2024-09-20 02:47:11
Film producer-director Anubhav Sinha’s love for Lucknow can be gauged from the fact that he has shot five films here. These include films like ‘Mulk’, ‘Abhi To Party Shuru Hui Hai’, ‘Article 15’, ‘Thappad’ and ‘Bheed’. The filmmaker, who considers the city as his home, says that the people of Lucknow do not disturb the shooting. This time he came here to talk about the web series ‘IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack’, which has more than 113 artists. During this time, he talked about everything from Hindi, Bhojpuri industry to social media influencers.
Dates did not match with Vijay during ‘Thappad’
Vijay Verma was mentioned for the lead role from the very beginning. I like him. I have seen his work. I met him during ‘Thappad’ but our dates did not match at that time. One day for this series I called him for a casual chat. After we talked, I thought I will send him the script now. By evening I got the news that there was a discussion about money and dates. Vijay had his own logic that I wanted to work with you.
I did the show Sea Hawks many years ago, which proved to be a hit. I think the series has its own grammar, which has a little relation with us. Because of this, there was no worry about the making. Yes, the thing was that the time period is longer in it, whereas we are used to the big screen. I did many new experiments from my side, which can be understood only after watching it.
There was a lot of talk about ‘Bombay Mein Kaba…’, it has ten million views on YouTube. I believe that even if you go to sell soap these days, it gets ten million views. There is a lot of talk about the Bhojpuri industry, but looking at the audience is something in which I am unfit. Manoj Bajpayee and I had started talking for a film.
Realistic stories have limits, while fiction has the open sky. The people of India prefer entertainment more. Horror comedy has become a hit, so now at least 400 horror comedy films will be made in Mumbai. Whereas only a particular class goes to watch films based on social issues. Now people are also understanding these films. This is the changing phase of cinema.
Friendship has nothing to do with work
The person himself decides how to make a film. Filmmakers are not visionary, they think of a story to be told and they say it. Others keep telling me to make an action film, do this or that. I believe that friendship has no relation with work. The people you have seen in my films are my favourite actors and fit the characters perfectly. Manoj Bajpayee and Kumud Mishra, I do not get to meet even twice a year apart from shooting. My house is such a place from where Kumud and Manoj come out every day, yet we do not get to sit together.
Got the story modified as per my understanding: Anubhav
Anubhav Sinha says that after working on this story for two-two and a half years, I was contacted. However, it came to me once in between. This time I liked the story so I read the script. Since it is the story of a captain, it was obvious that whatever happens will happen inside the plane. What was going on outside during that time, why did it take eight days, why did they take us to Kandahar, such questions were coming to my mind. Because of this, I talked about making changes in it. So we started research again and rewrote the show. All this took another six-eight months. After this, the shooting started.
More than 113 artists
A list of 113 actors was made for the series, which Mukesh Chhabra (casting director) had to cast. There are other actors in it too. Anil Swami, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Dibyendu Bhattacharya were cast first. At that time, it did not seem that these roles were turning out well because we were writing. Then I felt that to show these stars as the boss, we will have to approach more senior actors. I had approached Naseeruddin Shah and Kanwaljit Singh ji. Yashpal Sharma came last. I had never met him before but he came on my call. If there are multi-stars, then the poster looks attractive but in the end, the public understands the story and the characters.