* Director/writer: Deepa Mehta * Producers: David Hamilton, Camelia Frieberg, Ajay Virmani, Bob Wertheimer * Cinematographer: Doug Koch

Like the old saying goes – if at first your film is set aflame by political and religious fanatics and the set’s charred remains are heaved into the Ganges, try, try again. And Deepa Mehta did try, or at least made plans, to remount Water, the controversial drama which would complete the trilogy she began with 1996’s Fire and Earth in 1998. But the political climate in India was choppier than usual two years ago, and all those involved in the disastrous shoot needed a rest.

So she returned home to Toronto and wrote a comedy. The result was Bollywood/Hollywood, an homage to the over-the-top musicals of India and romantic comedies of Tinsel Town wherein a dot.com millionaire hires an escort to pose as his finacee. Indian celebs Rahul Khanna (Earth) and Ranjit Chowdhry (Fire) star alongside compatriots Moushumi Chatterjee and Dina Pathak. Montreal’s Jessica Pare (Stardom) and Toronto’s Lisa Ray also star. The film was produced under the banner of Bollywood/Hollywood Productions and opens the Perspective Canada program at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Executive producer David Hamilton and Mehta, fresh from a root canal operation, recalled the genesis of the project in recent interviews. Surely this one was easier than her previous far-flung and controversial films? Not really, says Mehta. ‘Wherever it is, directing is difficult. Whether it’s in Timbuktu, L.A., New Delhi or Toronto.’

February 2000: Protesters torch the set of Water, issuing death threats and burning Mehta in effigy. Mehta is ‘devastated’ and production shuts down.

December 2000: Mehta and Hamilton abandon efforts to remount and instead, needing a rest, kick around ideas for a comedy. ‘Whatever we do this time, it’s got to be fun,’ says Hamilton. ‘Water was definitely not fun. It was the worst experience of my life.’ Mehta writes a treatment, inspired by Indian films that mimic Hollywood.

January 2001: The pair shows the treatment to Hussain Amarshi, president of Toronto distributor Mongrel Media. He likes the idea, offers a few suggestions, and agrees to carry the film in Canada. Mehta continues to write the script, with feedback from Hamilton, who is bankrolling development with a line of credit from TD Canada Trust.

February 2001: Mehta and Hamilton apply to Telefilm Canada.

April 2001: The rough draft is done.

May 2001: The final draft is done. As the $2-million project enters preproduction, Telefilm comes through with $1 million, followed by $500,000 from the Canadian Television Fund’s Licence Fee Program and $200,000 from The Harold Greenberg Fund.

June 2001: Mehta takes a job shooting three commercials and a fundraising video for United Way, where she meets and hires cinematographer Doug Koch (Last Night). ‘I just loved working with him. I love his lighting and his ability to try new things,’ says Mehta. ‘He’s distinctly unafraid.’ Tamara Deverell (Masala, Dead Aviators) is tapped as production designer because, says Mehta, of her experience with South Asian film and culture. Casting begins and Indian star Rahul Khanna, Mehta’s first pick since development, signs on for the lead.

July 2001: The budget is topped off with funds from Ajay Virmani, a Water producer, and Camelia Frieberg, who donates her Telefilm performance envelope. The film is still looking for a female lead when Virmani suggests Toronto-raised Indian supermodel Lisa Ray, who also joins. The final ‘glamorous but innocent’ role is filled when Mehta seeks out Pare, having seen her play a similar role in Denys Arcand’s Stardom.

August to September 2001: Locations are scouted in Toronto and the last of the crew is hired. ‘It was crazy, as all preproductions are,’ Mehta remembers. ‘I think we had 54 different locations. Also, I had a very particular color palette and look in mind…lots of primary colors and warm lighting. I’m sort of a demanding director in that sense.’

September to October 2001: The film is shot over seven weeks on Super 35mm. ‘I enjoyed working here in Toronto because I hadn’t done a film here in eight years,’ says Mehta, referring to Sam & Me.

January 2002: After a month of vacation, Mehta takes the film into post with editor Barry Farrell (Smash).

April 2002: A fine cut is done and Hamilton takes it to Europe in search of an international distributor, eventually securing a deal with Hong Kong- and Amsterdam-based Fortissimo Films.

May 2002: The film is submitted to TIFF, amid stiff competition. ‘They had a lot of films this year,’ says Hamilton. ‘They had 150 Canadian films and only 20 slots.’

September 2002: Bollywood/Hollywood premiers at TIFF as the Perspective Canada opener.

Oct. 25, 2002: Bollywood/Hollywood is scheduled to open wide across Canada.