Sonam-Abhishek in Rakeysh Mehra’s Sahibaan?

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It was said about the legendary Sahibaan that when she stepped out into the gallis of Punjab, the nine angels that guard the spheres died on seeing her beauty. And Sonam Kapoor, Bollywood’s IT girl, is all set to play the ethereal Sahibaan in an ambitious screen adaptation by filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

While there have been many screen adaptations in Hindi and Punjabi of legendary romances like Heer-Ranjha, Laila-Majnu and Sohni-Mahiwal, so far no prominent film in Hindi is based on the Mirza-Sahibaan love story. And it’s probably because of the complicated nature of their relationship.

According to sources, the idea came to Rakeysh during the making of Delhi-6.

“Rakeysh would address Sonam as ‘Bittu’, the character she played in Delhi-6. Then suddenly one day he started calling Sonam ‘Sahibaan’. At first Sonam was baffled by this new name from Rakeysh who would pamper her to no end. But as the historical perspective and the literary antecedents of the character began to seep in, Sonam grew excited about the project and began to pester Rakeysh about the project,” said the source.

For the actress, who is at the moment busy playing the Delhi socialite’s version in Ayesha, which is based on Jane Austen’s Emma, this would be the first occasion to do a costume drama. The fact that Sonam had was dressed in elaborate costumes in her debut Saawariya gave Rakeysh the idea that his ‘Bittu’ could indeed be his ‘Sahibaan’.

It’s not yet known who will play Sahibaan’s lover, Mirza. But rumours have it that Abhishek Bachchan will play the role.

Confirming that Mirza-Sahibaan is indeed in the pipeline, Rakeysh Mehra said, “But, I still have to get down to writing it.”

About Mirza-Sahibaan

Mirza and Sahibaan were cousins and childhood playmates who fell in love with each other. When Sahibaan was promised to another suitor, she sent a message to Mirza asking him to rescue her, which he did on her wedding day. After travelling for some time, the couple decided to rest for some time. However, when Sahibaan’s brothers learnt that the couple has eloped, they went in search for her. When Mirza was asleep, Sahiban feared that Mirza would kill her brothers. So she quietly took Mirza’s quiver and hung it on a branch, out of his reach. When her brothers caught up with them, Sahibaan woke up Mirza who reached for his quiver. But before that one of her brothers’ arrows hit him. Before dying, Mirza looked accusingly at Sahibaan and said, “Bura kitoyee Sahibaan, mera turkish tangiya jand!” Which means: Sahibaan, you did a terrible thing by hanging the quiver away from my reach!

A sobbing Sahibaan threw herself over Mirza’s body to cover him from being injured further. She too died.