The new face of the Yash Raj banner, Aadar Jain, rebuffs any similarities between his debut movie Qaidi Band and Farhan Akhtar’s lucknow Central. By Angela Paljor
One can’t ignore the uncanny resemblance and the coincidence of the release date differing less than a month between Yash Raj Films’ Qaidi Band and Emmay Entertainment’s lucknow Central.
Not only do the trailers highlight the lives of prisoners but also tell a similar story of them doing their bit of jailhouse rock, forming a band and planning a daring escape. However, the energetic Aadar Jain wasn’t even aware oflucknow Central while shooting for the film. “Anya and me were dubbing the day the studio hands were playing the trailer alongside and we joined in. It was then that we realised that the film was a musical and set in a prison. But the interpretation differs,” Jain shared.
The USP of the film, according to Raj Kapoor’s lesser known grandson, is that the story revolves around undertrials, something which has never been combined with a musical. “It is essential to talk about undertrials, especially because of overcrowding in jails and the undermining of freedom in a democratic nation,” Jain added.
The pressure of competing with an established actor like Farhan Akhtar might be hidden by the excitement of the nearing of the release date. But Jain seemed optimistic. “I hope that both films do well. And it will be more like Dangal-Sultan situation. I believe in the audience. People can take different elements from watching our film and later watching the other,” he added.
Talking about the present scenario where numerous questions are being raised about the freedom of speech and expression, Jain said, “One cannot dictate as to what a person can talk about and where. Also, one should not be scared or even worried about the consequences. Even my Mamaji Rishi Kapoor writes a lot on Twitter and he gets flagged for it which is not fair.”
Talking about the added weight of carrying the legacy of Raj Kapoor and the uproar against nepotism, the young actor said, “My mother was never into films but came from a film family. My father’s side is business-oriented. There was no influence as such. It was only when I was in my high school that I realised I wanted to be an actor and that there was a latent performer in me which I could work upon.” However, he always wanted a journey of his own and worked towards it. “People might draw comparisons but I want to create an identity of myself. And my family is really proud of me with what I have been able to achieve.”
Jain believes in the sole pressure of refining his skills rather than giving into external expectations. “As a family, we don’t believe in failure as long as we give the best in what we do.”
Jain auditioned for the film at Yash Raj and got the role by dint of his capability and talent. “People do not know me. They should come, watch my film and then judge me. If they didn’t do that, I would be hurt,” he said.
Talking about his cousin Ranbir Kapoor and his debut film Saawariya, Jain said, “Sanjay leela Bhansali is not his uncle, he is a director. Directors and producers have a lot at stake while making a film. They will definitely not go by the branding that one carries but ensure a perfect fit for their character first. That’s the truth of this business.”
The film Qaidi Band, written and directed by Habib Faisal, is a musical drama which revolves around the lives of seven undertrials who come together to form a band so that they can put up an act for Independence day. They bond over time and have their own challenges to deal with. It is scheduled to release on August 25. lucknow Central, on the other hand, stars Farhan Akhtar in the lead. Directed by Ranjit Tiwari, the film is scheduled to release on September 15.