Talktime | Omung kumar
He has done it all — been a model, made commercials and designed film and TV sets before making his directorial debut with Mary Kom. He is now back with another biopic Sarbjit. He talks to SHAlINI SAKSENA on why he chose Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Randeep Hooda for the film & how the movie is all about hope
You started your career as an adman and then went on to becoming a production designer. How did direction come into itIJ
It was something that was bound to happen. There was a time when I was modelling and hosting shows — I was in front of the camera. Then came set designing and I became the face behind the camera. When we made commercials, I knew what I wanted. I knew the basic techniques involved but had no formal training in direction. That came with Mary Kom. I learnt the ropes while making the film. Now, I am on my second movie and there are many more to come.
Why did you choose Aishwarya Rai and Randeep Hooda for SarbjitIJ Were they your original choiceIJ
Yes. When I chose to make Sarbjit, I knew that there were only two people I wanted to cast — Aishwarya Rai as Dalbir Kaur and Randeep Hooda as Sarabjit. Aishwarya is a beautiful lady who has matured as an actor. I was looking for someone who could play a 22-year-old as also 60-year-old. She fit the role to a T. As for Randeep, he is such a versatile actor and a very commited actor. We only had a single photograph of Sarabjit with a 30-second video of his forced confession in a Pakistani jail. The rest of the information came from his letters. Randeep lost 18 kg in 28 days to fit the bill. He confined himself to a 4x4 space even off screen and would practice how to walk around in chains tied to his hands and feet. For the movie, he became Sarabjit.
You debuted as a director with a biopic. Your second movie is also one. Is it a conscious decision or by chanceIJ
Definitely chance. It was never my intension to direct this movie. There was a script that was there when Sarabjit was alive. Dalbir Kaur had wanted a movie on him to expedite his release. But then he died. I happen to see a video on Dalbir and that changed things for me. I saw a fiesty and fiery woman fighting for her brother’s release. It was then that knew I had to make this movie.
What are the challenges of a biopicIJ
Whether it is a biopic or a movie in any other genre, there should be an interesting story to tell in an entertaining manner. After all, they pay to see a movie, so one has to entertain them. As long as you have a story to tell in a manner that can hold the viewership, it doesn’t matter what the genre is. In that sense, there is no difference between making a biopic and a commercial one.
What do you want people to take away from SarbjitIJ
The movie is about hope. You have a sister and a wife who, for 23 years, fought for a brother’s and husband’s release, respectively. Though we all know what happened to Sarabjit, Dalbir continues to fight for Indians languishing in Pakistani jails. I want people who watch this film to go back home and hug each other and appreciate what each family member does for the other.
What nextIJ
I have directed two biopics so I am now shifting gears and am all set to start my third film which is a psycho-thriller. I have already written it and hopefully will start shooting sometime this year itself. It won’t be a woman-oriented film. It is a fantastic thriller which will be an actor’s dream role.