Bill's eye
Clint Eastwood's blue-eyed boy Bill Bannerman, in a candid conversation, reveals the real reason for choosing Mallika Sherawat for his first film
Ashwini deshmukh
Mallika Sherawat flanked by producer Bill Bannerman (L) and director John Lind to announce their film Unveiled
Clint Eastwood's right-hand man, Bill Bannerman, has finally found his leading lady for his first film, Unveiled, after considering several actresses around the globe. Mallika Sherawat has beaten Aishwarya Rai and Shilpa Shetty in the race to grab the role of the Middle Eastern protagonist of his film. Though jet-lagged, Bill spoke elaborately on his association with Clint Eastwood, Bollywood and of course, its legends, Big B and SRK.
The question that has everyone curious is what really sealed the deal for Mallika? Bill says, "It's important that the actress should be cut out for the role. And I didn't want someone who already has a strong image that everybody identifies with. Mallika has those credentials. Once she's on screen, you won't be thinking about a movie she did three years earlier."
So why not pick Shilpa Shetty, who has been hogging the news recently for winning Big Brother? He says, "I haven't seen too much of her work."
Well, we haven't seen much either. He continues, "I try and watch as many French, Italian, Japanese and Bollywood films as I can. I know Ash quite well, because she was huge in Bride and Prejudice. I know Lisa Ray. There are some actors who stand out with their charisma and charisma is what makes you remember who they are."
Of course, when talk turns to the Oscar-nominated Water, he says, "Filmmakers like Deepa Mehta have been a conduit to other international filmmakers. But it's sad that she had to go to some other country to finish her work, yet the signature is still there. She still belongs here and this is her heritage, her spirit belongs here," he says.
So has he heard of Amitabh Bachchan, who is now a veritable global icon? "No. I haven't heard of him."
Though he is fully aware of King Khan and his popularity. "Oh yes, he's bigger than Tom Cruise! Because he has the power to strike a chord with the audience in the country they live in. He has a built-in audience like Jean Renoir and Gerard Depardieu do in France, Clive Oven in Britain and Hugh Jackman in Australia. He's got a pedigree that's extremely respectable. I'd love to work with him someday," admits Bill.
Bill finally talks about his association with mentor Clint Eastwood, who he has worked with very closely over sixteen years, "He taught me how to make films the right way. He's very simple in his approach to filmmaking, he knows what his priorities are. It's fun making movies with him. He never gets bogged down by the process. Interestingly, Clint Eastwood drives down himself in his pick-up truck to check out locations. He's very simple the way he is involved in his day-to-day duties as a director. He does what he does."
What would best describe his relationship with Clint? "Professionalism," he promptly says. "From the moment our day starts, he focuses only on his film. I don't know how film schedules in Bollywood work, but his normal day amounts to only ten hours. He creates a great environment and it shows. Most Hollywood films shoot for sixteen, maybe seventeen, hours a day. People get tired and sometimes people have to reshoot their scenes, but with him it doesn't work that way."
Mr And Mrs Parshuram
2