Response to Bhaijaan has been overwhelming: Kabir Khan

The collections of Salman Khan-starrer ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ both in India and abroad are unprecedented but surprising are the reactions from Pakistan. Barring a few minor cuts the film has been released all over Pakistan with astounding reactions and is running house-full in the second week of the release too.

The film has in all earnestness created history and it is time to talk to the director of the film Kabir Khan if he expected this kind of success. Let’s begin by asking you if you were you prepared for universal applause?

I was satisfied with the film, so was Salman. Yes we were prepared for praise and for positive box-office collection but not to this extent. The collections are very fast and the praise overwhelming.

This is your second film with Salman Khan after ‘Ek Tha Tiger’. What has been the difference working with him in the two projects. In ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ we were new to each other but bonded by the script and it was our good luck that it is the highest opening of both Salman and also Yash Raj.

I was working on my other film when one day writer Vijayendra Prasad brought me the subject of ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’. I toyed with the idea for a few days and met up Salman to discuss it. He loved it and asked me to work on it to launch Salman Khan Films. He said he wanted to both produce and star in the film.

I agreed and after many sleepless nights for many weeks finalised the screenplay. I was adamant on two things: That the film will be shot in India and the character will not pander to Salman’s persona of an action hero. He agreed.

And how did you find the lovely Harshaali/ Munni who has stolen our hearts?

The girl is a crucial part of the story and if I had not found her the film would not left the same impact. When Salman heard the story he asked me to cast my daughter. If I had not found anybody else I would have been forced to cast her but that was not my wish list as my daughter is not inclined to the camera as of now at least.

Many children came for audition and I told my casting director don’t make them do scenes/ dialogues from the film. Let them be natural – if they have the spark they will stand out and that is what happened.

Harshaali was spellbinding!

What do you think has worked about the film to generate universal positive reaction?

I think the emotional story. A child getting lost in an enemy country and a hero determined to take her home despite all the upheavals. That it is backed by star presence and power packed performances from the child, Nawazuddin and lead pair Salman and Kareena.

I feel proud of Kareena to not get worried about the length of her role and be a part of a project she believes in. The emotion quotient of the film is very high. People are crying in the film from the beginning to the end. Emotions are universal in India, Pakistan or any other country.

How difficult is it to work with a child star?

Let me put it this way that it is not that simple. You have to explain to her what is happening and yet she is too young to understand everything, so you tell some of it and hold back some of it and expect her to give the appropriate reactions. The instructions have to be correct to trigger the right expressions.

That she played a mute girl added to the complexity but Harshaali was a determined girl. She told me at the audition that she was going to do this film and this was before we had finalised her. She came to shootings with her books and school homework. Her mother was with her all the time and while all of us got tired some time, she was always up and ready, energetic and positive.

What was that one thing you always told Salman during the shooting?

I told him you are Bajrangi and not Salman Khan. Don’t lose him and don’t lose faith in him because if you do, then we lose the conscience of the film. I said don’t ask me half-way through the film to extend the action scenes or add an extra song or make the romance steamier. He agreed. Bajrangi is an out of character for Salman’s image and that is a major reason for the success of the film.

You had shot a happy song to go with the end credits but did not use it. Yes, Eros felt that a happy song after a very emotional film will put everyone in a happy mood but I was against it. I felt it was unfair to the mood and the hangover had to be endured. Fortunately Salim Khan agreed with me. His was the only screening watched with that song and he disapproved of it strongly, saying that it trivialised the emotional impact and therefore the decision was made.

By BhawanaSomaaya