Rakesh Roshan tells SRK, “Compete with Salman and Aamir, not Hrithik”

Rakesh Roshan’s upcoming film ‘Kaabil’ is all set to release on 25th January 2017. The film starring Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam will be locking horns with Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Raees’. Here’s what Rakesh Roshan had to say in a-tell-all interview.

What took you so long to come back with a film after Krishh 3? What was going on in your mind during this period?
I was hearing subjects from various people. At the same time I was working on a script where Hrithik plays a triple role. But I couldn’t crack the climax of the film. I called Hollywood writers to discuss it with them. They sat with me for 3 months, but we were not able to crack it still. During this period, Sanjay Gupta came to me and narrated the outline of a story. And I said, let’s make THIS film! That’s when I left the triple role story behind and started working on Kaabil.

But were you fine with Sanjay Gupta, as his recent track record has not been very impressive at the box-office?
We should see the talent in that man. Sometimes things don’t work out, it’s okay. I am a very big fan of Gupta’s technical knowledge. In fact, I feel he is a technical wizard.  Sanjay shoots his films very well. So when we sat down to discuss the script, he understood my point of view rather well. He immediately understood how exactly I want to narrate his story. So I could feel that he was on the same platform as I.

Hrithik immediately said yes to Gupta’s idea?
In fact, Hrithik heard the storyline before I did. He then called me to say that I should hear Sanjay’s story. He didn’t tell me much about it- just said I won’t tell you anything about it, you hear it from him. So when Sanjay came to my office, I asked him to explain the story in one line. It was my kind of story as it is based on emotions and I firmly believe that anything which has emotions always works.

It’s a tough role for Hrithik yet again…
I always choose a subject where I can challenge Hrithik and myself. Right from the beginning, I gave him a double role in his debut film Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, then he payed the role of a mentally challenged kid in Koi…Mil Gaya and then I made him a superhero in Krrish- he superseded in all of them. Apart from the fact that he is my son, I know that he is a brilliant actor and will add a lot of value to the film.

So how did he prepare for the blind man’s role?
I think Hrithik is a better person to answer that. All I know is that I was blown away when I saw the first shot of the film right here (pointing towards his editing room). For that matter, even Yami Gautam has surprised me.

Talking about Yami, we heard that you wanted an established actress for her role and then you changed your mind? You guys met Kareena Kapoor…
I was not in favour of casting an established actress. It was my team who wanted to cast an established heroine who might not be a very big star but a good actress who has done substantial work, as Yami’s was a difficult role to play- toh ek manjhi hui actress chahte the woh.

Luckily I happened to see one of Yami’s films and I immediately called her to meet me. The moment she walked into my cabin, I knew she is my heroine of Kaabil! Yami has a girl-next-door face, uske chehre par honesty dikhti hai. I gave her some dialogues and said, ‘Practice this and I’ll send a camera.’ She rehearsed and did a fine job. I still have that audition tape, which I eventually showed to Hrithik and Sanjay- and they both liked it very much.

What was Hrithik’s opinion about Yami? Was he fine with you for casting a new girl in the film?
All that Hrithik told me was, ‘Papa your judgement is always right, so I leave this to you.’

Did you give Sanjay Gupta a free hand with the budget?
Sanjay wanted to complete the film in 45 days. But I told him to take 90 days and make a good film. I was in no hurry and had no budget constraints. I told him to eat from the platter, and not the katori.  I didn’t want to make any compromises because I am making the film under my banner and it’s my son’s film. I asked for his complete involvement and also told him not to take up any other film during the making of Kaabil, and he happily agreed.

Weren’t you tempted to direct the film? You seem quite involved in the production…
Not really. When I interacted with Sanjay, I thought he will do a good job. He has made the film better than I could have. When I see the shots and compare it to how we had originally written them, you won’t believe it but Sanjay has enhanced those scenes onscreen by ten folds.

How did the casting go further- Rohit and Ronit Roy?
It was Sanjay’s idea to casting Rohit and Ronit as they play brothers in the film as well. I liked his suggestion and told him to go ahead.

You included Urvashi Rautela’s number in the film…
I didn’t include the song now. It was always a part of the script.

But why Saara Zamana from Yaarana? Is it your favourite track or any other reason?
We had planned a different song but Sanjay suggested that why not recreate Saara Zamana as Rajesh Roshan himself had composed the song. I said try it out and Rajesh, along with music composers Gaurav and Roshni, recreated the number. When I heard the song, I knew it will be an instant hit.

How did you think of casting Urvashi for the song?
While I work out in the morning in my gym, I always put on a music channel. So one day, while working out I saw her in the song- Daddy Mummy and from that moment I thought if I get a chance and if there is a song or role in a film, I’ll cast her.

So what happens to the triple role film whose climax you couldn’t crack?
After Kaabil releases, I’ll work on it along with Krishh 4. Sometimes your thoughts get stuck and you need to leave an idea aside. This happened with me during Krrish 3. I wrote the script of Krrish 3 twice and kept it aside for some time and started working on something else. Suddenly I got a fresh idea and that worked for the film. So, sometimes you need to detach in life and get back later rejuvenated.

So which film will you go with first- Krishh 4 or the triple role one?
Although I have the concept ready for Krishh 4, still it will take me 1-1.5 years to start Krishh 4 as it requires a lof preparation. I’ll have to animate the entire film and see how it looks. We will have to borrow a lot of visual effects and since we don’t have a big budget, we will have to use every penny wisely and not squander money.

How confident are you about Kaabil at this point?
I am proud that I have made Kaabil and I have a strong intuition that it will do very well. How well- that is my destiny.

Netflix has come charging at you that Kaabil is inspired by Daredevil…
I read such reports, but I didn’t get any legal notice from Netflix. They (Netflix) later denied the rumours (that they were planning to sue the makers of Kaabil) and said that they are going to get to the root of the problem and figure out the source of the rumour.

Sanjay (Gupta, the director) also didn’t get a legal notice, right?
No. How can he get a legal notice when I am the producer of the film?

How worried are you considering Kaabil is clashing with Shah Rukh’s Raees?
I am relaxed because I feel that you will get what’s in your destiny. But one thing I know about myself is that if someone else had announced his/her release date before I did, I wouldn’t have come out with my film on the same day. We have to be professional. I picked up the date in February this year when I was going to start the film and I had finished the film sometime in August. I could have come out with the film in October, November or December— but looking at this year’s calendar I found that a number of films were lined up in those months and January was free. So I picked up January 26 to not disturb anybody else’s release date. It’s not fair to do that, but somehow it has happened (shrugs). Now, we will see what happens.

What was your reaction when Shah Rukh first announced that Raees will release on the same day as Kaabil?
Anybody will get disturbed. I was too. If it would have happened to him, even he would have got disturbed. I told him we both will lose money.

He came to meet you regarding the clash…
But he didn’t understand. I don’t know why. I told him that I am hearing good reports about your film, it can do a business of Rs 300 crore. I also told him that his contemporaries are Salman and Aamir who are making Rs 300 crores (each) with their films; compete with them, not Hrithik. Hrithik is junior to him.

What did he say then?
In front of me, he agreed to what I was saying. He said, ‘Yes sir, yes sir’. But he didn’t change the release date of Raees and is now coming out on the same day as Kaabil. I wish him good luck. Both of us together will make Rs 300 crore. That’s the good part.

Also, two films coming together on the same day will result in a fight over screens…
Naturally. Everything will be divided, so business will also be divided.

Anil Thadani (distributor) is blackmailing single screens to release Raees else he won’t deliver Baahubali 2 to them…
I don’t know who is blackmailing whom. Could be. I was always prepared to release the film on January 26, so I have my plans in place.
Hrithik has gone on a holiday, we have finished all the work. My first copy will come out on January 10, 2017, the film’s music is out, and promotions are also on. So, I am relaxed.

How has Hrithik taken it?
He is on a holiday (HR returns to Mumbai tonight) and that itself shows how he has taken it. The whole family – my wife, daughter, Hrithik and his sons – have gone with him.