on the sets of aamir--article

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Bluefalls

@Bluefalls

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Posted: 17 years ago

On The sets of Aamir:

Written and Directed
by
Rajkumar Gupta

He must have been dreaming about this moment since long and it's D-Day finally….ok agreed a long way to go before these credits appear on screen but the process has started the magical feeling of calling the shorts in ones own film….Rajkumar Gupta was living his dream on the 22nd of this month and it's an awesome feeling…

Could not go for the first day of shoot…it was at the international airport. Second day - had to go…had a small role to play. Cheap thrills. Nothing beats those fleeting frames on the silver screen…I think it's a bigger high than being a hero. People might disagree…I am a sucker for the cheap thrills of life…live it as cheap as it gets….my mantra….

As I arrived I call Anubhuti who is looking after the costumes…"2A parking…wahn aaja…breakfast hai….thoos le"..she says….I arrive there sharp at 8:00am…."thoos liya" Rajkumar is with Nitin [Associate Director for the film] looking into the list of things to do…The cinematographer Alphons is there….He is one great mass of energy..;.. SUPER CHARGED always with his trademark cowboy hat. Never to mince words….he is as Good as it gets…am a fan….he ROCKS…. Rajeev Khandelwal plays Aamir.

There was a sense of urgency…which is usual…but that day seemed a bit different…..I was told there would be no lunch breaks today. No break for the crew…they will be working non-stop. Even Rajeev….yes….even Rajeev.

The cameraman and the director where in action…..soon they were running around with the camera taking the ambience shots of the people coming in and out of the air port as Rajeev was getting ready. As soon as he arrived….I start hearing the name "Sujal….". Some girl who was nearby….maybe to receive someone…was gushing…she was on the phone and excitedly letting the person know…Sujal is barely 10 meters away from her……Sujal???

Babul and Ashutosh [an avid PFC reader] were there…the Line Producers of the film. As Babul introduced me to Ashutosh he seemed to know me…was stumped…never met him…came to know about the PFC connection….hmm…They had done a great job of booking the airport for the shoot…..and make sure that the crew gets to do their job uninterrupted……

There was a lot of foreign junior artists to take care of…DEVANKA GOSH was in charge…he is the darling of the unit….there where rumors that Rajkumar has adopted him.wink wink ? He is one hellava chap….killer one liners…he is the only one on the sets who can say whatever he wants…..to anyone….saab maaf…..you meet him and you just fall for him….he is all of 18 and is already a veteran of 2 films….the first one being the eagerly awaited QUICK GUN MURUGAN.

CUT TO

Action

Some action scenes involving bikes needed to be canned….2 people on YAMAHA Racers come skidding towards our man, Aamir. Parvez was at the helm. You must have seen Parvez in Ab Tak Chapan. He played Firoz. I am fascinated with this tribe…the FALL GUYS…the guys who take the blows and literally shed sweat and blood for cinema. Big burly Parvez with his gang of Fall Guys…..some great shots were executed.

Rajkumar looks a bit anxious they are loosing light….he needs to can more…today is the last day at the airport…booking for one more day will amount to an increase in the production…..hurry…hurry….Alphons is running around…finding spots with better lights…..huge white screens are raised to create a day effect….Rajeev looks tired…in the sun all day….Alphones call out… "where is Rajeev…..". Rajkumar wants to shoot the chase fast….fading light…Rajeev runs to the spot….Rolling…Action…a taxi speeds towards the camera…..Rajeev running right behind it….shit….the taxi is in the centre of the road….can't see Rajeev….Rajeev himself instructs the taxi driver, Allahudin[he played Dawood's brother in lack Friday] to drive off center….runs back to his position…."ready sir"…taxi back in position…the junior artist need to go back to their spots…fast..fast..Ok rolling….action….shot OK.

Rajeev was under the sun the entire day…..it's already 6 and yes there was no lunch break…I had my biryani…..but the crew kept going….no one halted for lunch….Alphons was running around with the camera on his shoulders….Rajkumar running after it……under the blazing sun…no break in the vanity van for teh actor…the Ads…the camera team…all were sweating it out…..62 shots were canned that day….some feat I would say…..