TANU WEDS MANU RETURNS | Updates - Look back with Madhavan Pg33 - Page 4

BACKSTAGE PASS - FILM: TANU WEDS MANU RETURNS

On the set: Tanu Weds Manu Returns

Film: Tanu Weds Manu Returns

Director: Aanand L Rai

Producer: Krishika Lulla & Aanand L Rai

Cast: Kangana Ranuat,
R Madhavan, Jimmy Shergill, Deepak Dobriyal, Eijaz Khan and Swara Bhaskar

Location: Lovakhurd, Jhanjhar, Haryana

On the set of Tanu Weds Manu Returns


Story
Tanu Weds Manu Returns starts after four years of Tanu's (Kangana Ranaut) and Manu's (R Madhavan) marriage. They have parted ways but still retain feelings for each other. Manu finds another girl, Datto, who looks like Tanu (Kangana in a double role). She seemingly has all the qualities he desired in Tanu. Interestingly, director Aanand L Rai searched for Kangana's lookalike for Datto's role but couldn't find one. So Kangana opted to play the double role.

Aanand L Rai explaining the scene to Kangana Ranaut

What's the scene
It's a pre-climax marriage sequence. Manu and his best friend Pappi (Deepak Dobriyal) are involved in the scene along with Datto. Tanu also enters with her ex-flame Raja Awasthi (Jimmy Shergill), friend Payal (Swara Bhaskar) and her husband Jassi (Eijaz Khan). The emotional song Mat ja, sung by Ankit Tiwari plays in the background. It captures the turmoil when Tanu comes face-to-face with Manu.

Kangana clears a few doubts about her act with Rai

What we saw
We are in this hamlet, Lovakhurd, in Haryana. Director Aanand L Rai is shooting in a village house complete with the crumbling paint, the jagged tiles and the brick-lined rooftops. The cool buttermilk and freshly cut melon served around give respite from the heat. Kangana has admirers in the village women. As guided by the unit, they enter from one door, take a look at their favourite actor, and exit from the other. The director calls for a lunch break. We all troop to the Sarpanch's home, who plays host to the team. We enjoy the homemade rotis, daal and sabzi. The dessert is gur laden with lots of white butter. Madhavan jokes that as in the South the team be given time off to enjoy a short nap after such a heavy meal.

Kangana gets down and dirty


The following shot has Kangana washing the dishes albeit pensively. Rajshekhar's haunting lyrics, Ummeedon se hai ghayal, ummeed se zinda hai, reflect her mood. Next, the director needs her to be Datto. Her body language and her diction change completely. "It's challenging to play Tanu and Datto because the two characters hate each other," smiles the queen of acting.

The next sequence has Pappi lying on a charpai while a tailor is taking down Manu's measurements. Raja taunts Manu who's getting married again, "Aap sahi rahe doctor saheb, dobara suit silwa rahe hain...," Manu smiles and looks on.

Producer Krishika Lulla and Kangana check the monitor

Madhavan is alarmed at the crowds sitting on the roofs and is anxious about it giving away. The crowd is urged to leave. Rai plays the Rangrez song from Tanu Weds Manu and everyone goes nostalgic. Rai plans to use the song again in the present film.

Madhavan and Eijaz Khan check their get-up

Madhavan says that the film reflects the ethos of real India. "People of this village are good hosts. It's like going back to your roots. I feel like I'm back in my hometown Jamshedpur." Speaking about his character Manu in the sequel, he informs, "Manu hasn't changed after marriage. He's disciplined, calm and cool but Tanu is like fire. Through time their relationship turns sour." He tells us that it took him three months to lose weight to play Manu as he had bulked up for his boxer's role in Sala Khadoos. He's all admiration for director Aanand L Rai. "He never screams at us but explains everything in his soft-spoken manner. He lets us do things our own way and encourages his actors."

Kangana as the pensive Datto

Himanshu Sharma, the writer of Tanu Weds Manu and Raanjhanaa informs us that while Tanu is fighting for her personal liberation, Datto is fighting against the stereotyping of women. "The two characters represent the divergent sensibilities prevalent in India. It's in our country that a girl will observe vrat and don Dolce and Gabbana as well..."