Mumbai, January 6th 2006

By Kreative Access

15 Park Avenue premier took place at the Fame Adlabs in Mumbai. Director Aparna Sen along with her talented daughter Konkona Sen welcomed the people from the media field. Actress Shabana Azmi attended the event with hubby Javed Akhtar and clan consisting of Brother Baba Azmi and his wife Tanvi, Director son Farhan Akhtar of Dil Chahta Hai fame and his wife Adhuna. Actress Shefali Shah, who also plays a very significant character in 15 Park Avenue had hubby Director Vipul Shah accompany her for the premiere. Konkona Sen for the most part was seen with her boyfriend Ranveer Hooda.

Aparna Sen after directing the brilliant movie Mr. and Mrs. Iyer came out with her next 15 Park Avenue, the movie about a schizophrenia patient. The film is a tribute to an ailing family friend of Aparna. 15 Park Avenue revolves around 2 sisters, Shabana and Konkona; Konkona suffers from both chronic schizophrenia and epilepsy and the movie is all about her family and friends coping up with her, hoping that one day she would recuperate.

Konkona Sen Sharma claimed that this had been her most unusual and radically different character so far. She added, “The character is far-reaching. It stretches beyond the parameters of reality.” Shabana on the other hand claimed that the character she played is similar to director Sen in real life. She coaxed good friend Sen to give her a part in the film. Says Azmi, “Rina (as she fondly calls Aparna) told me that I have to learn driving and become more tech savvy as my portrayal of an urban contemporary woman in the film demanded it.  But I had the courage to turn up on the sets without learning anything; and how she yelled at me for conning her.”

The all women cast and crew gang bullied Rahul Bose and Kanwaljeet the only 2-promienent characters in the movie. Azmi added, “We were a plethora of women on the sets including the assistant directors and we all got along so well. The men didn’t dare to snoop around. In fact, Rahul thought that I was an empress. But I would tell him I’m a little, timid and meek girl who cannot bully men.”  Insiders however reveal that Konkona and Shabana were two loggerheads as they are very strong about their own opinions. Aparna had a tough time reconciling the two.

The audience has given a warm response to this entirely experimental movie as the theatres have been packed to watch Konkona perform. She has been very popular after the commercial success of Page 3. Shabana Azmi is also said to have given a brilliant performance. Shefali Shah, who plays Rahul Bose’s wife in the movie, has proved that she is one of the first rated actresses India has.

With sterling performances given by Konkona, Shabana and Shefali, 15 Park Avenue is a must watch for all cinema lovers.