When the Indian government through its campaign is requesting people to respect the heritage of India and not damage historical monuments and buildings and places of national significance, After Hrs has learnt that the Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone starrer Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey has recently restored the Sawantwadi palace which dates back to the pre Shivaji era.
The palace is being used as a British cantonment by Oscar-nominated film-maker Ashutosh Gowariker to shoot his period thriller based on the Chittagong Uprising that saw Indian freedom fighters launch an attack against the colonial British rule. The Sawantwadi palace still houses the Maharani and belongs to the royal family of Sawantwadi. Ashutosh spent around Rs50 lakh for renovation.
Sunita Gowariker, Ashutosh’s wife who also runs the film-making company, reveals, “It is true that we have renovated the palace. When we went scouting for a location to shoot the movie which had to look like it was in the then Bengal, we zeroed in on Sawantwadi in Goa. The palace was beautiful and it was apt to be used as a British cantonment. However, lots of work needed to be done as the palace was in a dilapidated state. Grass had grown waist high and major renovation work was done.”
Highly placed sources reveal that Abhishek and Deepika will promote the palace in their own way during the film’s promotions.
Comments
