Agent Vinod is a nuclear adventure - Saif

Nuclear problem at heart of ''Agent Vinod'': Saif Ali Khan
New Delhi, Mar 24, (PTI):

It has guns, trains, cars, bikes, helicopters and Kareena Kapoor but Saif Ali Khan says his upcoming spy thriller 'Agent Vinod' is no James Bond.

Saif, who is filming the climax of the movie in Delhi, says his character is very desi and battles a problem which is central to India and Asian subcontinent. His Agent Vinod, directed by Sriram Raghavan, is out to solve a nuclear problem, an issue which is in news following the situation in Japan.

"Raghavan and I were trying to find a proper story for this film and we picked up the nuclear issue. It is quite relevant today but at the same time a very engaging adventure. We also searched about the repercussions of a nuclear crisis. A film like Agent Vinod needs a problem like that," Saif told PTI.

The 40-year-old actor, however, is quick to brush aside comparison to 007 movies. "Agent Vinod is no James Bond. 007 is very British and there was a psychology behind the character. He was the representative of capitalism against communist Russia but it is no longer relevant where as Agent Vinod is a special forces kind of guy and very Indian."

It is the second home production for Saif after 'Love Aaj Kal' and he has gone all-out to make it big. "We have not made a film like this in a while and I wanted to do it properly. The genre has been popular in the past but these kind of films were a bit tacky. The look of the film had to be right so we have worked really hard on the pre-production."

It is Saif's third pairing with real-life girlfriend Kareena after the not-so-good response to 'Tashan' and 'Kurbaan' but the actor is confident that it will work. Saif feels that the intense focus on their personal life shifts the focus from the movie, which at times is not good.

"It is important to have a tight script and a good role. Kareena is perfect for this role. I can't imagine anyone else. I think we both will be great in this movie. Chemistry is in script, directors create it in right moments. Luckily, Agent Vinod has those moments but people will forget Saif and Kareena once they see the film."

After 'Agent Vinod', Saif is reuniting with 'Being Cyrus' director Homi Adajania for a love story, which will see him opposite Deepika Padukone, his co-star from 'Love Aaj Kal'. "It is a love story and very real. Deepika is there and Imtiaz has written the script and has given us some great dialogues. It is a good mix," says Saif.

Turning producer has been "good fun" for the actor and he is happy to have control and creative freedom but right now Saif is busy doing housekeeping there. "It is great being actor. There are other people to do things but as a producer you need to take care of little things. Right now I am doing a bit of housekeeping. I want my crew to feel at home so I am trying to make things more comfortable for them," he adds.

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/148398/nuclear-problem-heart-agent-vinod.html

'I am waiting to play a rockstar'
March 24, 2011 3:27:50 PM

Team Viva

Saif Ali Khan says he loves variety and after completing his spy thriller, Agent Vinod, will look forward to more diverse roles

No matter how much he pretended to look relaxed, the tension of being a first-time producer and fatigue of back-to-back shooting schedules was clearly evident on his face. "But work is work and has to be followed like religion. Since this last bit of shooting was in one of my favourite cities, it was a relief of sorts," said Saif Ali Khan, wiping the sweat from his forehead and flashing a big smile. The actor was in the Capital to shoot the climax of his first film as a producer, Agent Vinod. Apparently, his lady love, Kareena Kapoor, who has an important role in the film had accompanied the Chhote Nawab for the shoot, was kept away from media attention.

Saif, who plays a RAW officer in the film directed by Sriram Raghavan, said though he would not claim this film to be the best spy thriller ever made, he promises it surely would be different. "Spy thrillers have always been around and Indian audiences have loved them as they are loaded with lots of action, the ones starring Mithunda and later, Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. But with changing times, scripts and technical aspects are being altered. Sriram has done a wonderful job and as an actor, I have tried my best to do justice to this very different role," said Saif.

On why he chose Delhi to shoot the film's climax scene, he said, "The Capital has this special political environment that suits the character of the movie. We did a recce and found it to be just perfect for some parts of the film. The fact that every location here has a different character and a personality to it, amazes me." Though the actor has shot several films here, Love Aaj Kal and Race remain his favourites.

Meanwhile, Agent Vinod has had its share of rumours and turbulent times and eventually the release getting delayed. "But I think everything was well managed. We are pretty much on track now. I think tough times are always better, especially when they are happening for the first time. This is how you learn to handle situations," he said, adding the shooting schedule for his next film, Aarakshan, was the major reason he couldn't devote much time for his debut production film. "I have too many things on my plate right now. Apart from Aarakshan, I'm doing a love triangle with Homi Adjania with the script written by Imtiaz Ali. So, at times, it becomes difficult to manage but that's where the fun lies. After all, variety is the spice of life," he explained.

One role Saif is looking forward to doing is that of a rockstar. "I love playing the guitar and would love to experiment with that rockstar look and where I can let my fans know how good a guitarist I am," he said with a big smile. Besides being a rockstar, it seems being a biker too is on the cards. The actor met renowned stunt biker Chris Pfeiffer, presently on India tour to gain some vital biking tips. "I enjoy doing action scenes and we have shot a few for Agent Vinod but not of the kind Chris does. I'll see if we can work together on any of my future project. I'm a biker too but I love to explore places on my bike and have never tried out stunts," he concluded.