"Kunal Kapoor got a lot of acclaim for Rang De Basanti but there was a fear about him getting slotted in intense roles" - Milan Luthria 
By Joginder Tuteja, February 26, 2007 - 02:52 IST
Cricket season is about to begin and the man who is most excited of all is Milan Luthria. That’s because not just the Indian cricket team has peaked up miraculously to be
back in form, his film with cricket as a metaphor, Hattrick is slated for release too this March.
Busy with the post production of this ensemble piece which comes as a follow up to his delightful Taxi No. 9211 which arrived last year, he chats en route to his office
with Joginder Tuteja to give an account of his shooting experience of Hattrick.
So have you been able to accomplish what you were set out for?
Definitely. There was always a temptation of doing something as big, as interesting as this. I believe now with the shooting being over, I can confidently say that my
choice of subject, actors and treatment has been worth it.
Which of the actors has really excelled? And please don’t be diplomatic about it.
[Laughs] No, I won’t but seriously it is difficult to say who outshone whom? Now if we pick up Nana, he definitely excels. And why just him? Even others have
done something that they have never done before. Now someone like Danny has been known for being a part of action dramas. But in Hattrick, he is notorious in
a different sense.
How about the young ones?
Kunal got a lot of acclaim for Rang De Basanti but there was a fear about him getting slotted in intense roles. I suggested him to trust me and fire all the way in a
comedy role. So here in Hattrick, he has let his hair down and given a real light hearted performance.
You seem to be quite impressed with him
Yes, I am. His sincerity is something that appeals quite a lot and no wonder you can see him being signed up by the biggest of banners today. I can sense that there was a
space available for such an actor in the industry and he is doing well to fill it up.
| When you see Rimii onscreen, you would go ‘wow’ for
sure |
Your idea of taking Rimii in the film was to have someone who exudes oomph. Did she succeed?
She did and what you see on screen would make you go ‘wow’ for sure. She is a hard working girl and concentrated a lot on her look and clothing. To truly project the
character she plays, the sets were illuminated with glamorous lighting that worked for her.
There was a conscious effort in this entire exercise since she has not really being presented in a sexy avtar all this while. You have seen her doing comedies but an
ultra-glam look was missing. Now with the final results being out, I can say I am happy.
Danny is being seen after a hiatus. How did his name come up?
After Naseeruddin Shah opted to exit from the film due to his son’s accident, Danny’s name was mentioned by UTV as well as the writer of the film, Rajat Arora. Now
Danny himself is an unusual personality and I had always been intrigued by the fact of seeing him in a different kind of a role. We all agreed on the fact that this is going
to be something new, isliye maza aayega!
| Once you see the film, you would realize the reasons behind why the characters
appear as they are and if narrative moving as per the design |
When one looks at the promo, the film does sound exciting but there is no way one can make out if the film is episodic, has a parallel narrative or how exactly do the
stories culminate into a common ending. Was that intended or is the case of a missed opportunity?
[Has a hearty laugh] This shows that the mission is accomplished. That’s because the beauty of the screenplay lies in the fact that it is very unique. More than
that I am not going to talk anything because otherwise the magic wouldn’t remain for the film. Once you see the film, you would realize the reasons behind why the
characters appear as they are and if narrative moving as per the design. You would also witness the fact that the characters come together in a very unexpected manner
and this is where the trump card of the film lies.
Coming back to the film, did it hamper the film’s progress after the role of Hema Malini, who was earlier slated to star in the film, had to be chopped off?
Not really. While drafting the final script we realized that it wasn’t quite working out to have a character like that. But yes, in the end, the loss is all mine since I couldn’t
cast her in a film that had such an ensemble cast to boast.
You seem to be quite proud of your cast
Yes, I am. And that’s because having actors like Paresh, Danny and Nana itself sounds so promising. I remember when I had made an unconventional casting with Nana
and John in Taxi No. 9211; there were so many raised eyebrows. Today the same eyebrows are in appreciation when I talk about the unconventional cast of
Hattrick.
Well, things are changing in Bollywood…
And thankfully for good. It is indeed a healthy time for movies and I am pleased to see great response to different kind of cinema today.
| And I would say more than physical, it was a psychological challenge that I faced.
Being with a cast and crew for 45 days in a performance oriented role can’t really be an easy task |
What were the challenges that you faced while filming ‘Hat Trick’?
And I would say more than physical, it was a psychological challenge that I faced. Being with a cast and crew for 45 days in a performance oriented role can’t really be
classified as an easy task (laughs) but I am glad that we have been able to do it good…and do it fast. Yes, it was a tough ride, a tough schedule, but I guess all
my experience over the years came in handy here.
Working with a production house like UTV would have helped too, isn’t so?
Absolutely. This was the first time when I was working in a corporate set up and it was one interesting experience. It was very good to see Ronnie (Screwala) ready to
back a film like Hattrick which is not quite conventional. Also, the film doesn’t boast of many big names and hence it is nice to see people in the position of power
be with the film.
So what satisfies you most here?
That I lived up to the promise I made to myself. After Taxi No. 9211, which came on February 24, I wanted to have my next release within a year. March 16 is
close enough and I am happy to be bringing it on. Also, there was no hurry required from my end since as much as 6 months of planning went into the film before the
principal shooting began
For creating such awareness, are you coming up with an all-out promotional campaign?
The film will be backed by a good promotion but ultimately there is an extent to which you can spoon-feed by being on-your-face. Also, there is no point underestimating
the audience since they know what they want to watch and what not. Just remember that collectively they are much intelligent than all of us!
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