Getting Oscar for 'Sarbjit' would be different high: Co-producer

Actor Jackky Bhagnani, who debuted as producer with "Sarbjit", which has made it to the long list of 336 feature films eligible for the upcoming 89th Oscars, says bagging the prestigious honour for the film will be a different high for him.

The film, directed by Omung Kumar, is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. He was attacked by inmates at a prison in Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later.

"Bringing an Oscar is like bringing an olympics medal for the film fraternity...and of course getting it will be a different high. I hope this year 'Sarbjit' manages to get into the finalist, and make India proud," Jackky told IANS in an e-mail.

Jackky says he feels great as "Sarbjit" was his first production venture.

"This was my first film as a producer and I feel so blessed that that we are shortlisted for the Oscars in the feature film category alongside Hollywood films like 'La La Land' and 'Moonlight' and 'Manchester by the Sea'. The whole team of 'Sarbjit' has worked very hard on the project and I hope it makes its way to the final list as well.

Besides "Sarbjit", which stars Randeep Hooda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Darshan Kumar in lead, actor Sushat Singh Rajput-starrer "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story" has also made to the Oscars long list.

"With two potential films being a part of this, I guess not only us but the entire industry would be excited, so fingers crossed hoping to get to the final list," Jackky said.

--IANS

dc/sas/vm