Big B at Cannes

HIS daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, can be called a Cannes veteran with over a decade of appearances on the prestigious red carpet. This year, however, Amitabh Bachchan is likely to steal the limelight from her at the 66th Festival de Cannes. The actor will attend the festival as a member of the cast and crew of The Great Gatsby. The Baz Luhrmann movie is a magnum opus based on the roaring '20s. It is set to open the festival on May 15, according to the media communication from the festival.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by American writer Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby in the movie, which has been made in 3D, while Carey Mulligan is Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire is Nick Carraway, the narrator. Bachchan plays Meyer Wolfsheim, a man with a dark past, who helps DiCaprio's character make money when he first comes to New York after World War I. His role, he insists, is almost blink-and-you'll-miss-it. For the film, he might also lend his voice to the soundtrack, being composed by American pop star Jay-Z.

Bachchan will join Luhrmann, DiCaprio and Jay-Z at the Croisette waterfront for the film's promotion, the statement said. On his part, the actor confirmed it with a tweet, saying, "Film's premiere might take place in New York on May 1 this year. But to be confirmed."

The festival, which will go on till May 26, has Steven Spielberg heading the jury.

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