Sneak Peek: Dhobi Ghat

Kiran Rao's directorial debut Dhobi Ghat's January release is eagerly awaited. Starring Aamir Khan and newcomer Prateik Babbar, the film promises to be an interesting one. Meet the characters...

Arun, is the famous lonely painter played by Aamir Khan. To perfection or not, remains to be seen.

Prateik Babbar gets to be Munna, the dhobi who wants to be a star.

Yasmin is a recently married Muslim girl who records her life in Mumbai for her brother back home. Played by Kriti Malhotra.

Monica Dogra is convincing already as Shai, the banker on a sabbatical in India.

A fifth and silent character is Mumbai, the city, quietly witnessing the turmoil and the simultaneous harmony in the various characters' lives.

Similiar to the Aunty in Aamir's neighborhood, observing but never speaking.

This is the story of four very different people, whose worlds intersect through fate and are forever altered.

The city weaves it's way into their lives, bringing them closer even as it builds walls between them.

Fragments of their experience - seen through a video diary, black and white photographic images- form up the film.

Mr Perfectionist lends his acting talent for wifey Kiran's debut.

A journey of people through longing, loneliness, loss and love.

Rumour has it that Aamir was losing sleep over the film completing production, because he was unsure how he might react to its brilliance or otherwise.

When the script was finished for him to read, Khan pressed Kiran to go visit his cousin and they would all read it together, hoping that if both he and his cousin disliked it "at least I'd have numbers on my side".

"It's so delicate and beautiful. Her characters speak in such a different and unique voice, and all of that hit me and I thought, 'Wow I married a really talented woman here,'" gushed Khan.

When I fell in love the first time, I didn't know how really talented she was. When I read the script I was really amazed and I fell in love with her again," he continued his outburst of love.

Set in the Mumbai monsoon season, Shai's (Monica Dogra) feelings for Arun and Zohaib (Prateik) in the teeming metropolis forms a major part of the plot.

According to reports, the movie wowed the audiences with its artistry and fluidity at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Rao claims she is immensely pleased with the performances of the new cast and her superstar husband, who as a matter of fact was not her first choice.

Prateik in a still from the movie.

Bringing his promising new talent to the table.

Monica plays an important role.

Shai and her various intricacies.

Producer Khan is busy rectifying the movie's 40 per cent dialogue being in English by dubbing it as a bilingual.

It is Aamir's decision to have a Hindi version ready, weeks before the film's release.

A still from the movie.