This is the segment about cinematic what?
Milestones, happened when you were in your tenth aka now we know how old you actually are?
It featured two superstars in the film...
I'll give you a hint-
Necklace with cool written on it.
Oh I know this, it's one of my favourite films, oh my god I'm a big fan of that film
Hum.
A moment of silence... No no Hum came then but you're saying the third largest?
Khuda Gawa!
Actors going bare body on screen! 1998 and the song is iconic.
[sings]
I was thinking that but he wasn't there he was wearing a mesh no it was bare body.
Hi guys this is Himesh and welcome to Pinkvilla today we have with us the Dasvi team, Abhishek Bachchan and Nimrat Kaur with us.
Welcome to Pinkvilla guys it's lovely having you here. Thank you.
So my first question is to both of you, how did the two of you react when Tushar came to you with the script of a politician who wishes to complete his 10th when he is in the jail?
I think the first reaction for both of us was the same which is why we are sitting in front of you today promoting the film. The first reaction was...
When do we start? Yeah. And?
Well I actually didn't even know about the whole story and
the character was so colourful and lovely for me that was really the first conversation I had and then the love affair with the film became even deeper when I heard the script
But I was on from the get-go. And I think the conversations around Dasvi started in early 2020 and right after that in March the pandemic struck all of us.
What kept you motivated all through the while to be associated with the film and get it to the right platform?
Well...
I think the discussions and the narrations and all started in early 2020 but you know the first time you start a discussion on a film there's- on average a period of six to twelve months
it takes before you can actually start shooting because first there's a creative process of agreeing to do it the way you want to do it and the way the director sees it and you hope
that they both are similar, then obviously there's the whole logistic aspect of getting the dates getting everybody's dates together.
So it's a very normal thing for a year to go by from saying yes to a film to actually shooting it and then you shoot the film and then it's pretty normal an entire year to pass again
when the post-production is going on. So it wasn't very difficult we got lucky because we managed to shoot the film in between the 2 lockdowns.
Okay first and second, yeah, so you know there was an unlock down that started in September 2020 where at least certain shootings and all were allowed to-
So I did a bit of that then but then things fully opened up around December 2020 if I'm not mistaken and we shot in February till April and then end of April when the 2nd lockdown happened
So we managed to squeeze out the film in that time, so we were lucky but the timelines were very normal also I think everybody was so excited about the script that you know
You just look forward to it so remaining inspired to do it wasn't really a challenge. Okay.
The film is set against the backdrop of the Indian education system and right now there has been so much debate happening about online vs offline mode of education
What do you have to say about this debate as to online education? There are some people saying online education lacks the on ground exposure, there are some who are
saying it is good that they are exposed to technology at a very young age so how do you perceive this?
Well, I've had first-hand experience my daughter is in school and she did online schooling for two years and I think it's unbelievably convenient and it was a god-send during the lockdown
But I do personally believe that children should be in school there has to be a certain physical contact and interaction which always makes a big difference and
Even when you're going to physical school technology is very much a part of their life you know so I think that's an issue. And how do you-
You know I recently visited my school in the first second week of March in Noida and I cleared my 10th standard from there so
I was just chatting with my principal and what she said was that they're currently facing issues with kids in school because they are not used to making eye contacts and
they are not used to being around people and that was something sad for me I felt a bit bad about that I said you know I really hope that they can come out of this because as adults we can still have conversations you know
we can figure things out we can still cope through things in a more systematic way, kids can't do that you know they'll follow what they've been taught and for 2-years
relentlessly they've been taught that you know we've been taught that everything we know till now is harmful for us which is contact, proximity whether it's sport or
interpersonal skills and I really hope that they're able to overcome that and I don't see anything wrong with online schooling. And-
OTT is now here to stay it's a parallel mode of entertainment so as an actor when you are offered a script going forward at least, will you be clear from the word that okay
This one is meant for OTT this is for theatrical or will it be of course in regular times now that things are getting back to normal or what will the approach to script be?
Will it depend or vary from medium to medium? Well... If I may
I mean I've done a sizable amount of work on this medium to have a slight understanding but the one thing that I've learned is it's a personal choice as far as an actor's concerned but
That comes with the caveat you have to understand actors are the least powerful people in this decision, we make a film and then it's the decision isn't asked to make unless we're the producers.
I personally feel that there is a particular way in which you make a film if you're going to release it directly digitally, okay. I believe that and
It has to be slightly adapted and changed if we're going to do it theatrically, that's my personal opinion. And for you Nimrat, how do you perceive this two parallel
modes of entertainment existing in today's times which is not the case 5-years down the lane and maybe the pandemic has fastened the process of this transition.
See I've done one show on an OTT platform in India and it's called the Test Case and when I did that I had no reference point
And I don't think as an actor I need to think about how I'm going to approach my work if it's ott or that, what he said very well was that it's how it's made not how you're going to be in it right,
That's a very clear difference, I think for me ott becomes exciting as a long format story-telling opportunity, which you don't get on the big screen.
On the big screen, you get two to two and a half hours or a maximum of three hours right, you don't get 6-7 hours sometimes of a character that you can maybe-
That's the part that I enjoy about being on an ott platform and I don't differentiate as an actor in that sense for me the subject is the hero, the script is everything.
And so you know so many people on Twitter have been wanting to see you on the big screen, when can that happen? I think your next film is one which you are-
Well I had hoped it would have been Dasvi, like I said you know the last 2 years have been so difficult the film was shot and intended to be released in the cinemas
but you know by the time the film got ready which was the latter half of the last year is when omicron happened so the cinema shut down again.
At that point in time Dinesh, our producer had to take a call and he had the grace to ask all of us what we felt and I think the whole team just said look it's a financial call you take it
what you think is best for the film and this decision to come on jio cinemas and Netflix was taken at that point of time. And
you have been away from films for a long time, will we see you more often because we loved you in Airlift, Lunchbox and then there has been a gap after that so
no I really want that to change soon and I hope that Dasvi will do that and I really hope that you know I'm able to come across more exciting
roles and subjects and be around and be able to do the kind of work I want to do.
And now there's a quick segment about the cinematic moments that happened when the two of you were in 10th grade which is at the age of 16
So the first question to-
This is the segment about cinematic what?
Milestones, happened when you were in your tenth aka now we know how old you actually are?
This is basically their way of finding out... [laughter]
Little beads of sweat are...
Start with her. Start with her? Yeah of course.
So in 1998, a star director made his directorial debut with a film which was the biggest hit of the year and it featured two superstars in the film.
ah...
I'll give you a hint
Necklace with 'cool' written on it.
Karan Johar?
Karan Johar? I didn't know that. The film? And one line memory of that film.
I was obsessed with Rani's silver dress You know when she comes on stage?
She's Tina, right? So she comes on stage with this hot shot silver dress and I wanted that damn dress okay I didn't find it anywhere
I used to just go to my local markets in Noida sector 29 I used to love that dress, that was my last thing and the cool necklace of course but
That was for the boys yeah,
Abhishek sir for you, it's a film which featured your father with a top superstar of south and it's the third biggest hit of 1992.
Oh, I know this.
Oh it's one of my favourites, Oh my god, I'm a big fan of that film.
Hum. oh man!
No no Hum came then but you're saying the 3rd largest? Third!
Khuda Gawah. Yes
Hum was '91. Who's in Khuda Gawah then? Nagarjuna
Nag was opposite the younger Sridevi Ji. Ah yes of course yes another-
What a film!
[Dialogue]
And one memory with that film? Was it that dialogue?
Every memory- You know some of my greatest memories I speak about this very fondly okay well
Mentally I'd already kind of decided that okay I wanna act and I was in boarding school and between
The age of like 13-14 until about 18 when I finally mustered up the courage to tell my parents I remember coming back from the boarding school and every evening without fail
After dinner we used to drive literally across I mean just 5 minutes from our house there's a very old and famous preview theatre called Sumit which was
Which was owned by the great Mr Prakash Mehra and Sumit is the name of his eldest son he was a dear friend of mine
That is like an industry adda where all the screenings used to happen and every day after dinner my father would drive me, my sister and my mother and I would go and we'd watch the rushes
Of Agneepath, Hum, and Khuda Gawah, were all directed by the same director Mr Mukul Anand and produced by dear friend of us and every day
we used to go watch the dailies there and they were doing songs like Jumma Chumma so we've literally seen day by day what they shot and I've seen this film build
Through the- literally from the first frame and I've been on the set. I remember for Khuda Gawah he was shooting in Mehboob studios in floor number one.
The song when he first meets Sridevi Ji and remember walking and being mesmerised not only by the beauty but sheer talent and
Magic of Sridevi Ji doing...
Saroj Ji was choreographing and Mukul uncle was just a genius who just changed Indian cinema and to see Dad you know with those clothes and beard and boots and pagdi
Unbelievable man and the amount of times I've performed I remember, in those days we had the audio cassettes and with Dad a unique thing -
I'm not sure if it happened with the rest but a lot of his dialogues were so famous, they used to come on the cassettes as well and I remember that it was the first time
I saw the climax of a film which was put to music, so the climax of the film was actually a song
Oh, I don't recall that- Okay, that the great Laxmikant Pyarelal Ji had done and I remember in my school my friends and they were all foreigners
Because it was a British boarding school, they used to think I'm a freak because I used to put on that climax song and I'd seen it and I used to perform it I said,
You know ' my dad did this and he did that, and they were very encouraging 'yeah very nice' what are you doing you know lying on the ground and the shot when he wakes up and
He breathes in the sand and it blows- Oh my god there's so many memories.
Khuda Gawah, it is one of my father's favourite films as well he keeps watching it whenever it comes on Tv yeah...
And that moment in the climax when Badshah Khan finally meets his wife after I don't know how many years and he's just standing there and I have to tell you
Okay, I'll say this. I shouldn't but I'll say it.
You know in my work I have my own way of paying ode to my favourite things okay I do it in my own way, it's just a kick for me
I did something in the film and after we shot it and I remember Tushar came in he was very and I said...
This is my ode to my father... Oh how and what was it-
Tiger...
So that was the moment when they finally meet and he looks at her and he sees her and then he does...
It was that! of course Absolutely
So I put these things in these are like small what do you call it? Easter eggs! He does that nah?
So I adapted that to do it for Chaudhary Saab...
How wonderful!
It's wonderful, that's marvellous. Next one is for you this
Film or rather this iconic song started the trend of actors going bare body on screen
1998.
The song is iconic
[sings]
But he wasn't there he was wearing a mesh! No, it was bare-bodied. No yes? yes yes
Pyar Kya toh Darna Kya? What are you talking about? Yes Salman...
Oh hell oh okay...
I'm winning this. This is very sad, I know this song also but now..
One more question! One more? Please Arrey! Are we winning anything for this? No, it's a
No it doesn't matter now start...
Okay this is a Hollywood related question, a monster film- no chance released in, I didn't watch English films then but this is a very popular film, okay continue
A monster film released this year and a spin-off of the same monster film-
Godzilla! yes Whatever, It had the greatest advertising campaign I remember I had to be in New York or something I think I had come down for college or something and on
I think it was on Park Avenue, I was just walking one day and I saw something and I walked like an entire block and at the end of the block it just said 'that's the size of Godzilla's foot'
Like the impression of the entire block it was so cool I still remember that and on the Metlife building they had this thing saying he's taller than this you know it was fantastic
So you could imagine that Wow! Such good memories
And one last question for both of you whoever answers it first.
In 1992 a film was released which gave this actor a tag for lifetime, Hindi actor, a big star today
Shah! No!
I have no Idea
So he didn't debut in 1992? No his film with an x title was released in '92 and that title has become synonymous to the actor. If I give a hint it will be easier, give a hint
The title has been pinned into a franchise
Oh Akki Bhaiya, Khiladi Correct? Yes Oh I see
Khiladi.
Khiladi came out in '92? Yes Just Khiladi, yes
He made a debut in '91 with Saugandh and Khiladi came out in '92
Oh phenomenal, What a cool question actually.
But I still got it, okay I'll take this Thank You
I can take this? You can it's I can? Yes and
Finally this was actually a really good round I mean so trivias you had to share from the 90s so yes So finally before we sign off could you tell us about your upcoming films.
What are your upcoming films after Dasvi, what's the lineup like?
We'll start with you please.
So I acted in a film and have produced it as well called Triple S seven which is in post-production right now that will be ready for release very soon directed by
You know Mr R Parthiban, who's a very senior and respected director-actor from Chennai and I'm very excited about that and it's a very unique concept it's a passion project of mine
It's actually a solo actor film so I'm the only actor in the film so this is a big challenge and wonderful to work with him so Triple S seven will be releasing very soon followed by
Ghoomar, which is a film with Balki and me and Angad and Shabana Aunty which is about two or three days left of shooting so that's also almost done and the obviously
Late in the year, I am just going to complete shooting for the next season of Breathe so that'll be ready so these are the 3 immediate next projects Okay for you
I'm currently filming Foundation Season 2 for Apple Tv which I have to just finish and I'll be doing that in April end and then I'll be coming back here, doing
a show here for the OTT platform so that's all that's confirmed and all. Perfect
It's an international thing [dialogue]
Which movie and which year? Come on
I know this. Say?
K3G I didn't even know- 2001 What?
K3G. 2001.
Kajol's dialogue.
Thank you so much guys lovely speaking to you Thank You and good luck for Dasvi, Thank you very much.