Nishikant Kamat: I Am NOT Fascinated By Salman And Shah Rukh
Here's the latest update from the world of Bollywood. We bet you wouldn't want to miss this. Read on for details... Drishyam director opens up about his future plans and more
On a high after the success of Drishyam, Nishikant Kamat is busy wrapping up his next releases, Rocky Handsome and Madari. We caught up with him in his Versova office. Excerpts from the conversation that followed:
How satisfied are you with Drishyam's box-office collection?
I am more than happy. The film got critical acclaim as well. But I am not into number games.
What happens when the numbers don't come?
That happened only once, with Mumbai Meri Jaan. The movie barely recovered its investment, but on the other hand, it won me four international Best Director awards. The situation was somehow salvaged by UTV (producer) by selling the satellite rights at a reasonable price.
Image source: https://instagram.com/tabutiful
Did Tabu agree to do Drishyam easily?
Tabu was my only choice and I was worried about her response. I went to meet her with Kumar Mangat, the producer of Drishyam. When I told her about the original film in Malayalam, she said she had already seen it and would love to play the cop. So, I didn't even have to narrate the story to her. It was that simple. It was, in fact, one of the fastest castings I have done.
What are your forthcoming films?
Rocky Handsome and Madari. Rocky Handsome stars John Abraham and has high-octane action. At the risk of sounding pompous, let me say that we have shot it in the Wong Kar-wai zone. So, it's a completely different take on an action film. Madari, featuring Irrfan Khan, is a very realistic film. Irrfan plays a common man who takes on the system because something goes drastically wrong in his life.
What is Rocky Handsome about?
Rocky Handsome is, in a different way, about a man who takes on an unjust system. You have the drug mafia, underworld dons, thieves and lots more (smiles).
Would you like to turn producer at some point?
If someone else is making a film for me, I will invariably interfere in some way. I'll try and put my point of view and kill the director's vision. There is no point having two visions in a film.
Has it happened to you? Has any producer killed your vision?
No, I am very straightforward. I don't allow a single change in the script. In fact, I don't allow half of my producers to read my script. Why did they hire me, if they want to decide the script as well?
Image Source: https://instagram.com/thejohnabraham
Why aren't you directing John Abraham-starrer Force 2? You directed the first part...
I should get excited about a film. All my recent films are different from each other. For me, Force 2 will be an extension of Force, unless I come up with something out of the box. Having said that, I am sure the sequel will be fantastic, no matter who is making it (now being directed by Delhi Belly director Abhinay Deo).
Coming back to Rocky Handsome, aren't you worried that John is not praised for his acting abilities?
No, I know his strengths. Didn't he do a good job in Force and Madras Cafe? If you play to his strengths, he will be good. As filmmakers, we have to know an actor's strengths and weaknesses. We can't keep blaming actors.
So, what are Abraham's strengths?
He is a very good-looking man who has a strong screen presence. Also, he can look extremely intense if presented correctly. Moreover, he has got a very good voice. What worked in Madras Cafe was his straight face and intense voice. Above all, he has a very good body and is good at action as well. Isn't this enough for a director to make a good film with him?
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/IrrfanKhan
Your Madari star Irrfan is said to be a very moody artiste...
No, he has been a friend for the past 21 years. I directed Irrfan in 1994 for a TV series. We are just one phone call away from each other. As people too, we are very similar. We are very serious about work and don't care about anything else.
You have dabbled in acting too...
I did three-four films as a lead actor. The first one was a Marathi film titled Saatchya Aat Gharat (2003). Next was a Hindi film made by a French production house, in which I played a garage mechanic. Then came 404, in which I played a professor who deals with bipolar disorder. Now, I am in talks for a French and a Marathi film. I enjoy acting.
Any more projects after Rocky Handsome and Madari?
I will be doing a film for Vikram Malhotra. It is being written and the script will be ready in the next 15-20 days. By August/September next year, I will start Mauli, a Marathi film with Riteish Deshmukh.
Have you finalised the actors in Vikram's film?
The cast is yet to be finalised, but I might have to go to a younger actor for it. The film's protagonist is barely 25-27 years old so, I'll have to approach actors like Varun (Dhawan), Ranbir (Kapoor), Ranveer (Singh) and Arjun (Kapoor). Let's see how it goes.
You want essentially someone from that list?
From that age bracket. But the story is still being written, so it's early for me to pinpoint who I will zero down on first.
Having made films with many actors, aren't you tempted to cast Salman or Shah Rukh Khan in some film?
If the script demands, I will go to them. I respect them, they are senior actors. But I have never been fascinated by them.
How satisfied are you with Drishyam's box-office collection?
I am more than happy. The film got critical acclaim as well. But I am not into number games.
What happens when the numbers don't come?
That happened only once, with Mumbai Meri Jaan. The movie barely recovered its investment, but on the other hand, it won me four international Best Director awards. The situation was somehow salvaged by UTV (producer) by selling the satellite rights at a reasonable price.
Did Tabu agree to do Drishyam easily?
Tabu was my only choice and I was worried about her response. I went to meet her with Kumar Mangat, the producer of Drishyam. When I told her about the original film in Malayalam, she said she had already seen it and would love to play the cop. So, I didn't even have to narrate the story to her. It was that simple. It was, in fact, one of the fastest castings I have done.
What are your forthcoming films?
Rocky Handsome and Madari. Rocky Handsome stars John Abraham and has high-octane action. At the risk of sounding pompous, let me say that we have shot it in the Wong Kar-wai zone. So, it's a completely different take on an action film. Madari, featuring Irrfan Khan, is a very realistic film. Irrfan plays a common man who takes on the system because something goes drastically wrong in his life.
What is Rocky Handsome about?
Rocky Handsome is, in a different way, about a man who takes on an unjust system. You have the drug mafia, underworld dons, thieves and lots more (smiles).
Would you like to turn producer at some point?
If someone else is making a film for me, I will invariably interfere in some way. I'll try and put my point of view and kill the director's vision. There is no point having two visions in a film.
Has it happened to you? Has any producer killed your vision?
No, I am very straightforward. I don't allow a single change in the script. In fact, I don't allow half of my producers to read my script. Why did they hire me, if they want to decide the script as well?
Why aren't you directing John Abraham-starrer Force 2? You directed the first part...
I should get excited about a film. All my recent films are different from each other. For me, Force 2 will be an extension of Force, unless I come up with something out of the box. Having said that, I am sure the sequel will be fantastic, no matter who is making it (now being directed by Delhi Belly director Abhinay Deo).
Coming back to Rocky Handsome, aren't you worried that John is not praised for his acting abilities?
No, I know his strengths. Didn't he do a good job in Force and Madras Cafe? If you play to his strengths, he will be good. As filmmakers, we have to know an actor's strengths and weaknesses. We can't keep blaming actors.
So, what are Abraham's strengths?
He is a very good-looking man who has a strong screen presence. Also, he can look extremely intense if presented correctly. Moreover, he has got a very good voice. What worked in Madras Cafe was his straight face and intense voice. Above all, he has a very good body and is good at action as well. Isn't this enough for a director to make a good film with him?
Your Madari star Irrfan is said to be a very moody artiste...
No, he has been a friend for the past 21 years. I directed Irrfan in 1994 for a TV series. We are just one phone call away from each other. As people too, we are very similar. We are very serious about work and don't care about anything else.
You have dabbled in acting too...
I did three-four films as a lead actor. The first one was a Marathi film titled Saatchya Aat Gharat (2003). Next was a Hindi film made by a French production house, in which I played a garage mechanic. Then came 404, in which I played a professor who deals with bipolar disorder. Now, I am in talks for a French and a Marathi film. I enjoy acting.
Any more projects after Rocky Handsome and Madari?
I will be doing a film for Vikram Malhotra. It is being written and the script will be ready in the next 15-20 days. By August/September next year, I will start Mauli, a Marathi film with Riteish Deshmukh.
Have you finalised the actors in Vikram's film?
The cast is yet to be finalised, but I might have to go to a younger actor for it. The film's protagonist is barely 25-27 years old so, I'll have to approach actors like Varun (Dhawan), Ranbir (Kapoor), Ranveer (Singh) and Arjun (Kapoor). Let's see how it goes.
You want essentially someone from that list?
From that age bracket. But the story is still being written, so it's early for me to pinpoint who I will zero down on first.
Having made films with many actors, aren't you tempted to cast Salman or Shah Rukh Khan in some film?
If the script demands, I will go to them. I respect them, they are senior actors. But I have never been fascinated by them.
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