'Chalk N Duster' within mainstream cinema: Shabana Azmi

Five time national award winner Shabana Azmi, very selective when it comes to do a film, will be seen as a Marathi teacher in "Chalk N Duster" which she says is a film well within the ambit of mainstream cinema.

The film also stars Juhi Chawla.

On a location shoot of an important sequence of the film Rishi Kapoor here on Friday, Shabana told media persons that "Chalk N Duster" is mainstream cinema. "I want to emphasize 'Chalk N Duster' is within the main stream cinema. There is lot of entertainment and a human story which is being told about these two teachers."

"One of which is played by Juhi and one is by me and is about what teachers have to go through because of the machination of the character played by Divya Dutta. So I think this film will provide entertainment as well as food for thought," she added.

Asked about the inspiration for her character, Shabana said: "I have so many favourite teachers but none of them were like the person I am playing in the movie. I have a bhabi who is an actress named Sulabha Arya and I have based my character on her very closely."

Sulabha Arya is the famous 'Kanta ben' from SRK's film "Kal Ho Na Ho" and ex-wife of cinematographer Ishan Arya, whose first cousins are Shabana and Baba Azmi. Presently Sulabha Arya is busy with TV show "Begusarai" where she is playing a very important role.

Directed by Jayant Gilatar and produced by Amin Surani, "Chalk N Duster" also stars Divya Dutta, Zarina Wahab and Girish Karnad.