I'm not at all inspired by the 80s because that was the worst era in the history of cinema -- the worst movies were made during that time. My brother is the one who is more influenced by the 80s.

For me, the 70s have more of an influence because I have grown up watching those movies and I think some of the best or at least the most commercially successful/best films were made in that era -- Sholay, Deewar, Trishul, Amar Akbar Anthony, Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi or Bobby.

That era is depicted in OSO.

You have drawn a lot of references from the 70s (Jeetandra getups, dream girl posters etc). What was your favourite reference from that era that you used in the film?

The first half is set in the 70s film industry so there are a lot of references to people who existed in the 70s. Everything in the first half is about the 70s -- such as the mother who overacts, mouthing cliched dialogues. Then there are cabarets, badminton and other stuff popular during that era.

You wrote Main Hoon Na, and now Om Shanti Om with Mayur Puri. How did the story of OSO come to you?

Mayur Puri has written the dialogues for OSO. The story just came to me when I was doing the musical Bombay Dreams in London, which was also about Bollywood, Bombay Dreams portrayed a clichéd and outdated version of the film industry. I thought if this were made into a movie and released in India it wouldn't work.

Also read: Dancing with SRK

Back

|

Next