India has asked the makers of the latest James Bond movie to change a stunt showing people travelling on train rooftops, saying it would depict the state-run railway in a poor light. “Rooftop travel is illegal in India and it cannot be encouraged,” Indian Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi told AFP. Many Indians seek to avoid paying for tickets by travelling on the roof.
Daniel Craig, who plays the world’s most famous secret agent, was supposed to jump from a motorcycle onto a moving train roof packed with travellers and then leap to another equally crowded train top, according to the script. Trivedi said 007 could perform the stunt – but only if there is nobody on the top of the trains. “Rooftop travel will not be shown,” he said, adding that the government has also stipulated the filming “has to be safe and passengers should not be inconvenienced.”
The railways minister said that the original movie script could have led to an impression that rooftop travel was common in India. “There are many trains in India and not all trains have people travelling on the rooftops,” he argued. The makers of the as-yet untitled movie — known currently only as ‘Bond 23’ – had agreed to the conditions. The film is to be directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes and will be shot in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and the resort state of Goa. Shooting is planned for February and March next year and the film is slated for release in November 2012.
