Post by Amz on Jul 19, 2006 22:50:06 GMT
'Amitabh has rocked and rolled in KANK'
By: Sarita Tanwar
July 19, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan
It’s the most awaited film of the year. Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is slated to hit the theatres in less than a month.
Here’s a sneak peek at the some stills from the Rock ’n Roll Soniye song that features Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Preity Zinta.
Here, Karan talks about the making of the film, his favourite actor Shah Rukh Khan and why he will never make a film with newcomers. Read on...
Why did you shoot this song last?
I wanted to shoot this song a while back, but Amit uncle was hospitalised and so I changed the schedule. I didn’t want to shoot without him so we kept it for the end. I’m glad I did because it has worked out very well. He has really rocked and rolled in the song!
Tell us about the set.
This was entirely Sharmistha’s (Roy) vision. In every film we have this huge song which we shoot in a big ballroom. She wanted to give it an opera ballroom sort of feel this time. She wanted to make it very different in content and texture. It looks amazing.
Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan in KANK
Your favourite song of the film?
Right now it’s Mitwa. I also love the title track. I am very vain. I think my film’s music is great. I love it and I listen to it all the time.
What’s easier to shoot, songs or scenes?
Songs are easier to shoot because I don’t do anything; I just stand there and pretend to control whatever is going on. Farah does all the work. Recently, we had some foreigners on the set and they asked someone who the director was. When they pointed to me, they said, ‘But he’s not saying anything, he’s just standing there!’
What kind of boss are you on the sets?
You can ask my assistants — I am very amicable, relaxed and chilled out. I just use my sarcastic, bitchy one-liners. Like if someone is late, I just say, “Lot of traffic, today?” My assistants keep telling me that I should scream and shout. They say my sarcasm does more damage.
One actor you find the easiest to direct?
Shah Rukh Khan. We understand each other so well. He knows that I want even before I tell him... more emotions, or whatever. Maybe that’s because I’ve worked with him from the time I was an assistant director. That’s 12 years of working together, so we understand each other perfectly.
Will you ever make a film without SRK?
I hope not. I hope he’s always in my films, that I always find a way of having him in all my films.
Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in KANK
A moment during KANK when you missed your dad the most?
Actually, there wasn’t a single moment where I didn’t miss him. Because as clichéd as it may sound, it always felt like he was there. My dad was a problem solver, and whatever problems I faced during the film somehow sorted themselves out. And I think that was his doing.
Even people around us kept talking about him. Like if I overspent on an outfit, Manish (Malhotra) would say, ‘Tom uncle would’ve killed you for this.’ We talked about him all the time. We all felt he was there.
Have you kept a safe ending for KANK?
Define safe. KANK’s no murder mystery. It is an emotional film about relationships and I would tell people to watch it and discover it for themselves.
Is KANK a combination of Silsila, Kabhi Kabhie and the English film Closer?
If people think KANK is a combination of these films, then it must be a very confused film! And I can tell you for sure that my film is not confused!
Did you agree with the ending of Silsila?
I loved Silsila; it is one of my favourite films. When I watched it as a child, I was too much of a fan to be objective about it. But I cannot say whether I agree or disagree with the ending of the film. I can say it is a good film or a bad film. I cannot say how I would do it differently because a film is a writer’s and director’s vision. How can I say that their vision is not right, if it doesn’t match with mine? We are all different people and view things differently. So I never analyse films.
Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji
Will KANK make us laugh or cry?
I hope you laugh and cry and then laugh a lot. But seriously, KANK is life a piece of life. I hope it moves you; I hope it touches you because it did that to me when I was writing and then filming it.
Why do you always make films with big stars?
I love big stars. I love having them in my films, dressing them and making them look great on screen. I love all newcomers too and I hope to work with all of them when they become big stars!
Ram Gopal Verma has been making personal attacks on you in film after film. How do you take that?
Initially, I was quite amused when I was part of every Ramu venture. I just want to tell Ramu to leave me alone. Even I don’t think so much about myself, and I think I am pretty self-obsessed! I loved Ramu’s films like Sarkar, Company and Satya and I messaged him and told him that.
Has your friendship with Aditya Chopra been affected because of SRK’s ongoing feud with the Chopras?
Not at all. These fights are all imaginary. These are the most powerful people in the industry. You think they have time to fight? Someday people should come and watch all of us sitting together and having a good time, and they’ll know the truth.
Himesh Reshmiyya has said somewhere that he’s reserved his best tunes for makers like you. Comment.
I think Himesh has brought about a music revolution. Music sales have begun to soar because of him. It not easy for one man to change the face of the music industry. It’s so easy to poke fun at him and make digs at him, but you cannot escape the man. He’s everywhere.
He’s going on a world tour. His music is being played at every party, wedding and function. Even I find myself humming his tunes at times. If he says he’s reserved his best tunes for me, I am flattered.
Does criticism affect you? How do you feel when your films are trashed by critics?
Very much. Anyone who says critics don’t affect him is lying. I love to read good things written about my films and me. I hate bad reviews. And yes, it’s easy to think that a critic is biased. Like when we don’t get an award we say that the awards are biased. Every creative person out there is there for approval and wants a pat on his back, and it bothers you when you don’t get it.
ww3.mid-day.com/hitlist/2006/july/140804.htm
By: Sarita Tanwar
July 19, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan
It’s the most awaited film of the year. Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is slated to hit the theatres in less than a month.
Here’s a sneak peek at the some stills from the Rock ’n Roll Soniye song that features Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Preity Zinta.
Here, Karan talks about the making of the film, his favourite actor Shah Rukh Khan and why he will never make a film with newcomers. Read on...
Why did you shoot this song last?
I wanted to shoot this song a while back, but Amit uncle was hospitalised and so I changed the schedule. I didn’t want to shoot without him so we kept it for the end. I’m glad I did because it has worked out very well. He has really rocked and rolled in the song!
Tell us about the set.
This was entirely Sharmistha’s (Roy) vision. In every film we have this huge song which we shoot in a big ballroom. She wanted to give it an opera ballroom sort of feel this time. She wanted to make it very different in content and texture. It looks amazing.
Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan in KANK
Your favourite song of the film?
Right now it’s Mitwa. I also love the title track. I am very vain. I think my film’s music is great. I love it and I listen to it all the time.
What’s easier to shoot, songs or scenes?
Songs are easier to shoot because I don’t do anything; I just stand there and pretend to control whatever is going on. Farah does all the work. Recently, we had some foreigners on the set and they asked someone who the director was. When they pointed to me, they said, ‘But he’s not saying anything, he’s just standing there!’
What kind of boss are you on the sets?
You can ask my assistants — I am very amicable, relaxed and chilled out. I just use my sarcastic, bitchy one-liners. Like if someone is late, I just say, “Lot of traffic, today?” My assistants keep telling me that I should scream and shout. They say my sarcasm does more damage.
One actor you find the easiest to direct?
Shah Rukh Khan. We understand each other so well. He knows that I want even before I tell him... more emotions, or whatever. Maybe that’s because I’ve worked with him from the time I was an assistant director. That’s 12 years of working together, so we understand each other perfectly.
Will you ever make a film without SRK?
I hope not. I hope he’s always in my films, that I always find a way of having him in all my films.
Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in KANK
A moment during KANK when you missed your dad the most?
Actually, there wasn’t a single moment where I didn’t miss him. Because as clichéd as it may sound, it always felt like he was there. My dad was a problem solver, and whatever problems I faced during the film somehow sorted themselves out. And I think that was his doing.
Even people around us kept talking about him. Like if I overspent on an outfit, Manish (Malhotra) would say, ‘Tom uncle would’ve killed you for this.’ We talked about him all the time. We all felt he was there.
Have you kept a safe ending for KANK?
Define safe. KANK’s no murder mystery. It is an emotional film about relationships and I would tell people to watch it and discover it for themselves.
Is KANK a combination of Silsila, Kabhi Kabhie and the English film Closer?
If people think KANK is a combination of these films, then it must be a very confused film! And I can tell you for sure that my film is not confused!
Did you agree with the ending of Silsila?
I loved Silsila; it is one of my favourite films. When I watched it as a child, I was too much of a fan to be objective about it. But I cannot say whether I agree or disagree with the ending of the film. I can say it is a good film or a bad film. I cannot say how I would do it differently because a film is a writer’s and director’s vision. How can I say that their vision is not right, if it doesn’t match with mine? We are all different people and view things differently. So I never analyse films.
Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji
Will KANK make us laugh or cry?
I hope you laugh and cry and then laugh a lot. But seriously, KANK is life a piece of life. I hope it moves you; I hope it touches you because it did that to me when I was writing and then filming it.
Why do you always make films with big stars?
I love big stars. I love having them in my films, dressing them and making them look great on screen. I love all newcomers too and I hope to work with all of them when they become big stars!
Ram Gopal Verma has been making personal attacks on you in film after film. How do you take that?
Initially, I was quite amused when I was part of every Ramu venture. I just want to tell Ramu to leave me alone. Even I don’t think so much about myself, and I think I am pretty self-obsessed! I loved Ramu’s films like Sarkar, Company and Satya and I messaged him and told him that.
Has your friendship with Aditya Chopra been affected because of SRK’s ongoing feud with the Chopras?
Not at all. These fights are all imaginary. These are the most powerful people in the industry. You think they have time to fight? Someday people should come and watch all of us sitting together and having a good time, and they’ll know the truth.
Himesh Reshmiyya has said somewhere that he’s reserved his best tunes for makers like you. Comment.
I think Himesh has brought about a music revolution. Music sales have begun to soar because of him. It not easy for one man to change the face of the music industry. It’s so easy to poke fun at him and make digs at him, but you cannot escape the man. He’s everywhere.
He’s going on a world tour. His music is being played at every party, wedding and function. Even I find myself humming his tunes at times. If he says he’s reserved his best tunes for me, I am flattered.
Does criticism affect you? How do you feel when your films are trashed by critics?
Very much. Anyone who says critics don’t affect him is lying. I love to read good things written about my films and me. I hate bad reviews. And yes, it’s easy to think that a critic is biased. Like when we don’t get an award we say that the awards are biased. Every creative person out there is there for approval and wants a pat on his back, and it bothers you when you don’t get it.
ww3.mid-day.com/hitlist/2006/july/140804.htm
