Big B on Cheeni Kum
‘Directors from the ad world are stubborn people’
Amitabh Bachchan is back and come 25th May, cinegoers will see him in a new avatar. In sarcastic comedy Cheeni Kum, the Big B will star opposite Tabu for the first time.
Bachchan tells Narendra Singh about his film. Excerpts:
What sort of film is Cheeni Kum?
The plot of the film is in tune with the name. The name of the film is bit unique, but it’s a wonderful film. You can easily make some idea about the film from its title. It’s got a bit of laughter, a bit of anger and lots of love in it.
Amitji, in your entire career you have done so many romances and comedies. How is this film different from any others?
The way this film has been written is quite unique. Also the vision of the director towards this film is very different from other films.
Normally, whenever anyone talks about a love story, it includes a boy who is in love with a girl, the girl’s father and a second boy and they invariably form the triangle. This film has got nothing to do with these elements.
Cheeni Kum has got a father, a boy and a girl. The only thing unique being that the boy’s age is 64 years. The girl’s age is 34 years and the age of the girl’s father is 58 years.
So this automatically creates a different situation and based on this, the plot Cheeni Kum has been built.
What is your character in the film?
I am the chef of an Indian restaurant in London. I am the owner of the restaurant. I feel proud of the way I cook my food. I’m proud of the fact — and have this gut feeling — that the way food is cooked in my restaurant won’t be found anywhere else.
You are portraying a chef. Did you in any way prepare for your role?
Today, things have become very easy for actors. Balki, the director of this film is from advertising, and everything is well researched in advertising. They research everything from the way the film is to be plotted to your character… just everything.
After the research is done with they write the script, they talk to the actors and then they finally handover the script to us. The only thing we are required to do after all this is to mouth our dialogues.
Our director did 90% of the work for this film. It was he who stipulated and defined the way the set is to be erected, the characters of the film, the way we are supposed to mouth our dialogues, who will be our co-actors, what behaviour is required by us towards our co-actors, where will the shooting take place etc.
So most of the tension is eased out. The whole credit for the film goes to Balki. It was he who made our tasks easy.
That means you did not had to do much hard work for this film?
Yeah, it was Balki who did all the hard work
Balki is a known name in the advertising industry and Cheeni Kum is his first film. Advertising and films are both different medium. How did he convince you?
I don’t think films and advertising are two separate mediums. Balki is known in the advertising industry: there he’s made to sell a product in 30 seconds; here he is selling a product which is 3 hours long. I am pretty sure he will add beauty to this task of selling his 3 hour-long product.
Do you think the advertising background makes a difference for a director?
I don’t think there is any difference. Whoever comes to the cinema world from the ad world knows about cinema and the frames. They are well versed in their task of making angles and shooting a scene only because they have made ad films in the past.
Also they are in the business of making ad films where they are supposed to say everything in 30 seconds and they make it so beautifully that they actually convince the masses to buy that product.
Balki is a seasoned director and there is a comfort level working with him because he is aware of all the nuances. I don’t think there is much difference between those from the advertising background and those who don’t have that.
You have sported a different look for the film?
It’s nothing out of this world, I have only sported a ponytail.
Who came up with the ponytail for this character?
That was Balki’s idea. He himself does not have any ponytail so he made his character sport them.
How does this ponytail gel with your character?
Initially, I felt a bit awkward. But again, directors from the ad world are very stubborn people, they never listen to others nor do they pay heed to others advice. I tried once or twice to sort out the matter, but ultimately had to surrender because of their stubbornness.
Tabu so many times wanted to pluck your ponytail.
If she had done it, I too would have done the same.
How was the whole experience of working with Tabu?
To say that Tabu is a talented and good actor would be a cliche. Everyone knows that she is a beautiful and a talented actor.
The aspect of Tabu I like the most is that whatever she does in front of the camera seems as if its straight from the heart. When Tabu is in front of you, you just can’t predict what’ll happen next.
Tabu from her actions makes it evident that she is paying all her attention to her co-actor. She listens to her co-stars very carefully. And I think its something wonderful. And in my opinion those who can do it are amazing performers.
Its being said that Nishabd and Cheeni Kum share similar plot. How true or false is it?
It would be crazy to think that both the films are same. Why will I act in two films that have a similar plot? This thought is baseless. The only similarity in the two films is the age factor. After that, Nishabd and Cheeni Kum follow two different paths.
How was the experience of working with Zohra Sehgal and Paresh Rawal?
I have worked with Paresh Rawal in many films and everyone knows how talented an actor he is. It’s always fun working with him. When the person next to you in the frame is a competent actor, you get to learn a lot from him. I really feel amazed at the way he handles both films and theatre with equal ease. As an actor, I salute his talent.
I share a long relationship with Zohraji. She was associated with Prithvi Theatre and the troupe under the aegis of Prithviraj Kapoor used to tour different parts of the country. In that context, they also visited Allahabad where I lived.
After the play, sometimes they used to come to our house and there only I chanced upon to meet Zohraji. I also took her autograph. I was a kid of 7-8 years.
I am really surprised that even at her age she easily gives actors half her age a tough fight in terms of energy and enthusiasm. I really can’t fathom where she gets her energy.
While shooting, not once did she forget her dialogues, neither did we have to go for many takes. Throughout the shoot she entertained the whole unit with her wit and laughter. I really pray to God that she lives forever, and we continue to act in more and more films together.
It’s reported that you ushered in her birthday on the sets of the film.
Every time her scene got over, she used to ask Balki where her whisky was. On her birthday, I presented her a crate of champagne and she was happy about it.
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