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Shahid is not responsible for the failure of Phata Poster: Tigmanshu
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When we meet Tigmanshu Dhulia at his Andheri office, the filmmaker is busy watching the finale of 'Breaking Bad'. His office is decked up with posters of Bergman and Coppola movies, while books on India's history and wars sit neatly lined on the shelves. Excerpts from the conversation that transpired:
Any specific reason you chose Saif Ali Khan for Bullett Raja?
I wanted to break his suave and sophisticated image. Although he has done a Langda Tyagi (Omkara) he will shock people with 'Bullett Raja'. The film is an experiment for both, Saif and I.
What led to the ouster of Irrfan Khan from the project? He had already shot for certain portions.
Yes, he was on board, and we had started shooting. However, he had committed for an international project, and had to leave my film. I didn't even ask for a lot of time from him - needed hardly 15 days. But unfortunately it didn't work out. But, he remains one of my favourite actors. There is no bad blood between us.
Irrfan reminds me of the Oscar fiasco between The Lunchbox and The Good Road. What is your take on the controversy?
(Smiles) They (The Lunchbox camp) shouldn't have reacted the way they did. You don't make a film with an Oscar award in your mind. Last year, Paan Singh Tomar was a frontrunner as India's official nomination, but they ended up sending Barfi! instead. I won't lie - I did feel sad for few days, but then I was alright with it. I didn't crib, or make any sweeping statements (pauses).
Go on...
I believe all this is done to generate curiosity for a film. Eventually, so much gets written about it that everybody wants to see it. This is exactly what happened with The Lunchbox.
Recently, Imran Khan had to be replaced in Milan Talkies. Why does this keep happening to your films?
(Laughs) Add Shraddha Kapoor to the list. She too won't be able to do Milan Talkies. But, she is doing another Balaji film with Mohit Suri. I don't know why it happens to me. Actors today want to position themselves in a certain way and they are extremely cautious how they are represented (sighs).
Is Shahid Kapoor still a part of Milan Talkies? Why is he evading to go on record?
Certain formalities are yet to be completed, but he is definitely doing the film. We go on floors in December.
Considering the fate of Phata Poster Nikla Hero, do you think that Shahid is a commercially viable choice?
See, that perception is wrong. The failure of Phata Poster on any of his other films is not Shahid's fault per se. As for me, I work with actors. And I think Shahid is a fantastic actor.
You're also toying with the idea of making a film on Begum Samru, but it seems that finding a heroine for it has become a tough task. Rani, Vidya and Kareena turned down the role...
It is an incredibly sensitive role. It's about a woman who had multiple affairs while she was married. I'm looking at an international collaboration - in terms of finance as well as talent. I understand why these ladies have refused the role. We come from a certain cultural baggage, which doesn't allow us to enjoy certain liberties.
You've always set your film with a rustic heartland as the backdrop. Will we ever see a Tigmanshu film set in an urban environment?
I set my films in a certain milieu, because that is the one, which I understand better than say, a metropolitan one. I've grown up in a small town, and I feel I can get the nuances and the culture right.
When we meet Tigmanshu Dhulia at his Andheri office, the filmmaker is busy watching the finale of 'Breaking Bad'. His office is decked up with posters of Bergman and Coppola movies, while books on India's history and wars sit neatly lined on the shelves. Excerpts from the conversation that transpired:
Any specific reason you chose Saif Ali Khan for Bullett Raja?
I wanted to break his suave and sophisticated image. Although he has done a Langda Tyagi (Omkara) he will shock people with 'Bullett Raja'. The film is an experiment for both, Saif and I.
What led to the ouster of Irrfan Khan from the project? He had already shot for certain portions.
Yes, he was on board, and we had started shooting. However, he had committed for an international project, and had to leave my film. I didn't even ask for a lot of time from him - needed hardly 15 days. But unfortunately it didn't work out. But, he remains one of my favourite actors. There is no bad blood between us.
Irrfan reminds me of the Oscar fiasco between The Lunchbox and The Good Road. What is your take on the controversy?
(Smiles) They (The Lunchbox camp) shouldn't have reacted the way they did. You don't make a film with an Oscar award in your mind. Last year, Paan Singh Tomar was a frontrunner as India's official nomination, but they ended up sending Barfi! instead. I won't lie - I did feel sad for few days, but then I was alright with it. I didn't crib, or make any sweeping statements (pauses).
Go on...
I believe all this is done to generate curiosity for a film. Eventually, so much gets written about it that everybody wants to see it. This is exactly what happened with The Lunchbox.
Recently, Imran Khan had to be replaced in Milan Talkies. Why does this keep happening to your films?
(Laughs) Add Shraddha Kapoor to the list. She too won't be able to do Milan Talkies. But, she is doing another Balaji film with Mohit Suri. I don't know why it happens to me. Actors today want to position themselves in a certain way and they are extremely cautious how they are represented (sighs).
Is Shahid Kapoor still a part of Milan Talkies? Why is he evading to go on record?
Certain formalities are yet to be completed, but he is definitely doing the film. We go on floors in December.
Considering the fate of Phata Poster Nikla Hero, do you think that Shahid is a commercially viable choice?
See, that perception is wrong. The failure of Phata Poster on any of his other films is not Shahid's fault per se. As for me, I work with actors. And I think Shahid is a fantastic actor.
You're also toying with the idea of making a film on Begum Samru, but it seems that finding a heroine for it has become a tough task. Rani, Vidya and Kareena turned down the role...
It is an incredibly sensitive role. It's about a woman who had multiple affairs while she was married. I'm looking at an international collaboration - in terms of finance as well as talent. I understand why these ladies have refused the role. We come from a certain cultural baggage, which doesn't allow us to enjoy certain liberties.
You've always set your film with a rustic heartland as the backdrop. Will we ever see a Tigmanshu film set in an urban environment?
I set my films in a certain milieu, because that is the one, which I understand better than say, a metropolitan one. I've grown up in a small town, and I feel I can get the nuances and the culture right.
Any specific reason you chose Saif Ali Khan for Bullett Raja?
I wanted to break his suave and sophisticated image. Although he has done a Langda Tyagi (Omkara) he will shock people with 'Bullett Raja'. The film is an experiment for both, Saif and I.
What led to the ouster of Irrfan Khan from the project? He had already shot for certain portions.
Yes, he was on board, and we had started shooting. However, he had committed for an international project, and had to leave my film. I didn't even ask for a lot of time from him - needed hardly 15 days. But unfortunately it didn't work out. But, he remains one of my favourite actors. There is no bad blood between us.
Irrfan reminds me of the Oscar fiasco between The Lunchbox and The Good Road. What is your take on the controversy?
(Smiles) They (The Lunchbox camp) shouldn't have reacted the way they did. You don't make a film with an Oscar award in your mind. Last year, Paan Singh Tomar was a frontrunner as India's official nomination, but they ended up sending Barfi! instead. I won't lie - I did feel sad for few days, but then I was alright with it. I didn't crib, or make any sweeping statements (pauses).
Go on...
I believe all this is done to generate curiosity for a film. Eventually, so much gets written about it that everybody wants to see it. This is exactly what happened with The Lunchbox.
Recently, Imran Khan had to be replaced in Milan Talkies. Why does this keep happening to your films?
(Laughs) Add Shraddha Kapoor to the list. She too won't be able to do Milan Talkies. But, she is doing another Balaji film with Mohit Suri. I don't know why it happens to me. Actors today want to position themselves in a certain way and they are extremely cautious how they are represented (sighs).
Is Shahid Kapoor still a part of Milan Talkies? Why is he evading to go on record?
Certain formalities are yet to be completed, but he is definitely doing the film. We go on floors in December.
Considering the fate of Phata Poster Nikla Hero, do you think that Shahid is a commercially viable choice?
See, that perception is wrong. The failure of Phata Poster on any of his other films is not Shahid's fault per se. As for me, I work with actors. And I think Shahid is a fantastic actor.
You're also toying with the idea of making a film on Begum Samru, but it seems that finding a heroine for it has become a tough task. Rani, Vidya and Kareena turned down the role...
It is an incredibly sensitive role. It's about a woman who had multiple affairs while she was married. I'm looking at an international collaboration - in terms of finance as well as talent. I understand why these ladies have refused the role. We come from a certain cultural baggage, which doesn't allow us to enjoy certain liberties.
You've always set your film with a rustic heartland as the backdrop. Will we ever see a Tigmanshu film set in an urban environment?
I set my films in a certain milieu, because that is the one, which I understand better than say, a metropolitan one. I've grown up in a small town, and I feel I can get the nuances and the culture right.
Arjun
25