Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman in Teesri Kasam (1966) and (above) Ravi Kissen and Hazel Crowney shoot for Jeena Hai Toh Thok Daal in Purnea on Thursday. Telegraph picture

Patna, Feb. 23: Ravi Kissen and British actress Hazel Crowney today traced the footsteps of Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman, when they began to shoot for their new film at Bhokraha village, 20km from Purnea town.

Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman were part of the last film crew from Bollywood to visit Purnea. They had come here for their film Teesri Kasam (1966), directed by Basu Bhattacharya and based on Phanishwarnath Renu’s story Mare Gaye Gulfam. The film was also shot in Araria district.

Kissen and Crowney are in Purnea to shoot for Jeena Hai Toh Thok Daal. Manish Vatsalya is directing them.

The five-decade difference between the two films is evident in the stories. While Teesri Kasam was about the love story between a bullock cart driver and a nautch girl, the new movie — as its name suggests — is a hard-hitting drama about the Mumbai underworld and changing Bihar.

Vatsalya said: “This is my first film. I had decided that if I ever get the opportunity to shoot a film in Bihar, Purnea would be my first preference, as I was born and brought up here.”

He added: “No filmmaker from Bollywood was ready to shoot here because of the law-and-order problem. But things have changed now. The crime rate in the state has gone down. I am thankful to the producer, Aparna Hosinge, who trusted me and allowed me to shoot in this place. After Maila Aanchal (1954) and Teesri Kasam (1966), we are the first crew to come here.

“I am also thankful to the local administration that provided me with all possible support while shooting the film in the village. The face of changing Bihar is visible in the behaviour of the villagers.”

Elucidating the narrative plot of the film, Kissen said: “Hazel’s character falls in love with Ravi’s character, who has visited Mumbai to kill someone. After getting married to her, the protagonist brings her to Bihar, which is his home.”

Crowney, who has earlier starred in films like Mera Pehla Pyaar Pyaar, U, Me Aur Hum and Na Jaane Kyon, told The Telegraph: “Ravi and I are not strangers. He and I worked with in a commercial. He is nice co-star.”

She too was all praise for the state. “The place is new to me but I am feeling very comfortable. The people here are really nice.”

The film is set to release in August 2012. It is being shot under the banner of Rash Production. Half the production schedule is Bihar, while the other half in Mumbai.

“Being a Bhojpuri actor, I have shot in Bihar for plenty of films. But it is my privilege that I got a chance to act in Bihar for a Bollywood film. We will also visit Katihar district to shoot a few scenes in a railyard. We will be shooting in Purnea for the next three days,” said Ravi Kissen.

He was also full of praise for his co-actor. “Hazel is a nice actress and very beautiful. Any actor would love to work with her. She also great company on the sets. I was very happy that she liked this place a lot,” he said.