University don, lyricists, writer and film maker Prof. Sunil Ariyarathna is making a film about Yashodara, the wife of Prince Siddhartha. Two Indian stars, Arpit Chaudhary and Pahlavi Subash will play the lead roles in the movie titled ‘Bimbadevi alias Yashodara’ based on historical facts contained in Poojavaliya written by Buddhist monk Buddhaputhra in the 13th century.
Arpit is an Indian model-turned actor, known for TV series ‘Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi’ with uncredited roles in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, according to IMDb data. The six-foot-three inch hulk has appeared on the catwalks in India, England and America and has also dabbled in the British theatre.
Main actress Pallavi Subhash who was born in 1984 is a Marathi film and soap opera actress. The model-turned star has performed in nearly a dozen Marathi films, TV serials, commercials, and plays. She is popular for portraying the roles of Dharma in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, Gauri in Karam Apnaa Apnaa and Rukmini in the mythological series Mahabharat.
She is known as Cadbury Girl in India as she is the brand ambassador for the popular chocolate brand and has acted in 12 Marathi films.
She was romantically linked to popular Marathi star Aniket Vishwasarao and known to have refused to play characters in 23 movies during the intense media attention to her alleged love affair.
Yashodara producers held a press conference at a Colombo hotel to introduce the lead pair. Prof. Ariyarathna mentioned that Arpit’s name will be used as Aravindan Chaudhary in film credits.
The director mentioned that the makers have decided not to hire Sri Lankan actors for the lead roles. As Sri Lankans are sensitive about their religion the use of actors who have played negative roles in the past may sully the purity of the film characters of Prince Siddhartha and Yshodara, for whom the Buddhist have the highest regards.
Perhaps, Prof. Ariyaratne may not have been aware that Arpit is playing a gay character in “Evening Shadows” (Surmaee Shaam) which was released at the 8th KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.
The university don’s obsession with choosing a non-controversial character brings to my mind the row over Dracula actor Christopher Lee playing the role of Ali Jinnah, the revered founder of Pakistan. Lee was a very talented actor but some Pakistanis were vehemently against an actor who played Dracula to portray a character of the man whom they call The Father of the Nation and as I remember the film was banned in Pakistan.
Even while selecting Arpit and Pahlavi, Prof. Ariyarathne said, special attention was paid to their earlier roles in films and television.
There are many reasons for selecting Pahlavi for the role. The director and producer were impressed by her portrayals of Rukmani’s character in Mahabharata tele-serial and as Devi Dharma in Emperor Dharmashoka.
Prof. Ariyarathna has stumbled on Arpit in a shopping complex in Mumbai while looking for his lead cast. He also mentioned that the production team was very happy with the way the two lead stars handled their roles during the 45-day shooting schedule.
Pallavi has told Sri Lankan media that it is quite difficult to approach Indian directors and produces. “But the situation in Sri Lanka is quite different. We have been very close to director Prof. Ariyarathna and producer Premasiri”.
The two stars avoided answering a question posed by the media why it is difficult for actors and film technician from other countries to break into the Bollywood cinema.
Arpit said he is a new comer to Indian cinema and his debut Hindi film was to be released in August.
Dineth De Silva who acted in Sinhala film Aloko Udapadi is playing the character of Devadaththa, Prince Siddhartha’s cousin who plots to kill the Buddha.
Senior journalist and former editor of popular Sarasaviya film weekly Ranjith Kumara who is the media coordinator for the film was also present at the press conference along with the director and the producer.
