New York

New York is a forthcoming 2009 Bollywood film directed by Kabir Khan, produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, and with a screenplay by Sandeep Srivastava. It stars John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan.


Directed by Kabir Khan
Produced by Aditya Chopra
Aashish Singh
Written by Sandeep Srivastava
(screenplay, dialogue, and lyrics)
Aditya Chopra
(story)
Starring John Abraham
Katrina Kaif
Neil Nitin Mukesh
Irrfan Khan
Music by Pritam
Cinematography Aseem Mishra
Editing by Rameshwar S. Bhagat
Distributed by Yash Raj Films
Release date(s) June 26, 2009 [1]
Country India
Language Hindi / English

Plot

New York begins in 1999 and ends in 2007. It tells the story of three students at New York State University. Samir (John Abraham), also known as Sam, is a popular athlete who is friendly with New York-born Maya (Katrina Kaif). They befriend Omar (Neil Nitin Mukesh), an international student on scholarship from Delhi. Their carefree student lives change after 9/11, however, as they interact with FBI Agent Roshan (Irrfan Khan).

Cast

Actor/Actress Role
John Abraham as Samir (Sam)
Katrina Kaif as Maya
Neil Nitin Mukesh as Omar
Irrfan Khan as Roshan (FBI Official)

Background

New York is situated within the context of 9/11, taking place in the periods immediately before and directly after. In a June, 2009 interview with the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), director Kabir Khan stated that the film "is based on part of the political canvas of 9/11, but it speaks of prejudices after the great human tragedy. It is a definite and very relevant subject about post-9/11 prejudices that have increased after the attacks [...] We have in fact divided time in a pre- and post-9/11 world in the film to highlight its obvious repercussions in times to come. The repercussions of the attacks are still very strongly felt globally and will continue to do so." Khan continued to state that the film had the full support of the New York Film Commission, " as it is not an anti-something film. It is a very balanced story and not a jingoistic film." In a separate interview with IANS, actor John Abraham stated that, "in its own strange way, New York begins where Khuda Ke Liye ended. That’s the interesting part of the film [...] Each director has his own way of interpreting and researching the plight of legal detainees…that’s why Kabir and the Khuda Kay Liye director have different interpretations of it in their films."

Production

New York was filmed over a period of 100 days. Most of the production took place in New York and it is the first Hindi film to have such a long shooting schedule there. The production crew also spent a short period filming in Philadelphia.
In January, 2009 one of the New York crew members invited John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, and Kabir Khan and other members of the film crew to his birthday party at a local nightclub in New York. Crew members, who had arrived in one car, were allowed into the nightclub. Abraham, Kaif, and Khan, who had arrived in another, were denied access by security who did not recognize them and who demanded identification. Neither they nor crew members (who came from inside to help out) were able to convince security that they were important stars in India. By the time Abraham, Kaif, Khan, and Mukesh had returned with identification, the party had ended.