EXCLUSIVE- 30 Years Of Krantiveer: Here's How Nana Patekar's Iconic Character In Mehul Kumar Directorial Was Based On A Real-Life Friend - DEETS INSIDE
Veteran filmmaker Mehul Kumar opens up about 30 years of his blockbuster Krantiveer, and his new project with Nana Patekar
_2024-7-24-10-8-19_thumbnail.jpg)
Congratulations on completing 30 years of one of your biggest films and one of the biggest films of Indian cinema. Yes, yes. Thank you. It doesn’t seem like that long. When we were making Krantiveer we were not thinking of how far it would go. Thirty years later, it is being talked about. Who were the main lead actors? Were they your first choices? Yes, yes. At that time, the directors used to select the actors themselves. There were no casting directors at that time. We just went by instinct.We know Nana was fit for the role.So we had to cast him.
Nana’s character Pratap was based on a friend? That’s right. I had a friend during my college days who just spoke and spoke about the ills in the country, like Krantiveer's character.The number of such people social grumblers was more that time. So I told him you say so much, why don’t you do something.He said, ‘I have not taken a vow to make this country better.I say what I like. He said, if you like it then do something.’ So that character was in my mind that a good story could be written on it. Then after Babri Masjid episode , riots broke out.After that I thought that a film on the subject of Hindu-Muslim relations can be made.
It must have seemed risky at that time! I thought perhaps the public would not able to digest it. So I thought that this point should be included in the story and a story should be made in such a way that whatever we want to say should be said in the climax or by writing some powerful scenes. Then I wrote the story. You might be one of the last remaining directors to have worked with the eccentric Raj Kumar?
Nobody has done three films with Raj Kumar.Even with Nana I did three films . So in that case I consider myself lucky. They were both a pleasure to direct. Raj Kumar was a very educated, very composed person. If you narrate the story to Raj Kumar properly and then give him the script in Urdu, he was very welcoming. Rajkumar knew Urdu. However, he was highly educated in English also.
Back then actors were fluent in Urdu. Now they can’t even speak Hindi fluently?
Yes, I know. At that time Urdu was given a lot of respect. Dharam ji has given me four films. Dharam ji also had to be given scripts in Urdu.Since this corporate culture has come into our cinema , it has made our industry a business. Creativity has ended. Earlier it was the value of the author.Because of this our culture has been marginalized. Our festivals have been sidelined.We don’t see Holi, Diwali or Eid on screen. And where do the parents live? Parents don't live in our cinema any more. They are missing.
So, coming back to Krantiveer. So, you had worked with Nana before. And actually, Rajkummar and Nana Patekar were two of the toughest stars in the film industry.So, you have worked with some of the toughest stars. And you had no difficulties?
No, never.Raj Sir and Nana have the same nature. If you narrate the story properly, discuss the costumes, then I used to give them the outdoor-indoor chart. So I never had any problem.I won't reveal the name of the film, but a very famous producer came to me and said, may God give you the strength to deal with these two actors. How did you bring those two together in Tirangaa? Were they compatible?
Yes, there was no problem. Since I did that song Pee le pee le more raja with Raj Kumar and Nana Patekar, all went smoothly. Your track record is amazing, one of the most successful directors of the 1990s
I just did my work.The rest is God's grace, people liked everything.And I got to work with some of the biggest bravest actors. Do you know that the climactic speech in Krantiveer which played a big hand in its success was performed by Nana when he was in the hospital with a heart condition. I thought I would have to cancel the climactic speech. But look at that sherdil! Defying all medical advice he came to the set on an ambulance with doctors, delivered the fiery monologue, and returned to the hospital. Where do we get actors like these any more? I am planning another film with Nana.
We haven’t seen you direct in quite a while?
Jaago was my last film, that too on child rape. Hansika Motwani was cast as the heroine, when she was a child artist. What is happening nowadays, stories have no meaning anymore. Now the story wis sent via email, the email is sent to actors’ business managers.What is the situation today, they don't have time to listen. They don't have time, they don't even listen. I mean now whenever I meet an old artist, he says that, Mehul ji, if you come on the set, then no one talks in Hindi on the set, only English. And the film is being made in Hindi, and the scenes are spoken in Roman.Earlier, the director used to sit next to the actors, explain the scene and talk to them. I just met Nana. His recent film are not presenting him in the right way. There is a story, I have told it to Nana. Yes, we are getting back together.
Image Source: Twitter
- Trending
__2024-11-6-9-1-9_small.jpg)
__2024-11-6-11-19-31_small.jpg)
_2024-11-7-12-17-33_small.jpg)