Mantostaan director Rahat Kazmi's Million Dollar Nomad travels to Hollywood

Nandita Das's Manto, a film on writer Saadat Haasan Manto, is set to be released on Friday (21 September). While Das's film is on the life of the late writer, director Rahat Kazmi had last year made Mantostaan, a film based on Manto's short stories. Kazmi is now ready with his next, that will be distributed by an American company called House of Film. 

Titled Million Dollar Nomad, the film uses English, French, Spanish, Hindi, Gojri and Pahari languages. It focuses on the journey of a mountain shepherd from Kashmir who is a look-alike of a Hollywood actor. The actor dies in a road accident. Producers of a big-budget Hollywood film learn about this shepherd and try to get him to Europe to complete their film, all the while hiding the real identity of the shepherd.

The talks of the East meeting the West — the cultural exchange and transitions. A shepherd who has never watched a film is going to star in a Hollywood feature. He is inspired by the life of Charlie Chaplin to laugh even when in pain.

Kazmi has roped in Mantostaan actor Shoaib Nikash Shah to play the lead. The film has international artistes in the cast too. Shah will share the screen with Spanish actress Meritxell Ortega and French actress Canelle Hope. They are supported by Tariq Khan, Jitesh Kumar and Mujeeb Ul Hassan from India, Patrick Fremiot from France, with a cameo by Australian actor Gavin.

Kazmi plans to showcase the film across the festival circuit. “Our aim is to target a global audience. We are trying our hands at an experimental cinema, the kind of films that not only entertain the audience but also bring cultures together, at the same time, throwing light on various issues that need to be addressed,” Kazmi said in a statement. 

Million Dollar Nomad is produced by Rahat Kazmi Films, Tariq Khan Productions, Zeba Sajid Films, Benchmark Pictures and Indian Film Studio and co-produced by Mediamatk International Corporation Ltd.