Interview: Sanjay Gupta
He's B-town's hitman', delivering hit after hit with stylised, sepia-toned gangster thrillers. Back with a new venture about gunmen and godfathers', Sanjay Gupta updates Dev Advani on Aishwarya's comeback film,
his patch-up with Vivek Oberoi, life-threats from the underworld and much more...
A dozen filmmakers were vying to direct Aishwarya's comeback film but you're the one who sealed the deal...
Ash and I have been talking about working together. In spite of being in the business for so long, there has never been an opportunity for me to cast her. Also, the kind of movies I make are different from the ones she's picked so far. This is the first time I'm doing a film with a female protagonist. The hero of the film is a woman. The subject of the film is pretty intense so I needed someone who could do justice to the role as a performer. This tag of her comeback film' is just like icing on the cake...
You beat Prahlad Kakkar and Mani Ratnam to the chase...
I don't know about them. I can't comment because I have no clue about Prahlad's film... Mani sir's film is not happening.
Would you want Ash to lose weight like Prahlad Kakkar did?
Prahlad Kakkar is bullshit! She is much fitter than before " look at her Cannes pictures. She is in good shape and raring to go!
Since it's an action packed film, will we see Ash do all sorts of daredevilry?
There are two kinds of action films. One is the Dhoom franchise which goes into the Fast And Furious zone. It is fantasy-driven; that sort of action doesn't happen in real life. Robbers don't paraglide from helicopters and land on running trains. On the other hand, there is the kind of action which is realistic and involves real situations. Jazbaa falls under this space. Ash didn't have a choice but to do all the stunts by herself...
You're revisiting the period-action genre with your gangster film Mumbai Saga...
Mumbai Saga is not just about the underworld. It is about how Bombay became Mumbai; how the landscape changed. It's about the people responsible for transforming the city. It's about the politicians, mill-owners, cops and the underworld. The nexus between all of them that intentionally or unintentionally defined the city at that point of time.
Why are you obsessed with the underworld and portraying it on screen?
If I weren't a filmmaker, I would've been a gangster! I guess that's an unfulfilled dream which I'm fulfilling through my movies. I've tried my hand at other genres too. I made a film titled Alibaug which was based on relationships and friendships. The film is stalled for over seven years and I don't know if it will ever see the light of the day. F*ck it! I'm sticking to what I know and do best. I've created a brand for myself. There is an identity to my movies. I have a massive fan-base, why would I want to f**k it up?
Have you ever received life-threats for any of your movies?
I've got a lot of threats. We got major threats when Shootout At Wadala was about to release. The cops knew about it. Those people were bothering us. But we handled it...
After Shootout At Wadala and Mumbai Saga, it seems as though John's become your blue-eyed-boy...
John is not my blue-eyed boy.
I have a great working relationship with him. And the kind of movies I make fit in perfectly with his appearance. My movies are about macho men. The best thing about John is that he surrenders himself to me completely. He doesn't question anything. Ulta khada karke jump karne bolo, toh bhi karega. He trusts me. So when I'm getting that kind of implicit belief, then it's my responsibility to extract a good performance.
You recently mended fences with your friend Vivek Oberoi...
You get upset with someone if you like them. If you don't like them, you're indifferent. But I share a very special bond with Vivek. Shootout at Lokhandwala got him back into the limelight in a big way. He then went on to make some right choices and some wrong ones. When I was working on Shootout At Wadala, he expressed his desire to be a part of it. I narrated the part I wanted him to play and he loved it. I was excited to have him on-board. Later, the way he exited left a bitter taste... I lashed out at him and to defend himself, he lashed out too.
So how did things finally get sorted out?
We remained indifferent to each other for three years until we bumped into each other at a wedding. We sat and had a meeting and he explained why he couldn't be part of Shootout At Wadala. After hearing him out, I was okay... We don't have the time to hold on to grudges. In this business, there are no permanent friendships and enmities. Everything is back to normal now. I like to work with actors whom I can challenge. In Mumbai Saga, he plays a cop which he has never done in his career so far. He is a gangster in uniform...
From one good friend to another; what was the last conversation you had with Sanjay Dutt?
Sanju and I had met for dinner and zeroed in on a script. I have kept the script safe. I'm waiting for him to come back. It is a fabulous script which revolves around the life of aging gangsters. Sanju has even spoken to Amitji about it. This is something I really want to do.
So you'll be responsible for Sanju's comeback after Aishwarya's?
I don't wish to make that film with anyone else! This is a temporary phase in Sanju's life. It's unfortunate. But for me, the glass is always half full. I'm looking forward to his comeback. He is going to be leaner and fitter than before. He is using buckets of water as weights in Yerwada prison. He is a great actor. What works well for Sanju is that he is aging gracefully. Otherwise a lot of actors start looking ugly when they get old. Some people feel he should retire, but who the f*ck are they to decide if he should retire or not!
- Stardust Magazine
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
Anupamaa
11