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| Ipsita and Akash, who star in Dharma, at the film’s mahurat. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das |
Cuttack, June 7: Young heartthrobs of the Odia film industry Akash and Riya will be seen romancing each other on-screen for the first time in Dilip Panda’s next venture, Dharma.
The mahurat shot of Dharma, slated for an August release, was filmed at the Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple here on an unusually hot afternoon on Monday.
For the initial shot, Akash looked dapper in a full-sleeved navy blue shirt and faded blue jeans.
In the film, he plays a naïve village boy, Avi, who moves to the city of his dreams. But disillusionment soon follows, as Avi comes face to face with corruption and injustice. He decides to battle the evil and finally emerges victorious.
“The storyline is quite different and fresh. It is a family drama peppered with action, emotions, romance and a dash of humour,” said Akash, whose wife Subhrajyoti accompanied him to the sets.
Co-star Riya, who sported a lime green and pink salwar kameez for the mahurat, plays the role of a city college girl and Avi’s love interest. Among other actors featuring in the film are Ipsita (who plays Avi’s sister), Pintu Nanda and Rai Mohan.
The shooting will be done at various locations in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. But all the six songs will be shot at Vizag and Kulu-Manali.
Deepak Kumar will score the music. The film is the second venture of Anjaneya Media Private Limited.
The makers of Dharma are optimistic about the audience’s response to the songs and the theme of the low-budget film.
“It will be a complete entertainment package and I am sure that with good storylines and peppy music, small-budget films can also run for weeks at theatres,” said Panda, who has directed films such as Rasika Nagara, Dhire Dhire Prema Hela, Tu Thile Dara Kahaku, Hero and Criminal.
With two State Film Award winners playing the leads in his latest flick, Panda is hopeful of striking a chord with the audience. “We finalised the story after planning for five months. Akash and Riya are the perfect choice for the film.”
Akash had won the best actor award for Kalinga Putra (2008) and Riya, the best actress honour for Prema Adhei Akhyara (2010).
