I just follow me heart something...
which...
when I hear something I like to do it or don't like to do it
so it's just that
nothing that I get into thinking like should I do it or not I mean I'm very spontaneous
all the people who are close to me when we have a conversation I say something
or throw a line, they keep telling me you should write comedy you know
you should yeah!
A very poker-faced lines, sense of humour you know
In stories, the emotions down south and here are the same
yeah
but you never know which film will work here which film won't once it works you say it's a pan-India film
yeah
And there are so many films down south also which have recently released in the past 3 months have not worked also
When I announced the film also I didn't realise Eid was also falling on the same week
then,
The first thing I did, called up Salman and said next year, in fact, yeah next year
I said I have announced this date and it's Eid
Are you okay?
Hi, this is Himesh and welcome to PINKVILLA
Today we have with us Ajay Devgn Sir and Rakul Preet Singh with us
Welcome to PINKVILLA guys it's lovely having you here
Thank you So much Himesh
Ajay sir my first question is to you before the pandemic, you had a lineup of films with you
And Runway 34 was nowhere in the pipeline
What is that factor that you know got this film on the forefront not just you as an actor but also a director
one year before the pandemic happened the writers came and narrated to me a script based on true
events and
I really liked it so I
I told them I really liked it, I sat with them for a day or two and we worked out
I said these are the changes I would like to see so if you can work like and come back
Then I got busy uh for a year and then the
covid thing happened everything got shut down so then I was sitting one day and
6 months I mean 3-4 months passed by and I just remembered what happened to that script
now that you know you have the time if they've made the changes and I called them up and they had made the changes
And then we started working on the script
So then 2-3 months we worked on the script and shaped up so well that we thought that let's go ahead and make it
And...
As long as it's-
It's not a small film but uh...
It needed a controlled environment to shoot that was the perfect time for
to shoot a film in covid
So we thought we should make it but that's not the reason it was a script basically
And then I decided to direct it because first thing is the script
And then what happened is I like to make films where it is not very easy to shoot you know
that you have to create something new and...
... we had to create so much of drama in a small cockpit
I wanted that claustrophobia in the cockpit and I didn't want to make it bigger and
Cheat...
So we designed a lot of techniques you know to shoot the drama in the cockpit
And when Ajay sir came to you with the script how did you react to this entire character of a pilot?
I think you are playing a co-pilot in the film so what was your first reaction like when he came to with the-
You know when I first heard the script the same day I loved it
Like it was a film that I said "wow I want to do this"
Because like sir said that he likes to create something new which has not been done before
And I had also not
Read a script like this or you know we all will know when the film releases
that nothing like this has been made on Indian screens
Like in Indian cinema
And that was the most exciting factor for me to be able to play
a role so different
in a script so different with such amazing actors Ajay sir and Amit sir
So yeah I think all of these factors led for my excitement level and I was like I want to start this now
And Ajay sir 104 films later what is it that drives the actor in you to sign on for a particular script?
To sign on a particular script yeah it should excite me I mean I just follow my heart
Something... uh... which
When I hear something I like to do or don't like to do it
So it's just that nothing that I get into a lot thinking that I
Should I do it or should I not do it? I mean very spontaneous on that
Okay!
But do things get monotonous? When it comes to selecting scripts and all those factors?
No that's why I'm saying when you follow your heart you don't, nothing gets monotonous
When you start thinking about it what I should do and what I shouldn't do then it gets monotonous you know
And for you Rakul how was it to work with two people like who are known for the acting
One is Ajay Devgn sir and one is Amit Ji and of course, there's Boman sir as well
was it intimidating initially? in the initial days to be around such...
No I wouldn't call it intimidating
I'm not a person who gets intimidated because I believe that for the moment that you waited for
you know you've always worked for being able to work in a good film with good actors
and at that moment you give in to intimidation or nervous energy then you know it's my failure as an actor
but I get very excited I look forward to those days or doing those scenes which have excited me on paper
Where I know that I'm going to have a great banter with whether its Sir or Amit Ji
because I like to feed on that energy and it's just exciting I-
I just crave to do things with better actors and because it pushes you also to do better
Anyway, this question is for both of you
For you what is that one quality of Ajay sir that separates him from all the directors
And Ajay sir what according to you was the most challenging part of directing Runway 34
Like what was the most challenging scene or part?
you can never pinpoint one thing you know the whole film was challenging
the most challenging part of the film is to tell the story right
And that's what I was trying to do and then the technique and all that and all those nuances
are...
just to tell the story right you know
they have to enhance the story not to show off or anything of that sort
the smallest of shot in a film the simplest of shot is actually you get nervous you know
are you getting it right or not
so that's how films are made
And Rakul what is that one quality of Ajay sir that separates him from all the directors
you have worked with so far
I would say, I don't know separate but I would say one quality of Ajay sir
that I really admire as a director is to be able to
hold his nerves very well like he's very calm all the time
very calm!
And very control of the situation very control of himself and you know
especially in this film where you're also acting, producing and you're trying to do a film which is
very difficult to shoot
you know whether its the turbulence or the
emotions that are created in a confined space
it is not an easy film to shoot when you look at the angles and all
so not even once have I seen Ajay sir lose his cool or get you know
he's just very calm and sailing through it like in control
so I think that's a great quality
And Ajay sir as we all know you have a great sense of humour but if we look at your directorials
They've all been either in the action space or the intense space
have you ever thought of making a comedy film as a director?
A lot of people tell me all the people who are close to me
It's like we're having a conversation so I- I say something or throw a line
they would say they keep telling me you should write a comedy you know
you should yeah-
- a very poker-faced lines
yeah
sense of humour
I've never thought of it but if I get something that excites me as a-
As a comedy but my comedy will also be very different
very dry sense of humour
I think that's what works brilliantly in Golmaal as well where you are that serious character
Like in Golmaal it is, you're a serious character a macho-man who gets scared of a ghost
That's how your comedy is
yeah
And Ajay sir how has the audience consumption pattern changed according to you
in the last two and a half years of entertainment?
we are still figuring it out
I think yeah I think every film is a surprise
I know I know
during the pandemic, I heard a lot of people say I don't know if the audience will come back to the theatres
yeah
this and that and how they had gone to the ott and I always believed that
that's not true because theatre experiences are theatre experiences and I realise this myself
when I was checking a print for a film during the pandemic so after one and a half year
i went into the theatre to check the
check yeah
the copy and I was like oh shit I miss this you know
yeah
because you've been so much on OTT so it's a great balance and
And now it is great that you have ott
where you can have a lot of films also and then there is this big cinema experience so I think
what the mindset has changed is that if you need to make films for the theatres
it has to be a big-ticket
yeah
experience otherwise the audience will think twice to go in and watch it
I think you know it's just like how will still go out to restaurants even when you can order-in
Exactly
so you go out for an experience you know whether it's a communal experience or
a great dining experience so the film has to either be a big film like sir said or
a community experience where you can go with your friends, family something like that
something new to offer.
How important is the runtime for you as a director to keep that aspect in mind while-
look I uh you should be in control of your runtime but
I think every story has a runtime
people say you know when you're watching a film for an hour also that can be
that can feel very long also or a 3-hour film doesn't feel very long
So it depends on how engaging it is and how you're holding the audiences
And this question is for both of you guys since you did a small role in RRR
And Rakul you've done many films down South
Salman sir recently in an interview said that it is great that pan-India films are doing well in the Hindi belt
but for some reason, our films are doing as well down South what do you think-
- because we've not attempted it
okay
they've attempted going pan India we've not attempted it
I think uh...
Salman is also saying so, so we should think about it and we should also work on it because
we don't take that seriously, we're very satisfied with our territories
yeah
But I think if we decide to make a pan-India film
we should
And Rakul, do you have similar thoughts?
Yeah absolutely I mean like sir said we haven't attempted it and
I'm very happy with the way the cross-culture is happening and if we attempt just imagine that the kind of
cultural strength that India as a country has you know with rich heritage and rich history from every region
if you actually put thought to it and get people from there and here and everywhere and the best technicians
and create Indian cinema
yeah you can do wonders globally too
And you don't make pan-India films, films become pan-Indian
yeah
you don't know which film is going to be pan-Indian and which film is not going to be pan-Indian
true
It's the story and emotions-
yeah it's
it's the audience I would say you know eventually
I mean the story the emotion down south and here are the same but you never know which film will work here and
which will not and once it works you say it is a Pan-India film
yeah That's true.
And there are so many films from down south also
which have recently been released in the past 3 months which have not worked also
so but they also attempted so-called pan-India so it's not that it's just the audience decide that
Is it pan-India or is it not?
yeah it's the emotion they connect with
yeah
And Ajay sir you have been one of the most producers and directors we have over here-
I won't say ambitious but-
you have made big films like Shivay and now even Runway 34
It's ambitious in terms of treatment as a director
Ambitious in the sense I would say I like to create something new and I feel that uh...
technically I'm a little sound so uh
and...
very sound!
no the thing is you know what troubles me is see now we have exposure to the international cinema
I mean everybody from the audience after the ott is here and things like this also
and we say wow the way they've created this and the way they've created that
So I just feel that
you know we have the brains we have the technology we have the people here
so talent is not a problem
the only problem we have is the budget and that is going to take a little time
you know if we compare our films to theirs I mean what they do in thousand crores we have to in 100 crores
So...
why not take it as a challenge that- do what they do and get that quality in your budget
that's the tough part
the tough part is not that you're getting what they are also getting but getting it in this budget
anybody can get it in that budget
you know
it's very easy to get into that budget you just need to hire people you need to spend money and it happens
but then if when you try to get it in your own range and with your own people
I would say something like make in India you know we're doing it
That is what I like to do I like to
show that we can also do it
and in our controlled budget so that means we have
brains which are working
better
because they are trying to
get the same thing reaching nearly there with a smaller budget
true
actually, that was my next question you know there is already a talk that
you're planning something on a-
as your next directorial on a big budget with VFX and mythology what is-
is that true? is there something happening-
I'm working on 2-3 things so I don't know I'll let you know
And coming back to Runway 34 the film was initially titled Mayday and from there the title has gone to Runway 34
What was the idea behind switching the title?
The idea behind you know the meaning of Mayday I'm sure
but a lot of people did not understand the title Mayday
I really thought that they would still understand with the promos and things like this and
one day I was sitting with this gentleman who was from down south very well-educated
a senior person at a very high post, very literate in English and everything
and he turned around and said what is Mayday about? Is it on Labour Day?
That is the day I really got scared
Okay
I said... uh...
if he does not connect with the term Mayday
yeah
then the people are not going to and
my best alternative was Runway 34 because if you when you see the film
it's all about why did the captain choose Runway 34 which is the wrong runway to land
So there is a mystery to Runway 34 in the film
later I realised that it is I think a more apt title
okay, Ajay sir this is your first Eid release in the longest time I mean
At least in the last 15 years, I don't think you have had an Eid release
how do you-
I think Once Upon a Time- was an Eid release after that
I think so I'm not sure
2010?
no, that year it was Dabbang
okay okay so-
how do you view this festival season for the release of a film
how do you think it has-
no, my intention was not exactly an Eid release
We wanted to come up with a date and it coincided with eid
I was happy about it
when I announced the film
I didn't realise that
you know Eid is falling in the same week
and then
and the first thing I did is I called up Salman and I said next year
in fact yeah next year
I said
I have announced this date and it's Eid are you okay?
so he was very sweet to tell me don't worry I won't come that week I'll come next year on Eid
so I was like thanks a lot
you know how much do the festivals help the business of a film according to yeah-
festivals help
festivals help only because there are holidays
yeah
you know and people in festivals want to go out and you know have a nice time and go enjoy themselves
of course, after Ramzan you know after one month when the Eid comes they celebrate
So it's...
and cinema is all connected with celebrations So I think there is a connection
And Rakul what are the kind of roles that excites you at this point in time
like how has your script selection changed over a period of time?
I think for me it's uh...
it obviously keeps changing and it keeps evolving
I think what you like today you may not like tomorrow
but I think for me the constant is always to try to do a diversity
to be able to do your commercial films with songs and dance numbers and
then do something like a Runway so that pushes me also with every film
also I stay excited every day to go to set and do something new
and I think our profession is so beautiful
where you get to play different roles and be a different person every day
So for me, it's always about trying to achieve that balance of doing a variety
And Ajay sir what next for you happening on the film front?
could tell something in brief?
after this I have a release
Maidan which has shaped up very well and then I have Thank God
which is Rakul is also there in the film
and I have a film on sets which is called Bholaa
yeah so that's that right now
and Rakul for you?
For me, I have Dr G with Ayushmann, and I have a film with Akshay sir
I've Thank God and there's a film called Chhatriwali where I play a condom tester
yeah these 4 for release
And the last segment we have 4 questions each for you from your fans
oh god I hate this
he hates questions
I know it's- I know you don't like rapid fire
there are 4 questions from your fans
So, the first question is from Devgn FanHouse which is called Tanhaji
what's happening with the Unsung Warrior Franchise?
We're working on 2-3 scripts
so I don't know which one to finalise
Once we work a little more we will decide
I'm really eager to start Unsung warriors
The next one is from Trends Rakul Preet Singh
when will we see Rakul Preet in a historical period drama or mythology?
you know I really want to do it and I give this out to the universe every day
that I want to do a mythological film, a historical film
I hope so
we'll work something out
yay!! I hope I get that
there you go
next one is for Ajay sir
except for a few successful films, post-pandemic have got you in touch in some way or the other
how do you see it?
I don't know I don't see it in any way
I think the films were so good that the films have worked
that's all about it
they're fabulous directors all of them I guess it's lucky
this one is from Bhaktchand I forgot to take his name
The next one is from Rakul_Magik
what are your upcoming films apart from Dr G, Thank God and Chhatriwali I know there are many on cards
Love from Hyderabad.
so sweet Like I just told you all the names
those films and then there are two films that I would be shooting
right now after I finish Runway then I'll announce that soon
Okay and last one for Ajay sir this one is from Aditya
Is there a film with YRF happening and asking about Son of Sardar part 2
we are still working out on
with YRF
we'll let you know soon and
Son of Sardar yeah we have
we're working on a script again
so let's see
And the last one for Rakul this question is from Parth
How was it shooting in Uttarakhand and working with Akshay Kumar
Oh!
It was my first shoot actually in...
you know in Uttarakhand and it was amazing working with Akshay sir is like
5 am readings
I know
you know at 6 o'clock ready to shoot
More than an actor he's a 'Dudhwala' [milkman]
A milkman I used to tell him
I remember our first reading happened at 5 am in Bombay for the film
so people actually thought it was 5- he said at 5
so people thought it was 5 in the evening because 5 am in the morning is very early
but he's very dedicated yeah
5 o'clock means he'll be there on time
he'll be there at 4:55
yeah so I think it's great and
I love punctual people you know it's great to be punctual
yeah
you have to respect other people's life
true yeah
Yeah absolutely, so very inspiring working with him
We would love to see you and Akshay sir in an action film that would be like-
sure some day soon
Yeah I think hopefully the cop universe
yeah
And before we sign off any last words on Runway 34
please watch Runway 34 on APRIL 29th I'll just say that you know it's a
different film and it's hopefully it's
for sure going to be a thrilling experience so please watch Runway 34 on 29th April
And Ajay sir?
That's it whatever she said
thank you so much guys
thank you
it was lovely having you here and good luck for the film
thank you so much thank you
Hi this is Ajay Devgn
hi this is Rakul and if you like this video then please like share and subscribe to PINKVILLA