“Amitabh gives an extra edge to every scene” - Vipul Shah 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, December 2, 2004 - 03:19 IST
From modest theatre stage to glamorous Bollywood sets, Vipul Shah has made a quiet but successful transition. This director made his debut with Aankhen, a thriller so entertaining that the West did a remake of it.
Two years later, the man is now directing Waqt - Race against Time. This emotional drama stars his favorites, Big B and Akshay Kumar and wife Shefali Chaya. Vipul in a marathon talk with IndiaFM tells us about Waqt, theatre, films and Gujjus…
First a thriller, now a heavyweight emotional drama, you refuse to be slotted. Comment
Yes in a way. My directorial debut in Bollywood was a thriller. Waqt is an emotional drama. My third film will be something different. I like sampling different genre in every attempt of mine.
So tell us, how did Waqt happen?
I had gone to see Aatish Kapadia's play. And I loved it so much that I immediately bought the rights of the play. That's how Waqt happened.
Amitabh and Akshay have played father-son duo in a couple of films. How do you plan to present their onscreen chemistry this time?
Well, in Aankhen they were in opposition. Whereas in Waqt, they are a father-son pair. So the role is itself a huge differentiator. Besides, effort has gone in to ensure that the characterization of Amitji and Akshay is very different from what has been witnessed earlier.
Give us one area in acting that you think Mr.Bachchan and Akshay excel in?
Needless to say Amitji is simply brilliant. But he has an ability to rise above the script and that is laudable. He gives an extra edge to the scene. As for Akshay, he is a team man. He wouldn't harm the product just to take centrestage. He understands the need of the scene and plays along. That is an admirable quality.
The Priyanka-Akki jodi is working wonders. What was your criteria while casting Priyanka?
Frankly, I saw Priyanka in her debut, The Hero - Love Story of a Spy. That's when I wanted her for my film. It's only now that the Akshay-Priyanka pair is established. So my criterion for picking Priyanka was her promising debut.
What's her character like?
Priyanka plays Akshya's wife who stands by him through rough weather. It's a first where you'll see them play husband-wife.
Your wife, Shefali returns with shades of grey in Waqt. What is the one element that makes her the apt choice?
Inspite of speculations whether she could match up as Mr.Bachchan's wife, I was keen on casting her. The role needed someone who could tread the fine line of being a stern character as well as have a sensitive side to her. I thought Shefali had the competence to do so.
You staged a mahurat at Juhu beach, very innovative. How did you think of that?
The mahurat had a two-fold agenda to it. Firstly, it was very much a marketing gimmick to get the required attention. Secondly, I strongly believe that Waqt is one such film, which has a universal appeal and a father-son bonding that is highly identifiable. So I wanted the common man to be aware of it. The mahurat at Juhu gave me that platform.
The film is inspired from a Gujrati play. So how have you adapted the play to suit a cinematic experience?
See, in a play, there are around 20 sequences while in cinema; it reduces to approximately 8 sequences. That apart, the play undergoes certain metamorphosis to suit cinema. Also, movies give you the chance to create cinematic moments.
And what are the challenges in doing so?
I'll go back to where we left, a movie moment on stage might stretch upto 13 minutes, but on celluloid, you need to create the same impact in 3 minutes. That is a bit tricky.
There is a stupendous action scene of Akshay. Where does that fit into the plot?
The stunt happens in a situation where Akshay is trying to prove a point to his family. It is a phase where he is going through a struggle in his life.
You are working with the older generation through Bachchan & Boman, the younger lot with Akshay and Priyanka. How does Vipul manage the tricky balance of style & pace of work?
I see no problems at all. If the actors sense your honesty towards your work, they are with you all the way. Irrespective of the age margin, they willingly contribute towards the film. I have had zero problems with my cast.
Tell us about a particular shot that is memorable
Like I mentioned before, an action scene has Akshay being chased by 20 Alsatians. Though slightly edgy, the first day of shooting was smooth but from the second day onwards, the dogs started getting aggressive and restless. The reason being, they are trained to get their target, but when Akshay kept giving the slip, the canines started freaking out.
So I asked Akshay whether he would want to use a different set of dogs. But he asked me not to bother and managed it all through without a single complaint, which was tremendous.
How is Vipul on the sets? Are you a control freak or you like giving space to your actors?
Oh no, I am no control freak. I like to give my actors space and time. I just let them be. I give them the scene, they are free to improvise on it, make changes. We then work on it, and decide on what's best. As long as I get the emotions right, there are no hassles.
Pick us one director from theatre and Bollywood whose work you have liked?
Aatish Kapadia from theatre is very good. Writers Prashanat and Ajit Dalvi are a talented twosome. From Bollywood I quite like Rajkumar Santoshi's work. He dishes out some really good cinema. I think Legend of Bhagat Singh was outstanding. I also like Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai. Contrary to public opinion, I quite liked Lakshya, I thought it was very well-shot.
What is the scene that you are currently shooting?
Right now, we are shooting a Tandav sequence with Akshay.
What is the scale of the film?
In terms of infrastructure, we have put up 14 sets. That should give you an idea of the movie canvas. Budget-wise, it touches around 18-20 crores.
What is the release date are we looking at?
Another 20 days of shoot and we'll wrap it up. Put another 3-4 months of post-production and we are hopefully looking at an April 2005 release.
Before signing off, tell us what is it about Gujuratis, be it films, television, theatre, they are flooding just about everywhere?
[Laughs] Hmm…well I think they are a talented lot. Also, they have a terrific business sense. And most importantly, when they sense an opportunity, they go bang on. I think that is what makes them so successful.
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