'The success of Jaane Tu reminds me of Qayamat Se

'The success of Jaane Tu reminds me of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'

The film follows the other two hit movies Aamir has produced -- Lagaan and Taare Zameen Par -- the latter also marked his debut as a director.

The following phone interview took place around midnight in Mumbai last week. Aamir had been shooting for his newest film Ghajni most of that week but there was no sign of fatigue. He spoke to Arthur J Pais for nearly an hour about Jaane Tu and Delhi Belly, his next production.

Jaane Tu ...has become a genuine hit.

It has been a humbling experience. Audiences have certain expectations from the films I am associated with, and they are very supportive of me. The success of this film reminds me of my own debut, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, 20 years ago. There is a similar kind of excitement and frenzy. But there is sadness too.

Why sadness?

I wish Nasirsaab (uncle Nasir Hussain, who made hit films like Teesri Manzil) was here to see the success of his grandson Imran Khan. His son Mansoor Khan is also a producer of Jaane Tu. All this would have made Nasirsaab very happy and proud.

People know that Nasirsaab launched my career with Qayamat but I also worked with him as an assistant director on Manzil Manzil and Zabardast. He always strove to make wholesome films that were also entertaining. Nasirsaab had faith me and I would always be indebted to him.

'My name can bring people to the film initially'

I have always lived up to the expectations of the faith people have in me. My name can bring people to the film initially but after that, the film has to speak for itself. I don't take up a film if the script doesn't touch me.

You take a long time to decide on a film. What drew you to Jaane Tu?

I liked the script. At first glance, it could have looked like yet another college romance but there were many refreshing things about it. It was intelligent and imaginative. There was humour and promise in it.

[Writer-director] Abbas Tyrewala had really worked hard on the script. But good scripts can often pose a problem. In this case, I had no doubt about Abbas turning in a good film.

What kind of problems are you talking about?

At times, what looks good on paper doesn't translate well on screen. Abbas did an excellent job here. Not only do we have a likeable lead pair in Imran Khan and Genelia D'Souza, but also a number of artists like Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah and Paresh Rawal in delightful cameos. A R Rahman's peppy music has been used very well in the film too.

What was your advice to Imran Khan?

Hardly anything [chuckles]. But I told him that he should go after his heart and trust his instincts. He should not be in a hurry to sign films.

How do you feel about his career?

He has already signed two big budget films. His career is certainly evolving. A lot depends on his choices and how hard he works on fulfilling the expectations people have of him.

'I had to work very hard to get Mansoor back'

I had to work very hard to get him back. After directing four films -- QSQT, Jo Jeeta Who Hi Sikandar, Akele Hum Akele Tum and Josh -- he wanted to take a sabbatical. That was eight years ago.

He must have liked what he was doing away from the films because he did not want to come back. He settled down in a hill station in Tamil Nadu. Among other things, he is very fond of music and he has been learning the tabla.

How did you convince him to return to films?

[Chuckles] I have been after him for quite some time. But he is a tough cookie. He sidestepped the question [of coming back to the movies] so many times. But when I was directing Taare Zameen Par, it became very clear to me that I could not take over the responsibility of day-to-day work on Jaane Tu. So I requested Mansoor once again. I said this is a young team, and they need your help and expertise. He finally agreed.

Do you think he is now tempted to work on another film, perhaps even direct one?

I am trying to convince him to do something in Mumbai. It is not easy but I hope I will succeed [chuckles].

'Some people tell me that I am committing suicide [professionally]'

I believe in attaching all my bandwidth with one project at a time. I have been telling producers for a long time to complete their film within a few months, so that the project gets all my attention.

In the old days, they used to take over a year to complete a film. They would have one schedule, and then wait for several months to shoot again. But in recent years, directors try to shoot a film at a stretch, and that arrangement suits me very well. Since Lagaan -- made seven years ago -- I have been concentrating on one film at a time.

Isn't it a risk for an Indian actor to concentrate on just one film -- what if the film doesn't work at the box office?

That is what many people, who care deeply about me, tell me. Some have even told me that I am committing suicide [professionally]. Even my mother says I take too many risks. But this is how I am. Fortunately, the risks have been paying off.

I will not say that I do not feel insecure from time to time or I don't have my own anxieties. But I stay committed to my sensibilities.

It is more than six months since Taare was released and you haven't yet announced your next directorial venture.

I am not in a hurry. Now that Jaane Tu has released, I can start looking at story ideas and scripts. I have no idea what will grab my attention but I am going to decide in a few months.

Meanwhile, I will be working with UTV [the producers of Rang De Basanti, who have also distributed Taare and Jaane Tu in the overseas market] on a comedy called Delhi Belly.

'Delhi Belly will be in English and is meant for the international market'

Two students -- an Indian and an American -- from the University of California, Los Angles came to me with a script. I will not go into the film's details but it has an excellent script. It has comedy and thrills, too.

How would this be different from the films you have produced?

It will be in English, and that's why it will have limited appeal in India. It is meant for the international market. We want to distribute it in foreign territories first, and then screen it in India.

Is Imran Khan going to be in Delhi Belly?

We haven't decided on the cast yet. I will leave it to the director Abhinay Deo, who has made an excellent name for himself in ad films. He is a son of the veteran character actor Ramesh Deo.

In my last interview with A R Rahman, he said he loves working with you.

He is one of my favourite composers and has provided fabulous music for Lagaan, Rang De, and Jaane Tu. He never ceases to surprise me. He is one of the few composers, who loves to work closely with the director. He does not just compose the tunes; he stays with the entire score.

Is he going to compose the music for Delhi Belly?

No. When I let someone direct a film for me, I let that person decide everything -- from the cast to the composer. Abhinay wanted Ram Sampath, who is comparatively new. I stay by the director's choice.

What are you most excited about Ghajni?

It has action, thrills and suspense. I haven't done this kind of work in a very long time. For someone like me, who doesn't like to repeat roles, this film was very appealing.

Did you see the Tamil version of the film before he accepted to be in the Hindi version?

Yes. A R Murugadoss, who directed the Tamil film, is directing the Hindi version too. He has made many improvements. He is one of the smartest directors I have worked in the last two decades.