He proved his mettle as a director in his maiden venture A Wednesday, which despite a low-profile cast, was not only accepted by everyone but also did amazing business at the ticket counter. The talented Neeraj Pandey is back with his second film, Special 26, one of the hottest projects of 2013. Here's the man in a tte--tte with Sagorika Dasgupta
From a story about the common man (A Wednesday), you're making Special 26, a film about a con man.
Yes, but this film is not really about a con man; it is more about a confident man. It is about a person who can get things done simply because he is confident that he can. He can tell a lie with lan, he is a smooth operator and that's the basis of the plot. The film is based on a real life incident that took place in 1987.
You mean, the entire film is based on that one incident?
No, this man travels to various cities one, after the other, from Delhi to Mumbai to Kolkata to Chennai. It focuses on the events that take place during the course of his journey. This, of course, is strung together with a series of two or three other real-life incidents, which together make up the story.
There is talk that despite being based on a real-life incident, the treatment of the film is like Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can.
(Laughs) What do you expect me to say to that? I can't help it if people are making such assumptions. Why don't they watch the film and then tell me if it is!
This is your second release and it comes four years after your first.
Yes, I know but I didn't plan it this way. I had sent the script to Akshay's (Kumar) office and they said he did not like it!
He didn't like it?
That's what I was told. And so I got busy with my Marathi film production. That took up a lot of time, more than I had expected. And then, one day, things started rolling forSpecial 26.
How did that happen?
Vikram Malhotra of Viacom 18 Motion Pictures is a good friend and I met him one day. He asked me about the film and I conveyed the feedback I had got from Akshay's office. Vikram is also a good friend of Akshay and he asked him about the script. Akshay said he hadn't heard of such a script! So there was actually this big miscommunication, which had led to the delay.
But A Wednesday was both critically acclaimed as well as commercially successful. There must have been producers queuing up with offers. Why didn't you move on to another Hindi film?
Yes, there were a lot of people who wanted to make a film with me. But I don't function like that. With me, things take time. I was in no hurry to roll out another film simply because I don't believe in piggy-backing on my laurels. I make a film only when I have the right story and script. At that time I was neither overtly excited nor was I depressed. I was very calm. That's just how I am.
Akshay Kumar usually has good runs with masala roles like in Rowdy Rathore and Housefull. Why did you cast him?
His so-called image was the key reason I thought he would be the apt person to portray this role, which is in complete contrast to his image. It is very interesting
But wasn't that risky?
It's the other way around. I feel, Akshay took a bigger chance with me. (Laughs)
The core cast is male. Where does Kajal Aggarwal's character fit in?
She is playing Akshay's neighbour in the film and also his love interest. So don't think she has a two-bit role. It's quite an important role.
Your previous film didn't have a star, and this one banks on Akshay Kumar. Was it to neutralise the risk at the box office?
I believe everything comes at a price. Every film has its own budget and economics. A Wednesday was a smaller film, budget-wise. So I knew the impact that the right cast would have had on its box-office collections. This is a bigger film, where I had the freedom to cast a big star. But that doesn't ensure it will be a hit. I cast my actors according to the requirements.
You have cast Anupam Kher and Jimmy Sheirgill again. When will we see you working with Naseeruddin Shah?
As I said, I cast according to the requirements of my films. This one doesn't have Naseer bhai in it. But as and when there is a role I know only he can do justice to, I would love to work with him.
You have also produced films. What is it like to don two hats – as a director and a producer?
I became a producer by default. I had co-produced A Wednesday too. And that was purely because no one was prepared to fund us. So we put in the initial funding and then Anjum (Rizvi) joined us and we later produced it along with UTV. But I am lucky to have a friend like Shital Bhatia. He takes care of my business so that I can focus on direction.
Apart from Special 26, what else is keeping you busy?
I have a script ready but I have not decided on anything. My entire focus is on Special 26 now.
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