diamond heist planned on PoW!

Darpan Singh, Agra

A bunch of foreigners have planned a massive diamond heist onboard India’s famous luxury train — The Palace on Wheels (PoW). But no one is complaining. Surprised? Well, don’t be. For, it’s a sequence from the Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones-starrer ‘Racing the Monsoon.’ Michael will be shooting the train robbery sequences on the PoW that departs from New Delhi and, during its eight day journey, stops at Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur, and Agra.

When contacted by HT on Wednesday, a senior official confirmed the proposed shooting. He however said, a final nod from the Railways and the Tourism Ministry is awaited.”

Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones are currently in India to finalise locations for a sequel of the 1984 action adventure — ‘Romancing the Stone.’ Douglas, who is also going to act in the movie, a double role, is impressed by India. An aide currently in Rajasthan quoted the Basic Instinct star as saying, “India is making a large impact on the world US, be it culture, design, fashion or films.”

His wife Zeta-Jones, who won an Oscar for her performance in the musical ‘Chicago’, is equally upbeat. She has told a website, “We have been closely following and studying Indian culture and are fascinated by it.” Mumbai-based Percept Picture Company will be co-producing the movie. However, as announced earlier, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s will not be part of the project. She was to initially play the main lead. Catherine Zeta Zones has stepped in place of Aishwarya.

Douglas, who has starred in blockbusters like Basic Instinct, Wall Street and Disclosure, has been in India with the cast and crew and wanted a grand feel about the action adventure movie through the India’s famous luxury train known for a splendid and enchanting royal journey through the bygone era of the erstwhile Maharajas. Apart from Jaisalmer, the movie is also being shot in Mumbai and Kolkata, besides its possible train sequence passing through Agra.

Indian choreographer Shiamak Davar may also be part of the project as he has reportedly approached Douglas and Zeta-Jones to choreograph a sequence in the film. He has been quoted as having said, “I met Michael and Catherine in Davos. I would really like to do the film.” Bourne Identity star Matt Damon is also part of the film.

A crew member said, “The six-month shooting schedule is expected to begin by December this year or early 2009. Michael will remain in India along with his star wife Catherine for the entire shooting schedule of the film to be directed by Steve Carr.” Everything was decided after Douglas chose a few locations in Rajasthan during his recent visit to the state.

If the shooting actually gets underway, it’ll be the first Hollywood film, and third commercial one, to be shot on the PoW. Dev Anand’s Main Solah Baras Ki (1997) and Chiragdeep International’s Talaash (2003) are the two other ones. The train has been used for a number of documentary films too.