Jaaved Jaaferi reflects on the making of 'Jajantaram Mamantaram' as it completes 20 years

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the iconic Indian superhero film, "Jajantaram Mamantaram," actor Jaaved Jaaferi reminisces about the challenging yet enjoyable experience of shooting for the fantasy action comedy. Released in 2003, the movie introduced India to its own superhero, who fought against the evil antagonist Jhamunda, portrayed by Joy Fernandes. Jaaferi reflects on the film's heavy reliance on visual effects (VFX) and the unique challenges it posed during filming.

Recalling the technical aspects, Jaaferi explains that the entire film was shot against a blue screen since green screens were not commonly used at that time. Acting without any co-stars or physical props in front of him was the most demanding part. Instead, small matchsticks or wooden pieces were strategically placed to serve as cues, and Jaaferi had to deliver his dialogues by interacting with those objects.

For instance, if a scene depicted a dwarf sitting on his shoulder, he had to engage with the matchstick placed on his shoulder as if it were the character. The only time he had a fellow actor in front of him was during the climax, where he fought against Jhamunda, as they were of similar size.

Jaaferi emphasizes that the film provided him with a significant learning opportunity as an actor, as reacting without any immediate action or reaction was a considerable challenge. However, the difficulties didn't end there. During one of the scenes, he suffered a severe knee injury, not during the iconic fight sequence but when he slipped off a box he was standing on. This incident resulted in a torn meniscus and a prolonged recovery period.

When Jaaferi first heard the script for "Jajantaram Mamantaram," he was captivated by the idea of giving a desi (Indian) twist to the characters from "Gulliver's Travels," a story deeply ingrained in everyone's childhood memories. Additionally, as he was hosting the adventure-based reality show "Takeshi's Castle" at that time, which was immensely popular among children, he felt compelled to be a part of the film.

Looking back, Jaaferi cherishes the memories associated with the film and acknowledges its role in his growth as an actor.