Irrfan will always stay in my heart.
His cinema may have been typecast as grave and arty, but Tigmanshu Dhulia also knows the formula for that one commercial hit. The filmmaker made way to our studios and spoke at length about his upcoming masala flick Bullett Raja, why he cast Sonakshi and all about it.
You donned the hat of a dialect coach for Saif in Bullett Raja. Is it true?
As a director of the film, it’s my job to do all this. Saif's Hindi is very good, but he wasn't familiar with the eastern UP dialect. I'm born and brought up in Allahabad, so I am quite well-versed with the language. When it came to acting, I didn't pin-point at his diction because the language can be fine-tuned during dubbing. During the shoot, our main focus was only his style of acting and the character portrayal.
As a director of the film, it’s my job to do all this. Saif's Hindi is very good, but he wasn't familiar with the eastern UP dialect. I'm born and brought up in Allahabad, so I am quite well-versed with the language. When it came to acting, I didn't pin-point at his diction because the language can be fine-tuned during dubbing. During the shoot, our main focus was only his style of acting and the character portrayal.
Did you face any trouble while dubbing?
In fact it was an easy process as Saif is a very sharp actor.
In fact it was an easy process as Saif is a very sharp actor.
Tell us about Saif’s character in the film.
The story of the film traverses from Lucknow to Kolkata to Mumbai. He is a gangster but is afraid to board a plane. When he goes to Mumbai, he land up in a disco which is a unique phenomena for him; and brings out his pistol. Saif’s character is very unique and entertaining. And I’m sure people will love him in the film.
The story of the film traverses from Lucknow to Kolkata to Mumbai. He is a gangster but is afraid to board a plane. When he goes to Mumbai, he land up in a disco which is a unique phenomena for him; and brings out his pistol. Saif’s character is very unique and entertaining. And I’m sure people will love him in the film.
Irrfan Khan was to essay a role in the film. Why didn't it work out?
Irrfan will always stay in my heart. He was supposed to be in the film. In fact everything was sorted from his fees to everything. But when we finalized the dates, he was already committed to an international project. And that's when Vidyut Jamval came into place. We always wanted a special actor for the role. And we thought if we couldn't get someone who could act as Irrfan, then may be take someone who could do some great action. So we modified the role a little.
Irrfan will always stay in my heart. He was supposed to be in the film. In fact everything was sorted from his fees to everything. But when we finalized the dates, he was already committed to an international project. And that's when Vidyut Jamval came into place. We always wanted a special actor for the role. And we thought if we couldn't get someone who could act as Irrfan, then may be take someone who could do some great action. So we modified the role a little.
Is it true that Vidyut has designed his own stunts in the film?
It’s not just in this film but he does so in all his films. His style of action is what he's been acquiring ever since his childhood. He is very acrobatic. On the set, he would bring in a few people with whom he would strategize his stunts and then show it to me. Then the action director and I would tweak it to suit the film and the scene.
It’s not just in this film but he does so in all his films. His style of action is what he's been acquiring ever since his childhood. He is very acrobatic. On the set, he would bring in a few people with whom he would strategize his stunts and then show it to me. Then the action director and I would tweak it to suit the film and the scene.
Why did you choose Sonakshi as the female lead?
Her character in the film is of a Bengali girl. She has these classical dreamy eyes and her complexion too matches that of a Bengali. And also I feel, between the hero and heroine, if one is very fair, the other needs to be slightly on the darker side, because if both have the same complexion they'll look like siblings. And Saif and Sonakshi are looking simply great in the film.
Her character in the film is of a Bengali girl. She has these classical dreamy eyes and her complexion too matches that of a Bengali. And also I feel, between the hero and heroine, if one is very fair, the other needs to be slightly on the darker side, because if both have the same complexion they'll look like siblings. And Saif and Sonakshi are looking simply great in the film.
Ravi Kishen will be seen in a never-before-seen avatar as a male/female character inBullett Raja. How did you convince him?
I was once in Lucknow, where Ravi was shooting for a film. There we met at a common friend's place. And after interacting with him I felt, he's the best for the character (Sumer Yadav). I explained the role to him and he agreed. After all every actor is greedy for a good role.
I was once in Lucknow, where Ravi was shooting for a film. There we met at a common friend's place. And after interacting with him I felt, he's the best for the character (Sumer Yadav). I explained the role to him and he agreed. After all every actor is greedy for a good role.
All my films are based in a specific locale. There's a lot of thought that goes into it. And this time we chose Lucknow because it’s very convenient logistically. We get cars easily, there are 5 star hotels, so everything falls in place.
So do you intend to traverse to big cities and international locales, away from all the small towns you've shot in until now?
I don't understand this term "small town". Only Mumbai is a big city in India. Otherwise Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai are comparatively smaller. And that is so because they have a peculiar culture and are sticking to it. Mumbai doesn't have any culture as such. Majority of the people here are migrants. So why do we call culturally rooted cities as "small towns". We will find more intellectuals in Lucknow as compared to Mumbai. I feel we should stop using the term "small towns".
I don't understand this term "small town". Only Mumbai is a big city in India. Otherwise Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai are comparatively smaller. And that is so because they have a peculiar culture and are sticking to it. Mumbai doesn't have any culture as such. Majority of the people here are migrants. So why do we call culturally rooted cities as "small towns". We will find more intellectuals in Lucknow as compared to Mumbai. I feel we should stop using the term "small towns".
Apparently, during the shoot there was a major road block because people wanted to see Saif.
Yes there was a road block. But the shooting did not come to a standstill. There's a place called Hazratgunj in Lucknow. It’s a major market area where we were shooting for an action sequence. The shoot was slated for two days but went on for four to five days since the crowd was difficult to manage as they all wanted to see Saif.
Yes there was a road block. But the shooting did not come to a standstill. There's a place called Hazratgunj in Lucknow. It’s a major market area where we were shooting for an action sequence. The shoot was slated for two days but went on for four to five days since the crowd was difficult to manage as they all wanted to see Saif.
Why the term Bullett for the title? Is it because Saif is riding a bullet or firing a bullet?
Actually he's doing both at the same time. Riding and firing at the same time.
Actually he's doing both at the same time. Riding and firing at the same time.
Is it true that Saif insisted on using a real guns and bullets?
It wasn’t Saif. I always try to use a real gun because it brings in authenticity. And in the areas I choose for shooting, we easily get guns. (Laughs). And a gun doesn't look good in the hands of all actors. But Saif has that etiquette to handle one since he's a royal.
It wasn’t Saif. I always try to use a real gun because it brings in authenticity. And in the areas I choose for shooting, we easily get guns. (Laughs). And a gun doesn't look good in the hands of all actors. But Saif has that etiquette to handle one since he's a royal.
When you use actual guns and bullets, what are the precautions taken?
We don’t use actual bullets. And when we aim at someone during a scene, it’s a few inches away from the object. So we make sure there’s no one standing at least 30- 40 feet from the object.
We don’t use actual bullets. And when we aim at someone during a scene, it’s a few inches away from the object. So we make sure there’s no one standing at least 30- 40 feet from the object.
Tell us about the music of the film.
Bullett Raja is a film on friendship and has been made keeping this premise in mind. Sajid-Wajid have directed the music for the film. We have been friends for a long time now.Bullett Raja was conceived many years ago and at that time I approached Sajid-Wajid. They composed a song ‘Don’t touch my body oh morey saiyyan’ then. But the film didn’t take off. And now that the film has come through, we have used the song. The best part was they could have adapted the song for any other film in the past. But they kept this one for me and hence we could use it. The album has a wide variety and my favorite is a romantic song that will be out soon.
Bullett Raja is a film on friendship and has been made keeping this premise in mind. Sajid-Wajid have directed the music for the film. We have been friends for a long time now.Bullett Raja was conceived many years ago and at that time I approached Sajid-Wajid. They composed a song ‘Don’t touch my body oh morey saiyyan’ then. But the film didn’t take off. And now that the film has come through, we have used the song. The best part was they could have adapted the song for any other film in the past. But they kept this one for me and hence we could use it. The album has a wide variety and my favorite is a romantic song that will be out soon.
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