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Isn't Deepa Mehta encashing too much on your star value to promote '1947 - Earth' inspite of the fact that you are merely playing one of the characters in the film?
It's definitely a Deepa Mehta film, not an Aamir Khan film. I don't play the lead as I do in other mainstream films - I'm just a part of the cast, but mind you, an important part. The director is the person whose vision the entire unit tries to fulfil, and so it has been in the case of 'Earth'. She has used us in the best way that she can.
But hasn't Aamir Khan, the star, become the most important peg for the film's publicity now?
(Aamir realises he can't evade the question, finally he gives in) If there is a star in the film he does attract a certain amount of attention. That is quite natural - hence the publicity. But that doesn't take away from the fact that it is a Deepa Mehta film.Your role has negative shades, we're told.
Actually, that's a very simplistic way of looking at it. It's a character which undergoes a change. To begin with, he's a person whose not completely reliable - he's got a very attractive personality, he's charming, quite a flirt too and has a way with words. And because of a dramatic turn of events, the darker side in him takes over and he becomes a different person altogether. That's what the film is also trying to say - that in times of extreme trauma and pain, some people undergo a change and become the kind you cannot recognise.
Since the film is depicting violence between castes during the partition period, don't you think this will be yet another film of Deepa Mehta dogged by controversy?
Fine, but what's this controversy about you asking a share in the film's earnings?
Controversy? There's no controversy. See, as an actor, when I'm doing a film, I can charge a certain fee or take the same value from the profit of the film. When I'd read the script, I realised that it was not mainstream cinema and the budget for the film was limited. So the producer Jhamu Sugand and me arrived at a deal where I would not charge what I normally charge for mainstream cinema, but if the film did good business, I would be a partner in the profits. I think that's fair enough and also sets your doubt straight.
According to you, who is the number one superstar of bollywood ?
Salman Khan.
What is the status of your home production 'Lagaan' to be directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar?
Well, we are in the pre-production stage right now and will start shooting from January next year and complete the film in five months.
What does 'Lagaan' actually mean and what is the film all about?
'Lagaan' is the land tax the farmers pay. This one is also a period film with a number of Indian as well as British actors. But mind you, its not at all historical in nature, but a piece of fiction, a once-upon-a-time kind of story with a rustic backdrop. Set in 1890, its about a small farming village in central India, and how this group of farmers rise to the occasion, fighting for their rights on the sheer strength of their spirit and will power.
And with this kind of backdrop should we expect to see you clad in dhoti-kurta this time?
Ya, of course, that's what I'll actually be wearing too.
We've heard that your '1947 -- Earth' co-artiste Nandita Das would be playing an important role in this film.
She was tested for one of the roles but the director felt she didn't suit the character. There are going to be two leading ladies, one Indian, one British, and neither have been finalised as of now.
How do you explain the failure of your recent film 'Mann' with Indra Kumar?
It wasn't a good film, so it failed. That's the only reason why films fail (laughs sarcastically). Well, I have my own theories and reasons why it didn't work. I think we didn't go wrong in the choice of the story, but as a team, we weren't able to achieve the potential of the story.
How disappointing was the failure?
Very.
Some have this feeling that your pairing with Manisha Koirala is jinxed. First 'Akele Hum Akele Tum' bombed miserably and now 'Mann'.
No, I don't believe in that. It's letting off the team too lightly. It's very convenient to say that this pair is unlucky but I feel that if the team would have worked, the pairing would have worked.
Why haven't you worked with Mansoor Khan after 'Akele Hum Akele Tum'? What's wrong?
Nothing is wrong. I've done three films with him and I think we should all be kind to him and give him a break.
After 'Gulaam' clicked, there were speculations that you'd do another film with Vikram Bhatt, but nothing seems to have materialised with him too.
If and when the opportunity arises, and if things work out, I would do another film with him.
Mukesh Bhatt had announced at the Filmfare Awards that you risked your life during the train scene in 'Gulaam'. Later on, it came to be known that the scene was done with the help of special effects? If so, what made a man of principles like you put up with this lie?
Let me clarify this for you. In the train sequence, few know that the jump is actually shot from three angles. Two of the angles with side shots are done with the help of computers and special effects. But the third angle in which I'm frontal to the camera is a real shot. And I did three takes of that. I'm not a person who lies - if people don't want to believe me it's entirely up to them - but the fact is that I did the shot with the train coming at me at 40 kilometers an hour. And the train did in fact miss me once by 1.3 seconds.
Was this kind of stunt worth it?
In retrospect, I feel I was very foolish to do it. It was a stupid decision on my part to do the scene myself when the director was not even allowing a duplicate to do it. I did risk my life.
Written & Edited by DALE BHAGWAGAR
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