My next won't star Salman: Sohail Khan

When we met Sohail Khan at his Pali Hill home, he was preparing to make the school-run with son Nirvaan. Given the last minute hiccups that come with a film's release, the Salman Khan starrer 'Jai Ho' in this case, we expected the filmmaker to be nervous. But Sohail was chilled out and a candid conversation followed. Excerpts:

You were working on 'Sher Khan' and suddenly switched tracks to 'Jai Ho', the Hindi remake of Chiranjeevi's 2006 Telugu hit 'Stalin'. Why?

When we started talking with the studios, we realised that 'Sher Khan' would need more prep before it rolled-- six to eight months on the storyboard, then a recee and so on. Meanwhile, I'd seen ' Stalin' and though at the time I was happier producing films for directors like David Dhawan ('Partner' and 'Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya'), I wanted to direct this film in Hindi. It had a social message while being paisa vasool entertainment. After a long time there was the urge to direct again. I got Salman bhai to see the film, he asked me how I'd approach it. In a couple of weeks, I got back to him with my ideas and we were on.

READ: Not in the rat race of breaking box-office records: Salman Khan

And is 'Sher Khan' off?
Initially we'd planned for one team to work on 'Sher Khan' simultaneously, but soon ' Jai Ho' got so big that we had to pull in everyone. The script's ready but technology gets upgraded everyday and equipment becomes redundant within six months. Salman bhai's dates are with Sajid Nadiadwala, Sooraj (Barjatya) and he also has the 'No Entry' sequel. We won't get him before 2015-2016. We'll need a year's prep and will get started on 'Sher Khan' when we get his dates.

Reportedly Salman watched 'Life of Pi' and the VFX tiger inspired him to work on the technology for 'Sher Khan'?
I saw 'Life of Pi', not him, and realised we needed to give 'Sher Khan' more time. 'Life of Pi' came three years ago, by the time we start on 'Sher Khan' technology will be more advanced. Meanwhile, I can get started on another film, something that has been with me for a while. It's a breezy rom-com with a Hindu-Muslim twist titled 'My Punjabi Nikaah'. After 'Jai Ho' releases, I'll revise the script and we can roll.


READ: Will Salman Khan, Daisy Shah create magic in 'Jai Ho'?



Will it star Salman?
Bhai has no dates till 2016, but any of the younger actors would fit the role.

You could opt for newcomers, like you did for 'Jai Ho'? Apparently Sana Khan and Daisy Shah were strongly recommended by Salman
Sana was on my wish list after I saw her on 'Bigg Boss', just like Salman bhai and Danny saab (Denzongpa) were. I could have taken any established heroine like Priyanka (Chopra) Deepika (Padukone) or Kareena (Kapoor), but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do justice to their presence. Sana and Daisy fit in perfectly. The film needed new faces.

Do you have the title 'Jai Ho'? Isn't it trademarked with AR Rahman?
The title was suggested by my dad (Salim Khan) after he saw the film. I approached IMPPA and AMPTTP expecting it to be registered with someone else. I was fifth on the list, after Samir Karnik, Madhu Mantena, Nikhil Advani, Madhur Bhandarkar and Ken Ghosh. I got release letters from them after which we put out a public notice. Since there were no objections, the title came to me. After the first ad was out, I got a call from Rahman saab's legal counsel, Dina Dattani, informing me the title was with him. Had I known, I'd have approached him too. I was told they had no objections but I'd have to sign a document stating they'd given the title away. I was game but since then I haven't heard from the lady. AMPTTP and IMPAA asked me if they should approach him on my behalf since he hadn't registered the title with them. I'm willing to negotiate with Rahman saab, I hold him in high regard, but there hasn't been any communication since.

Wasn't the film called 'Mental' earlier?
(Laughs) That was just a working title because we were all going mental. We were waiting to see 80 per cent of the film before a song or dialogue triggered off a suitable title.


Seems we will see you as an actor in 'Hello 2' next?
Hello 2? No, I wasn't happy with the acting offers I was getting, so I decided to take a break. I'm open to good roles but at my age, I don't have to be a part of the rat race.

How's 'Sholay 3D'?
I haven't seen it yet but classics should be restored and remade so the younger generation can connect with them. I'd love to make another 'Naam', the issues are still so contemporary. Also, Salman bhai's 'Judwaa', with one of the younger boys.