admiration amongst us that has kept us all bonded together."

"After working with this team in Des Hoya Pardes, every time I called up Manjeet, I would tell her that I would be doing her next film. And so I guess she was literally forced to take me on to play the female lead in Waris Shah Ishq..." Juhi laughed adding, "I just adore the Maans. They are two very beautiful human beings, totally dedicated to their work. Though I am not very fluent in Punjabi, except for the language hassle, I felt I was working in a Hindi project," she smiled. When asked what was the difference between doing a commercial and a period film, "Just the setting," she grinned adding that though she knew very little of Heer, she was aware that it was a romance which got emotional before becoming a tragedy.

Will a period film succeed in today's times when item songs and skin shows are ruling the roost? "Why not? Mughal-e-Azam was a huge success when it was released in 1960 and when it came in colour decades later, again it did well. Even Pradeep Kumar-Bina Rai starrer Taj Mahal was a huge hit. With Waris Shah ishq..., people will be curious to know about Heer Ranjha since it is a tale that has not been explored intensively. I am certain it will be liked a lot too," said the hero.

As for Manjeet, she says, it was a great experience doing a period film. "The huge set that was erected was like a picnic spot for all. Even Governor of Punjab, Gen (Retd.) Sunith Francis Rodrigues couldn't believe his eyes when he came on location. I wanted an authentic look for the film and was not prepared to compromise on anything. We found just the spot we wanted at Chandigarh's Roopnagar district. There was only a pond and to accomplish a film of this magnitude and grandeur, our art director Raashid Rangrez constructed a 360 degree set complete with havelis, roads, building structures as well as a masjid. The mosque looked so real that locals removed their footwear before entering that part of the set. I also had 35 feet long palm trees planted physically. The overall cost of the set came to approx, Rs 1.85 - 2 crores," she confirms adding that even tourists came to visit the place.

Elaborating on how the team went ahead with their plans, she said that after the decision to make this film was made in December 2005, the team went location hunting to Chandigarh on January 7. After finalising the spot, the erection of the set began on January 10 with 500 local labourers and 50 workers from Mumbai. "Shooting began on February 25 and the film was completed on April 2. When the bulldozers were razing down the set on April 4, many people suggested that we leave it as it is but we pulled down the set," says the producer heavy-heartedly.

Talking about the music, Gurdas said, 'Uaidev Kumar has composed the music to lyrics penned by me. We have also composed some of the couplets of Heer, It has a si/fifeel to it." When director Manoj Punj said he plans to release the film in 50-60 prints overseas with English sub-titles, 'What about Mumbai? someone asked. To which producer Manjeet Maan shot back, "Who goes to the theatre ever to see a Punjabi film in Mumbai? I prefer to release it where I have 100 per cent attendance and that is Punjab." Grinning, she then added that she might hold premieres in Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab.

An ambitious lady, Manjeet's next film will start from February in
Kashmir or Kulu Manati. It will be based on a real story from Punjab and
will deal with human relations "with a message and no preaching," she
concludes before making sure everyone has had the sumptous lunch
before leaving.