Mumbai: May 6, 2005/Sawf News Service/ --John has picked up one more feather for his cap by working with Deepa Mehta, US-based Indian film director, for her much-maligned film Water. Film buffs will remember that Water is the third in her trilogy. Earlier, Fire, with Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das caused a storm because it showed explicit scenes of lesbianism. Earth, with Aamir Khan, was based on a novel by Bapsi Sidhwa, a US-based Indian writer.

When Deepa wanted to shoot her third film Water in Varanasi (Benaras), crowds vandalized her sets and equipment because she was presenting only the dark side of the dismal lives of widows in India. She had to leave India because of the violent reaction of mobs. Water also had Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das in the cast – and both actors had shaved their heads in preparation for the film. Now in its new avatar, Water has been shot in Sri Lanka with a new cast, which includes Seema Biswas, Lisa Ray and John Abraham. Lisa and John have given astounding performances according to Deepa. Whether Water will be shown in India remains to be seen.

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