Ki & Ka hits theatres on Friday. SpotboyE caught up with the Captain of the Ship- ad filmmaker and director R Balki. Excerpts from the conversation that followed:
Your last film Shamitabh didn’t live up to expectations...
One does get upset about films that you like but people don’t. Because, you always expect people to like what you like. So, it wasn't an easy time for me when Shamitabh flopped. Amitji and Jayaji used to call me up and say: What are you doing, Balki? Start writing a film. Shuru karo.
They were cheering you up…
They never wanted to cheer me up; they didn’t have any reason to cheer me up--- except for the fact that they knew I didn’t have any reason to feel bad. Because as far as they were concerned, they were really proud of Shamitabh. Yes, many people didn’t like Shamitabh--- but it’s okay.
Did the casting go wrong in Shamitabh? If it had been Shah Rukh Khan instead of Dhanush…
I learnt two things. One, people didn’t want Amitji’s voice on anyone lesser than him.
And the second thing?
The film left you with a hopeless kind of feeling. Everyone dies and you wonder what's the point of the film. All said and done, I made Shamitabh with full consciousness and I am responsible for every inch of it. I was not disappointed but hurt. How could the audience not like what I like? Don't get me wrong. It’s not my ego talking, it’s an implicit understanding that I have with the audience.
Which makes you feel that you’ll always be successful?
There comes a time when one does take things for granted. But it's okay. We all learn as we go along.
Over to Ki & Ka...
I was going ahead with a fun film, but dropped it. Then I thought of a love saga, but soon changed my mind. Finally I thought of a story where the two protagonists would essay opposite roles. It got me really excited.
How did you get the idea of reversal of roles? Is there such a couple whom you know in real life?
If I have already lived a character, why would I make a film on it? You do films only which you haven’t lived. You wish romance was like this, you wish life was like this, you wish fatherhood was like this, you wish illegitimacy was like this, you wish sorrow was like this… you always wish for things you don’t see fully in life.
How did you zero down on Arjun and Kareena to play a 'housewife' and 'man' respectively?
I wanted someone like Arjun who is masculine and huge but yet sensitive. I asked him if he cooks/sweeps and he said: No. I asked him if he would learn to do all that and he said: I am ready to do anything for this film. As for Kareena, isn't she still feminine even when she gets into her ambitious and aggressive avatar? I think that I have answered your question.
How did you execute the kissing scenes between Arjun and Kareena? Kareena had a No-Kissing policy...
Too much is being made of Arjun and Kareena's hot scenes. They play husband and wife, and isn't a married couple supposed to get intimate? Isn't everybody kissing in films at the drop of a hat, today? I know many men and women stop being intimate after 20 years of marriage. But there are many others who sit on the opposite side of the fence as well.
Did you need many retakes in the kissing scenes?
No. Arjun and Kareena always pulled it off in one take.
There's a lot more hot stuff than just kisses...
They are actors; it’s not like Arjun was touching another woman’s neck or chest in real life. If you are comfortable with a woman, it’s not a cheap thing to do. You actually start liking the person who has taken that liberty with you.
What's next? A film with Shah Rukh Khan? He refused Shamitabh but is doing your wife's (Gauri Shinde) film now...
I would love to have Shah Rukh in my next endeavour if I have an idea for him.
Image Source: youtube/eros
Your last film Shamitabh didn’t live up to expectations...
One does get upset about films that you like but people don’t. Because, you always expect people to like what you like. So, it wasn't an easy time for me when Shamitabh flopped. Amitji and Jayaji used to call me up and say: What are you doing, Balki? Start writing a film. Shuru karo.
They were cheering you up…
They never wanted to cheer me up; they didn’t have any reason to cheer me up--- except for the fact that they knew I didn’t have any reason to feel bad. Because as far as they were concerned, they were really proud of Shamitabh. Yes, many people didn’t like Shamitabh--- but it’s okay.
Did the casting go wrong in Shamitabh? If it had been Shah Rukh Khan instead of Dhanush…
I learnt two things. One, people didn’t want Amitji’s voice on anyone lesser than him.
And the second thing?
The film left you with a hopeless kind of feeling. Everyone dies and you wonder what's the point of the film. All said and done, I made Shamitabh with full consciousness and I am responsible for every inch of it. I was not disappointed but hurt. How could the audience not like what I like? Don't get me wrong. It’s not my ego talking, it’s an implicit understanding that I have with the audience.
Which makes you feel that you’ll always be successful?
There comes a time when one does take things for granted. But it's okay. We all learn as we go along.
Over to Ki & Ka...
I was going ahead with a fun film, but dropped it. Then I thought of a love saga, but soon changed my mind. Finally I thought of a story where the two protagonists would essay opposite roles. It got me really excited.
How did you get the idea of reversal of roles? Is there such a couple whom you know in real life?
If I have already lived a character, why would I make a film on it? You do films only which you haven’t lived. You wish romance was like this, you wish life was like this, you wish fatherhood was like this, you wish illegitimacy was like this, you wish sorrow was like this… you always wish for things you don’t see fully in life.
How did you zero down on Arjun and Kareena to play a 'housewife' and 'man' respectively?
I wanted someone like Arjun who is masculine and huge but yet sensitive. I asked him if he cooks/sweeps and he said: No. I asked him if he would learn to do all that and he said: I am ready to do anything for this film. As for Kareena, isn't she still feminine even when she gets into her ambitious and aggressive avatar? I think that I have answered your question.
How did you execute the kissing scenes between Arjun and Kareena? Kareena had a No-Kissing policy...
Too much is being made of Arjun and Kareena's hot scenes. They play husband and wife, and isn't a married couple supposed to get intimate? Isn't everybody kissing in films at the drop of a hat, today? I know many men and women stop being intimate after 20 years of marriage. But there are many others who sit on the opposite side of the fence as well.
Did you need many retakes in the kissing scenes?
No. Arjun and Kareena always pulled it off in one take.
There's a lot more hot stuff than just kisses...
They are actors; it’s not like Arjun was touching another woman’s neck or chest in real life. If you are comfortable with a woman, it’s not a cheap thing to do. You actually start liking the person who has taken that liberty with you.
What's next? A film with Shah Rukh Khan? He refused Shamitabh but is doing your wife's (Gauri Shinde) film now...
I would love to have Shah Rukh in my next endeavour if I have an idea for him.
Image Source: youtube/eros