Emraan Hashmi to do a film on rape

Shagufta Rafique , whose life’s experiences from illegitimacy to prostitution to Bollywood fame could make a great script, is all set to direct her first film starring Emraan Hashmi. It would be a gender-sensitive film on the theme of a raped housewife, a la Gulzar’s Ghar. Reliance is going to produce the film that Shagufta has tentatively titled Rose.

Says the excited writer, “When I narrated  the script to Reliance they loved it and immediately bought it. It’s a  story of a rape victim and the aftermath, how she adapts to life post the trauma. It is not a remake of Ghar. My film is about the revenge after the rape. After the Delhi gang-rape case, my script has acquired more relevance. ”

Pooja Bhatt was the first person to suggest Shagufta should direct a film. “Ever since Pooja encouraged me I was like, ‘Why not?’. Over the years as I’ve been writing I’ve watched my films being directed by others. I feel the only way to put all my ideas on screen is to direct my own film. I am not saying I’d make a brilliant film. But at least it would be my vision entirely. Look at writers-turned-directors like Aditya Chopra and  Habib Faisal. Their films stand apart. I am completely enthused about directing a film.”

She adds, “The casting of the girl would be a problem. Mostly our heroines like to remain only within their comfort zone. Also, playing a rape victim goes against their goodygoody image.” Shagufta may cast a newcomer as the rape victim.

Shagufta who has admitted that her exceptional circumstances forced her into prostitution at the age of 17, says she looks back on her life with wonderment.

“How could anyone go through so much in life? It sounds like makebelieve!
There is a lot of bitterness about the people who have betrayed and ill-treated me. I haven’t been able to forgive them. Success has made the pain easier to bear. But I stay alone in Mumbai. My family is dead and gone. When I am in my house I do find dark thoughts crowding my head. There has been no closure on my past trauma as yet.”

Shagufta has a very good reason for not hiding her past. “People generally hide their past because they want to be accepted by society. But I’ve been into prostitution. I’ve seen the most respectable men behave so badly with women who are not their wives and sisters. I’ve been called by producers only for them to check out what a whore looks like. My mentor Mahesh Bhatt saab is the only one who had no curiosity about or problem with my past. But now the attitude of the industry has changed. Life has taken a lot away from me. But it has also given me a lot.”

Shagufta has put her traumatic past behind her. Aashiqui 2, which is partly based on her own life, has turned the tide completely.