BHAGBAAN - SHO0TING REPORT
In Leicester Square!

Leicester Square has always been a popular location for Bollywood movie shoots, being featured in classics such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenga and more recently Mujhse Dosti Karoge. Indian film fans will watch the popular London landmark on the big screen once again in Ravi Chopra's forthcoming family film Bhagbaan. The director arranged a recent shooting schedule at the location, which featured popular film stars Salman Khan and Mahima Chaudhary. The duo managed to attract a modest British Asian crowd thanks to their presence and there was also plenty of curious looking people that had never watched a Bollywood movie in their life and kept questioning people about the identity of the two celebrities.

Salman Khan, of course, has been involved in headline hitting controversies lately and the trip allowed him to temporarily leave his problems at home. Although he didn't appear completely carefree, the actor did manage a few smiles for his excited fans. "Oh my god, its Salman Khan," a local girl screamed into her mobile phone after spotted her idol. "Oh my god he's looking at me. Oh my god, I've got to buy a camera quickly," she continued before abruptly disconnecting the call and running to a nearby shop. The reaction seems rather common amongst the crowd of people that quickly gathered. Countless people are going through their mobile phone address books and calling everyone to tell them the news. Some had heard about the film shoot and some happened to visit Leicester Square at the right time.

The scene being shot involved both Salman and Mahima with their backs turned to the camera. They then turn around and it's revealed that Salman is having a telephone conversation with Amitabh Bachchan's character, whilst Mahima is sipping on her Starbucks coffee. The Big B is not present at the shoot and a crewmember mouths off the lines. The conversation is a friendly chat, where Amitabh asks Salman when he is coming home as they all miss him terribly. He then tells Salman they will look for a girl when he returns home so that he can settle down. Amitabh is then informed that Salman has found someone himself and she's very beautiful. Amitabh is happy and says he looks forward to meeting her. The call is finished and Salman has a quick chat with Mahima and loving strokes her hair. The end.

The nearby crowd gets very familiar with this scene because it's enacted over and over again, with different angles, lightening and backgrounds. After a series of takes, its time for a break. An opportunity for the crowd to flock towards the two stars and get their autographs. Both Salman and Mahima are happy to sign away, although they are obviously affected by the cold weather. They are both literally shaking like mad. Mahima decides to run into a nearby cinema for a little heat. The attendant at the door looks puzzled, contemplating whether to ask Mahima for her ticket. Meanwhile Salman is handed his mobile phone and smoked a cigarette. His call looks important but a local homeless man interrupts it by approaching the Bollywood star for some spare change. Salman gives him a smile and searches through his pockets. Nothing. He then calls over an assistant and tells him to hand over his change. The assistant complies with the request and the homeless man leaves with a happy face and a pocket full of coins.

Before long its time to pack-up and leave. A cold Mahima quickly puts on her large coat to warm up. She then leaves with two crewmembers. Salman hangs around a little longer and then makes his exit too. "That was amazing," a local lad tells us. "I'm a huge Salman Khan fan and Mahima looked stunning. I got their autographs too. I won't forget their day in a hurry and I can't wait to watch the film now".

WRITTEN BY ROBEEL HAQ