No Means No in November.
