Bollywood takes over Healdsburg

Bollywood — the center of the Indian film industry popularized
in America with the release of “Slumdog Millionaire” last year —
has descended on Healdsburg. At former Mayor Lisa Schaffner’s
house, no less.
One of the biggest actors and directors in India have been
shooting in Healdsburg, in Schaffner’s backyard, in neighbor Rich
Ryan’s house and in scenes on Piper and Healdsburg Elementary
School. The production will wrap with a scene on the Plaza late
Thursday night.
The starring actor, Shahrukh Khan, also known as SRK, is hugely
popular and fans have been trying to find a way to see him all
week.
“He’s the Brad Pitt of India,” said one onlooker who was parked
near the corner of Greens Drive on Tuesday afternoon. He had driven
his family from Walnut Creek to try and catch a glimpse of the
world-renowned actor, but hadn’t had any luck.
According to the official Bollywood Web site, it has been eight
years since Khan worked with the famous Indian director Karan
Johar.
The production crew was buzzing in front of Schaffner and Craig
Herrington’s house, but was nothing compared to the scene in their
backyard — a summer party with dozens of beautifully clad actors,
set design and up-tempo Indian music.
The film “My Name Is Khan” is based on a true story about a
family who move from the city to the suburbs — enter Healdsburg,
better known as “Bansville” in the film.
According to a blog about the movie (www.mynameiskhan.org), “SRK
is playing the character of Rizvan Khan. This person suffers from
Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an autism disorder and is
characterised by difficulties in social interaction and behaviour.
Half of the film is a true story based on a couple’s life in L.A.
Karan bought the rights of the story from them.”
The majority of the filming was done in Mumbai, but because the
film is about an American family, producers were looking for the
perfect suburban-style home for the family to live in.
That’s when producers knocked on Schaffner’s door about a year
ago saying they were working on a Bollywood film and were
interested in using her house.
“They came in and took pictures of the house and a week later
brought in a replica of the house,” she said. “This is the home the
whole film is centered on.”
Schaffner said she thinks her home was chosen because of its
“stereotypical suburban look” with a wrap-around porch and a big
lawn in the front and back yards. She’s getting paid by the day for
use of her home.
On Tuesday, a summer party scene was being shot at her house.
Schaffner looked on as one of the actresses playing the
sister-in-law in the film carried a tray from inside the doorway of
Schaffner’s kitchen to the back deck. The shot was filmed four
times in the course of about a half-hour.
The majority of the film, which is scheduled to be released in
February 2010, was shot in Mumbai where a full-scale model of the
house was built, but they’ve been shooting scenes in San Francisco
for about a month and in Healdsburg for the last two weeks.
“They’ve been really nice, really respectful,” Schaffner
said.
Greens Drive, which is north off of Matheson Street, has been
taken over by the film crew, lighting equipment and moving trucks
full of gear. Schaffner estimated that there were about 200 people
working in some capacity on the film, many who have spent money in
town at local restaurants and stores, she said.
According to Healdsburg Planning Director Rick Tooker, the city
of Healdsburg granted permits for use of the city’s public streets
and parks — a permit that would have cost $150 and was negotiated
to a total payment of $3,000.
The movie buzz has definitely caught on in Healdsburg and locals
say they will be sure to check out the film when it is released
next spring.
“We’re definitely going to watch the movie – we can’t wait,”
Schaffner said.