Posted:
The film was not meant to happen with SRK'
By Ankur Pathak, Mumbai Mirror | Dec 25, 2014, 12.00 AM IST
Dhanush, Akshara Haasan and Amitabh Bachchan in Shamitabh (inset) R Balki
R Balki opens up about his next film which was originally planned with Big B and SRK, says the film's idea came to him while stuck in a traffic jam.
After Cheeni Kum and Paa, R Balki was clear that he did not want to repeat himself. But he was also sure that he wanted to make his next with Amitabh Bachchan, who starred in both the films.
"I was on my way to his 69th birthday party. I didn't know what to gift him," recalls Balki when we meet him at his Bandra office. "I couldn't gift him a bottle of wine as he doesn't drink. I couldn't gift him flowers either..." Why, we ask? "Isn't it a bit weird?" he laughs.
"I was stuck in traffic on my way to his house. In that one hour, I came up with a story and instead of a gift, I whispered the idea to him at the party. This is how Shamitabh was conceived."
It was the return gift from Big B that made him the happiest man at the party. "He gave me a thumbs up and said, 'Write it quickly before you forget it," says Balki.
However, he is still reluctant to reveal details of the film's plot. Isn't it about a deaf-and-mute aspiring actor with Bachchan lending his voice to Dhanush's character?
"I will say that the film is about clash of egos, about people competing for credit as filmmaking is a collaborative effort. Shamitabh explores that collision."
Interestingly, the film was planned with Shah Rukh Khan playing the part that eventually went to Dhanush. But like Mirror had reported, the actor had reservations regarding his share of screen time and decided to let go of the film.
"I had some very interesting discussions with Shah Rukh. But he had some concerns which I felt were valid," he says, adding, "But every film has its own destiny and this film wasn't meant to happen with him. I will come up with something for him too."
Dhanush's name came up during a brainstorming session between Balki and Bachchan. "He asked me who would I cast if I were to choose Southern stars. I told him it would be Rajinikanth and Dhanush. So he said, 'Why not Dhanush?'. I made a phone call and had my two lead actors," says Balki. However, a slot was still empty. And it was filled once Kamal Haasan and Sarika's daughter Akshara Haasan, came on board.
"I saw her and tailored a character around her. She's the third hero of Shamitabh," he signs off.
After Cheeni Kum and Paa, R Balki was clear that he did not want to repeat himself. But he was also sure that he wanted to make his next with Amitabh Bachchan, who starred in both the films.
"I was on my way to his 69th birthday party. I didn't know what to gift him," recalls Balki when we meet him at his Bandra office. "I couldn't gift him a bottle of wine as he doesn't drink. I couldn't gift him flowers either..." Why, we ask? "Isn't it a bit weird?" he laughs.
"I was stuck in traffic on my way to his house. In that one hour, I came up with a story and instead of a gift, I whispered the idea to him at the party. This is how Shamitabh was conceived."
It was the return gift from Big B that made him the happiest man at the party. "He gave me a thumbs up and said, 'Write it quickly before you forget it," says Balki.
However, he is still reluctant to reveal details of the film's plot. Isn't it about a deaf-and-mute aspiring actor with Bachchan lending his voice to Dhanush's character?
"I will say that the film is about clash of egos, about people competing for credit as filmmaking is a collaborative effort. Shamitabh explores that collision."
Interestingly, the film was planned with Shah Rukh Khan playing the part that eventually went to Dhanush. But like Mirror had reported, the actor had reservations regarding his share of screen time and decided to let go of the film.
"I had some very interesting discussions with Shah Rukh. But he had some concerns which I felt were valid," he says, adding, "But every film has its own destiny and this film wasn't meant to happen with him. I will come up with something for him too."
Dhanush's name came up during a brainstorming session between Balki and Bachchan. "He asked me who would I cast if I were to choose Southern stars. I told him it would be Rajinikanth and Dhanush. So he said, 'Why not Dhanush?'. I made a phone call and had my two lead actors," says Balki. However, a slot was still empty. And it was filled once Kamal Haasan and Sarika's daughter Akshara Haasan, came on board.
"I saw her and tailored a character around her. She's the third hero of Shamitabh," he signs off.
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