“Harishchandrachi Factory’, India’s official entry to Oscar Awards this year, is doing the rounds of various film festivals and has also been critically appreciated.

The Marathi film, which is directed by theatre-veteran Paresh Mokashi depicts the struggle of Dadasaheb Phalke in making India’s first feature film “Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913. A film, that narrates the birth of Indian cinema and the beginning of one of the world’s biggest film industry.

But as we get to know the making of “Harishchandrachi Factory’, we find out that the film was tough to make even in these times, as director Paresh Mokashi had to run from pillar to post to get this film financed.

And here is where the actress par excellence Juhi Chawla, comes in picture, as she was initially approached to produce the film, but the project could not take-off for some reason.

Juhi Chawla narrates the incident when Paresh had approached her for “Harishchandrachi Factory’, “One day I was flipping through the magazine and I came across an article on “Harishchandrachi Factory’. The film was selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars in the foreign film category. I felt so happy for Paresh, as he had approached me earlier to help him find a financer for the film.”

Juhi reminisces the struggle Paresh had to go through to make this film, “As I couldn’t produce the film myself, so I suggested another production house to Paresh. But that production house backed off stating that the movie is in Marathi and has a budget of Rupees 3 crores (Rs. 3,00,00,000/-), which was quite big budget for a Marathi film. Also, they reasoned that they were not aware about the working dynamics of producing a Marathi film.”

Continues Juhi, “Paresh was so passionate to make this film that he was even ready to sell his estates. After knowing his struggle for “Harishchandrachi Factory’ and its selection, I feel very happy.”

Well seems like “Harishchandrachi Factory’ is an opportunity lost for Juhi, had she initially produced the film, she might have had a fair chance to rub shoulders with the glitterati of Hollywood.

-Anil A Kanojia/ Sampurn Media