We haven't seen an invisible superhero, so to speak, in a Bollywood movie since 1987's runaway hit Mr India, starring Anil Kapoor.
That's set to change with the release of Mr X, directed by Vikram Bhatt, produced by Mukesh Bhatt, and starring Emraan Hashmi. The sci-fi thriller, written by Shagufta Rafique, co-stars Amyra Dastur as Hashmi's leading lady and, according to the makers, it is Indian cinema's first 3-D family film.
Hashmi told us about his role and what he’d do if he had the power of invisibility in real life.
Can you tell us about Mr X?
He is an officer with the anti-terrorist squad. He is a righteous officer who goes through a very traumatic incident in the line of duty, where a couple of people almost kill him. He is fighting for his life and, as a last resort, he is given an experimental treatment that reacts adversely with him. His cells stop reflecting light and he turns invisible. Now he can only be seen in direct sunlight and blue light. In the beginning, this poses many problems for him and is a serious hindrance. But he evolves into a man who finds a way to harness his ailment and becomes a superhero. He uses his power to fight against wrongdoing. There is also a love story there. He is in love with a colleague on the anti-terrorist squad. But then the tables turn and they become enemies.
What was it like making the film?
The experience has been fantastic. One doesn’t get many chances to explore science-fiction films here in the Indian film industry. So just to play a character that is so unique and so new, it’s an amazing opportunity.
How does this role differ from your previous roles?
I have never become invisible in a film before.
You’re known for some bold scenes in your films. Do we get to see that in Mr X?
Yes, there are three kisses in this film – although there are two that didn’t require me. So technically, I have only one.
How do you think audiences will react to the film?
I have seen it and it’s very exciting. It is something that is very close to our heart. It took a lot of time and effort. I just hope that the [UAE] audiences love it, too. There is a huge audience here for our films. Not just the Indian expats, but also people from other countries who love Indian films. This film has all the elements of Indian films that they love, but it also has something more … something different. So I think people will appreciate it.
What would you do if you could turn invisible in real life?
Rob a bank. No, I would fight crime and injustice.
• Mr X opens in cinemas on Thursday, April 16
artslife@thenational.ae
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The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
Copa del Rey
Barcelona v Real Madrid
Semi-final, first leg
Wednesday (midnight UAE)
Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
