Mahesh Bhatt sells the remake rights to Arth

Mahesh Bhatt's sensitive drama on marital problems, Arth (1982), might return to the big screen in the recent future. The director has reportedly sold the remake rights of the film. 

A daily quoted the writer-filmmaker as saying, "Two gentlemen, Sarath Chandra and Pravesh Bhardwaj, approached for the rights of Arth. Sarath and his mother both have been great admirers of the film and he had been chasing me for eight months. He is enamoured by the narrative and has taken up the challenge to remake it." 

The director added that he will be closely involved in any remake of the film. He said, "The film will be a given a 21st century interpretation, contemporised by a new mind as per the new age. Sarath wants me to have a creative gaze on the film. I have suggested them a writer who can work on the script." 

Arth was an intense, almost biographical, film based on experiences from Bhatt's life. The film earned Shabana Azmi a National Award, while Smita Patil and Kulbhushan Kharbanda also earned praise for their performances in the film. Among the film's highlights was its fabulous soundtrack composed by Jagjit and Chitra Singh. 

Considering the personal emotions invested in the film, Bhatt's decision does come as a surprise. So far, there has been no news on when or who will direct or produce the remake. We shall wait and watch.