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Big B still busy to meet Aamir

Author: Shaheen Parkar Date: 14 Dec 2007

Big B is still busy to meet Aamir. Will he, before TZP releases?

A week away from the release of Taare Zameen Par, one of the multitudes of things that Aamir Khan has to do is to give interviews. He is the producer, director as well as actor in this movie a lot is at stake.
Media interactions are fixed for Wednesday afternoon at his Khar office. But there is no sign of the actor. We are told he will arrive in five minutes.

The minutes stretch to hours. Then we learnt he’s caught up with a visitor Javed Akhtar. Why is the lyricist confabulating with him? As a catty onlooker remarks, “Hopefully, Javed saab isn’t rewriting the lyrics with just a week to go before the film’s release!”

Then comes the message that the actor is having a delayed lunch and then he’s running a fever! Finally, the scene shifts to his Pali Hill home where over spoonfuls of watermelon and apologies, he talks about directing TZP and  everything else except his brother Faisal “as it is too personal.”

As the countdown for the release approaches, is there anything special you do?
Nothing. I don’t have any lucky charms to fall back on. The last few films of mine like Rang De Basanti, Dil Chahta Hai each have been distinct away from the mould, so there was the anxiety about how the audience will react, so is the case with TZP.

You made your debut as a director by re-shooting whatever was canned.
TZP began with Amole Gupte as director. It was his concept and story. But a week into  shooting, we had creative differences. That is when I stepped in as director. It was not an easy decision. I thought about it for an entire night. I re-shot whatever Amole had done, except for one or two scenes. Amole’s contribution, however, continued. He was present throughout the shoot.

What was the toughest scene to shoot?
The kid (Darsheel Safary) sitting in the loo! He had refused to do this scene because he was thoroughly embarrassed. It was like: what will others think? Finally, after a lot of cajoling he did it. Now I have told him I will put up this picture on the TZP banners right outside his home! There was something distinct about Darsheel. We picked him up from Shiamak Davar’s summer funk group! I did not want the typical B-Town faces for the various characters.

Reportedly, Amole Gupte is also planning to make a film on a similar subject?
I have no idea about it.

Buzz is that TZP draws on your son Junaid’s life?
Not at all. It is Amole’s story and is based on his interactions with kids. He came to me with the script and I have stuck to it.

Why is Kiran Rao missing from the TZP promotions?
Just because she is my wife and the executive producer of the film does not mean that she too has to do the rounds. Anyway, how may executive producers give interviews?

What is happening to Kiran Rao’s directorial debut?
She is still working on the script.

What’s next from the Aamir Khan Production front?
It will be Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa in which we are launching Imran (his nephew) and Abbas Tyrewala makes his directorial debut. He has also penned the film. Besides newcomers, there is also Genelia D’Souza.

Your director cousin Mansoor Khan (Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Josh) is back after a hiatus with Jaane Tu…
I made him come out of his hibernation for this project. He has re-located to Coonoor but this film was very important to me. As TZP and Jaane Tu… were being shot simultaneously, I could not be on the sets and I requested Mansoor to step in. He is the producer of the film.

Apart from the Hindi remake of Ghajini, are you committed to any other project?
Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra have approached me but I would prefer that they spell out the details.

Have you managed to secure an appointment with Amitabh Bachchan with regard to your comment on Black (The Busy Big B, Hitlist, December 5)?
Not yet. I am still waiting for an appoinment. I am in touch with his secretary Rosie andhave been told that he is still busy. But I want to meet him and clear the air.