Which Bachchan film will the audience pick?

Director Milan Luthria started his career with Kachche Dhaage with Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Manisha Koirala, and Namrata Shirodkar. The film was a surprise hit. It was especially recognised for its music by the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Luthria's next film Chori Chori with Ajay Devgan and Rani Mukerji was considerably delayed because of the sudden death of its producer. When the film was finally released last year, it sank at the box office.

Luthria's third film Deewar – Let's Bring Our Heroes Home, stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, KK and Amrita Rao. This film was also delayed in the making, and will finally release on June 25.

Luthria talks about Deewar to Senior Assistant Editor Syed Firdaus Ashraf. Excerpts:

How did Deewar happen?

Every film comes into being after you get a good story. The story tells you that you need to make a film. I was surfing the Internet when I came across articles on Indian prisoners of war in Pakistan. These prisoners have been languishing in Pakistani jails for 33 years after the Indo-Pak war in 1971. So I decided to make a film on this subject. Since there was a lot of money needed to make it, I waited for the right producer. Luckily, I found Gaurang Doshi.

What is the defining quality of this film?

Never in the Indian film industry has an escape thriller been made. This is the first of its kind and that sets it apart from other films.

Are you happy with the final product?

There are two kinds of happiness: the actors have done a great job. And the trailers are running in theatres. People are clapping and looking forward to the film.

Is this film anti-Pakistan?

I don't want to make anti-Pakistan films. People don't like to see anti-Pakistani films. We have not said anything against any country in this film. And I am not saying this because of the recent friendship talks between the two countries. I favour Indo-Pak friendship. The music director for my first film was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a Pakistani. I wait for the day when there will be a total exchange of art and culture [between the two countries].

An anti-Pakistani film may click easier than a pro-Pakistani film at the box office.

There was a time when Indians were aroused by anti-Pakistan films. But I don't want to cater to that instinct. It is wrong. It is important to root for India, but that does not mean you must go against any other country. I don't want people to hate someone else.

Gadar clicked at the box office because it had an anti-Pakistani theme.

You can bring out those anti-Pakistan sentiments for personal reasons or the conviction of your script. But I don't believe it is necessary to showcase anti-Pak sentiments to make a hit film. I can only speak for myself.

You have mentioned that there were 54 Indian PoWs in Pakistan. Did you meet any of their families?

No. I did not want to meet them. If I had said this is a true account of what happened to those people, I would not be correct. I don't know what happened to them. It had to be an imaginative guess. It would have been very unkind and unfair to meet those people because they have gone through hell.

How did you reach the figure of 54?

I searched the Internet and came upon this figure. There is a site put up by the relatives of the PoWs.

And all the prisoners are from the 1971 war?

In the film, yes. But there are some after the Kargil war in 1999.

What kind of research did you do for the film?

A special team did the research. There were creative consultants, writers, the set department, the costume department, and lots more. Today, the Internet gives you a lot of knowledge about Pakistan. You get to know about their military uniform, women's dresses, their cars, their homes, their markets.

We tried to make the film authentic. You cannot get away by doing shoddy work. We worked on costumes for six months because we showed that the clothes of the PoWs were never changed. We had rented a flat to keep the uniforms. We put dyes and mud to make them dirty. A makeup department had to make them look dirty. The results have been satisfying.

We shot in Deolali on a railway station, Pune Jail, Mumbai's Film City and Alibaug. We shot the climax in Jaisalmer. It was very hot there. We shot in the hot sun because we needed that kind of atmosphere. A lot of people fell sick. But we made a good film.

How did you choose your cast?

We needed an actor who would lead the prisoners. We didn't find any name other than Amitji [Amitabh Bachchan]. You get larger audiences in the theatres because of his fan following. Besides, his presence on the sets brings the same level of acting from others. Because of him, the level of the film rose.

Sanjay Dutt is a great friend of mine. I have always wanted to work with him.

I cast Akshaye Khanna because he is a great actor. He plays Amitji's son, who goes to Pakistan and brings his father home. We didn't want an action hero to do the role. We wanted a youngster who would suit the role. Akshaye was the best choice.

Why are you keeping Sanjay Dutt's role under wraps?

It was not intended. When people started asking us pointed questions, we thought it would be better to keep this role a secret. It's like this: if I don't tell you, you will be more interested to know about his role! It is just a [marketing] gimmick.

How true are rumours that he is playing a Pakistani prisoner who helps the Indian prisoners escape?

Wait and watch when the film releases!

You have also cast Amrita Rao. Is there a romantic angle in the film?

No. That is not how the character is placed. Her role is important and dramatic. The story does not go forward without her. She is a Hindu from Pakistan and we had to show that angle. We had to show 2 per cent of the Hindu population in Karachi. There is no shot of her singing in London!

Have you been to Pakistan?

No. I met Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his family in London. But if you go anywhere in the world, you will meet Pakistanis. There is also a lot of information about Pakistan on the Internet.

So the film is based in Karachi?

It is set 40 miles away from Karachi. There are two jails in the film.

What kind of relationship is shown in the film between the two countries?

This film has no message. It is a fun film. I am not lecturing and saying, "Ek ho jao [Unite]." I am not bothered about these things. It only says that these people should come home.

Tell us about the film's music.

Since Deewar is not a love story, we have situational music. We have patriotic songs and also a qawwali. People will understand the songs when they see the film in theatres.

The item number Marhaba is doing well. But this song is not an item song. Just because Amitji or Sanjay Dutt are in the film, we haven't done any special song. Aadesh Shrivastava's sensibility is fine-tuned.

From Kachche Dhaage to Chori Chori to Deewar, your scripts have been different.

I am very fixed on not repeating myself. This is the only law I follow. If I find a good script, I will make the film. It only depends on the script. Now that I have made this film, I am done with this genre. I don't know what my next film will be about. It could be humour or horror.

Don't you think the fact that there are three consecutive Amitabh Bachchan films may work against Deewar?

I don't think this will matter. Word of mouth is very important for any film to survive. If a film is good, it will do well. Let's wait and see how it does. It is a good test for us to see which of these three Bachchan films the audience will pick!

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