kabir sadanand
Actor-turned-director Kabir Sadanand who is known for makingChameli, Popcorn Khao! Mast Ho Jao and Tum Milo Toh Sahi, is excited for his next film — Fugly. He tells Shalini Saksena that he spent his own sweet time researching on this film, to make it the next big entertainment ka dhamaka. He also speaks about the challenges he faced in the making of this film
‘TV means big business’
Why FuglyIJ What does it meanIJ
Basically, I want people to come up with their own interpretation for the word. I don’t want them to form a preconceived notion by telling them what it means. As for me, when I see young children use foul language that is fugly. When I see men using the walls as a toilet, that is fugly.
How did the name come upIJ
It happened while we were busy writing the script. One night, Rajeer Ahuja, who has also written the dialogues, called me and in our conversation the word Fugly came up. At first, I was not convinced and pondered over the word. It was much later that it clicked with me. And here we are…
You wrote part of the dialogues for Fugly, for a character played by Jimmy Shergill. Any particular reason for itIJ
I’ve been actively involved with not just the script but also the dialogues. As for writing it for Jimmy, we are old friends. I know how much I can push him. When you know a person that well, as well as I do, the work of the director becomes that much easier.
Shergill has recently done some negative roles. Is that why you chose to cast him as a character with grey shadesIJ
I would not say that he has done out and out negative roles in which he has played a typical villain who says – ‘Mein tera khoon peejaonga’. Yes, shades of grey, he has done. So keeping that as a base his character has shades of negativity in Fugly too. He plays a Delhi Police cop who goes by the rule book and knows the law and yet has a big ego. He knows how to make things work in his favour. Is that a negative shadeIJ Well, the audience can decide how they want to see his character in the movie.
So, what is the movie all aboutIJ
It is about four regular boys who represent what Delhi comprises of — the affluent, the upper middle class, the middle class and the poor. The boys represent different parts of the city who have aspirations, dreams and want to make it big in life. They are normal boys who get into trouble but don’t go out of their way to break the law for the fun of it. How their life takes a turn and they finally come of age when they come face to face with a man is what Fugly is all about.
What was the biggest challenge in making this movieIJ
It was the research stage. We had gone horribly wrong with Tum Milo Toh Sahi. So this time round we wanted to do our homework thoroughly. We spent almost two-and-a-half years in researching. We wanted to understand how the cops in Delhi work, how much freedom do they have. So, it was during this stage that we faced difficulties especially when we started to click photographs of the cops. They wanted to know what we were doing and we hit many roadblocks when we told them what the movie was about.
Then there was the shooting in 37 locations over a period of 42 days. We didn’t want to inconvenience Delhiites. So, we didn’t request for any special road blocks. We wanted to show the way the city moves. In all, putting everything together posed a big challenge.
So, research plays a big roleIJ
Definitely. Our last movie Tum Milo… showed us that. Even though we got critical acclaim outside India, the audience didn’t appreciate it. So, with Fugly, I took my time.
Does that mean entertainment plays a big role in BollywoodIJ
Keeping the audience engaged throughout the movie is an important aspect. It is a global phenomenon. A couple pays Rs1000 to see a movie and if at the end of it, they are not entertained the film is a flop. A movie must entertain the audience, be through its dialogues, storyline, action or songs.
Is alternate cinema here to stayIJ
Some people want to hear and see different things than the usual drama, or a love story. They want to see movies with which they can relate to and yet is out of the box. Queen is one such movie. It is a movie which is very realistic, it can happen to any girl and yet it is not your usual run of the mill movie.
What are the other projects in your kittyIJ
For now, I am busy with Fugly which is slated to release on June 13. Then there is Gullu Aur Pappu which has already been shot. My company has some advertisements in hand and we are looking at venturing into TV.
Which is tougher – movies or TVIJ
Television is very tough. In India, it is the housewife who drives the content. Unlike movies which have a much wider audience. Since TV content is target specific, it becomes more demanding in terms of time, script and working hours.
You recently rode into Delhi on a bike...
Riding is my passion, it is my way of cutting myself from the rest of the world – it is my get-away. I am a bike enthusiast and when I ride, it helps me find myself and connect with what people are looking for and want.