Shaukat wants film version of 'Kaifi and I'

Mumbai, Feb 10 (IANS) Well-known theatre actor Shaukat Kaifi Azmi would like her book "Kaifi and I" turned into a film and says Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor should essay the main roles.

"I will be very happy if my book is transformed into a film... The love story which has been described between me and Kaif Azmi, the way we spent life happily even in extreme poverty, would make a good film," Shaukat Azmi said at the launch of "Kaifi and I", translated by Nasreen Rehman from the original Urdu "Yaad Ki Rehguzar", here Tuesday.

Asked whom she would like to see playing the lead roles, she said: "Abhishek Bachchan should play Kaifi's role and Sonam Kapoor should play my character."

"Kaifi and I", originally written in Urdu, depicts the journey of Shaukat Azmi and her writer husband Kaif Azmi. She says every anecdote in the book has been described without any fabrication.

" 'Kaifi and I' is book on my life and I have written exactly how I have spent my life. I haven't exaggerated or made-up any story while writing the book. May be that's why it's gaining popularity and getting translated in several languages like Japanese, Marathi, Hindi and now in English."

Asked what inspired her to write the book, she said: "My life was not a simple one. There were constant ups and downs. I have seen poverty... I had a desire to work for my country. I have been a part of the Communist Party. That time Communist Party was playing a huge role in independence movement of India and for the poor people of the country. I wanted to write a book on it."

Tabu, who is related to Shaukat Azmi, launched the book. Her actor daughter Shabana, son-in-law, writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar was there with his son Farhan. Actors Sharman Joshi, Diya Mirza, and lyricist Prasoon Joshi were also present at the event.