Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan’s latest outing Tanhaji turns yet another page of history. By Team Viva
Indian cinema certainly knows how to teleport one back in time. How else can you explain the unending list of period dramas being made in Bollywood? Films, it seems, have become a primary source for people to know about certain chapters of history that were not included in textbooks.
Actor and producer Ajay Devgn, whose Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior is the next one in queue, said, “I think it is good if they get to know more about history through cinema. The young generation knows the subject only partially and mostly about the events which took place overseas. They know what the Britishers or Americans did but people are forgetting our history. We have had such great warriors, so why shouldn’t we tell people about them? I think they can become an inspiration for the audience if their stories are told vividly.” The actor added that, as actors, educating masses wasn’t really their job but most of them really appreciate if there is something that is worth telling and “would definitely love to do.”
His wife, actor and co-producer Kajol explained, “We make films so that we can tell the audience something unexpected and surprise them. We want to bring you something which you have never heard before or seen. And at the end of the day, we only want to entertain the public. We want you to love it, to laugh at it, to cry with it and that’s ultimately why we make films.”
Ajay completes his 100th film with Tanhaji. He said, “When we started shooting the film, I didn’t even realise that it was my 100th. Om (director) told me this during the shoot. But that’s a different thing altogether because it doesn’t matter whether it’s your 99th or 100th film. At the end of the day, your work matters the most and it shouldn’t be your last film. That’s what should keep you going.”
Talking about what was his approach while preparing for the role of Maratha warrior Tanhaji, he said, “History is never complete or told properly. So while making a film you have to imagine certain things. When you portray the character of such a strong historical figure, you have to try your best to justify it because you are in a way recreating an image of the hero in front of the people who haven’t known him at all. And that’s what I have tried to do as well — show him in the best and the most honest way possible.”
Actor Saif Ali Khan, who will be seen playing the antagonist and a negative character in the film, talked about his preparation. He said, “I didn’t actually have too much of a preparation but we just spent a lot of time on set and in costume. It was very clear in Om and Ajay’s head about how they wanted the antagonist to be and they explained it to me. That’s all. So I give a lot of credit to them.”
When asked about working with his wife, Kajol, Ajay replied, “I don’t know what the feeling is because it seemed as if we were at home and not on a film set. We behaved in the same manner that we do at home. So, I won’t be able to differentiate.”
(The film releases on January 10, 2020.)
Photo: Pankaj Kumar