Coming soon: Film on Salaam Bombay star

Shafiq Syed's sonu00a0 to play his father on screen; scriptwriter Vivek Shukla hoping to start work on the film next month

Salaam Bombay star Shafiq Syed can no longer complain that life's dull it's actually the stuff of movies, says scriptwriter Vivek Shukla who plans to make a film on him.

Shafiq, who now drives an auto in Bangalore, had told MiD DAY that he wanted to make a film on his life.

Shukla, who is writing a script for an animation film produced by Sahara, has contacted Shafiq to do just that.

u00a0"I am in talks with Sahara, a Nagpur-based businessman and other producers. I am sure something will work out and we will begin work by next month," Vivek told MiD DAY.

Vivek wanted to make a documentary on Shafiq but Shafiq insisted on a feature film. "Not many people watch documentaries. But almost everyone watches feature films," said Shafiq.

Shafiq has already written the script and Vivek will write the screenplay and direct it. He wishes to cast Shafiq's 11-year-old son Wasim in the role. "Wasim is almost the same age as Shafiq was when he acted in Salaam Bombay. So I want him to act as Shafiq," said Vivek.

Though Wasim is 11, he is in the first standard. "We had financial problems and so he had to discontinue school.

I am a bit apprehensive about him acting. I am not sure if he will be able to act. I am open to the idea of a professional child artiste doing the role. I just want the movie to be good," said Shafiq.

Big names

Vivek also wants to cast big names. "Om Puri, Raghuveer Yadav and Irrfan Khan had acted in Salaam Bombay. I wish they can act in Shafiq's film too," he said.

Shafiq has not asked for any money for the story but wants a percentage of the profit. "For the time I will work with the film unit in Mumbai, I have asked for Rs 200 per day. This is what I make every day as an autodriver and I need to support my family," he said.