“I liked Munnabhai but Sanjay Dutt looks too old to be in love with someone who looks like his daughter and also to behave like a teen in love” – Onir 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, September 7, 2006 - 01:00 IST
IndiaFM proudly brought a very talented person onto your screens with a live chat on 5 September. Director of
the acclaimed film My Brother Nikhil, Onir graciously agreed to have a conversation with the viewers. Onir whose
film Bas Ek Pal starring Sanjay Suri, Jimmy Shergill, Juhi Chawala and Urmila Matondkar is all set to release this
Friday spoke about his life, his forthcoming films and a lot more. Here are some excerpts from the chat.
jay : hey
Black : Hey
jango : hello...
jeena : hallo
onir : hi all
sahil : First of all i would like to say that your last movie MBN was great. And now even i m expecting the same
from BEP. I am very very excited about this movie.I have 11 questions for u. Pls answer me frankly. so your 1st Question
is what type of story of this movie? and how much it is different from My Brother Nikhil?
onir : this film is totally diff from MBN
onir : it is a urban relationship story.
jango : how did you shortlist the cast for Bas ek pal?
onir : the cast was decided after the script was ready
onir : sanjay was a part of it from the time i worte
jeena : why did u take juhi again
onir : needed good actors rather than stars
Urmilla and juhi, But i wanna know what's this Urban Relationship. I mean what do u think by Urban Relationship.
onir : i mean they are all living in Mumbai.... their lifestlye in today city
onir : insular families
bhai : i sit on lines of unfaithful?
bhai : or dial M for murder
onir : infidility is just one small part of the film not the backbone
aradhana : Hi Onir!How are you?Was Akshay Kumar the first choice for Sanjay Suri's character in My brother
Nikhil?
onir : no never i never met akshay for this role
sahil : Your last movie have some reflection of Homosexuality. Is this movie have any Gay or Lesbian
relationship.
onir : this film does not really deal with homosexsuality.... but sexsuality is a part of the film
sahil : And what happened wrong in Osian Festival 2006? There's one article that 'Bas Ek Pal' fails to convince?
and there's one more article Enthusiastic Response To Sanjay-Urmilla-Juhi starrer Bas Ek Pal? So what according to u
which article is correct. onir : i think in the festival the sound and the picture qualiy was the pits and i had a
mixed response
PulpFiction : who do you refer Pritam or Mithoon
onir : i like mithoon and pritam like you can like sonu nigam and kk at the same time
PulpFiction : is ur movie is any way related to the jessica lal case
onir : it is a tragic thriller
sahil : You have again Signed Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Suri again? How they came into this movie???
onir : sanjay was a part of the film when i wrote it
onir : because of the relationship we developed during MBN
onir : wanted to cast her in a role she has never seen in
PulpFiction : will munnabhai and naksha prove to be hindrance at the bo of bas ek pal
onir : i do not think as those film are of a diff genre
Riya : both of ur subjects were totally diff and interesting as well, hw do you think of somthing diff?
onir : i suppose one is not afraid to think diff :)
sahil : Bas ek pal site is aussome but i have sent many comments that please made a Flash Version of this site.
So are you planning to Make its Flash Version?
onir : yes planning to have flash version soon
sahil : In one of your interview you have said that the roles u think were difficult are of Sanjay, Jimmy and Juhi,
so what type of Role they r doing. I mean what they are doing in this movie?
onir : sanjay is arrogant and extrovert in the film
rahul_cool : Onir will u ever make films with big stars
onir : if they are good actors and willing to work with me i would love to
onir : for me i need to work with good actors.... i cannot run after stars
ashok : hi onir..whom do u consider d best actor n actress in bollyood?.
onir : i like amir a lot
PulpFiction : Ur comment on IndiaFM.com
onir : i log on onto india fm every day
passionburner : do u wanna work with yash chopra or make films of that genre
onir : i do not have any desperate longing for any big prod house
Riya : would u like to work a total comercial sub?
onir : i think my films are commercial:) as they make enough money....
eric : onir i think u r a great director.... and u have already proved that in MBN..... i was one of the best movie i
have ever seen.... it got audience choice award at milan film festival..... are u expecting the same magic with BEP?
onir : I hope iit goes to festivals abroad
rahul_cool : there was a rumour about a sanjay dutt starrer which u were going to direct !
onir : no no they mistook sanjay suri as sanjay dutt.... i never met him.
Angi : What inspired you to make "..Nikhil.." ?
onir : nikhil was inspired from the real life story of dominique from goa
onir : his face haunted me for years till i decided to make a film out of it
onir : the first know aids case in india
| Nikhil was inspired from the real life
story of dominique from goa |
Angi : Do you believe that Sanjay Suri can turn really popular ?
onir : i think sanjay is a good actor and will make a place for himself
rahul_cool : Your top 3 films this year .
onir : my top three films this year.... munna bhai/ omkara/ gangster
PulpFiction : What is your surname?
onir : i do not use my surname
sudip : Hi onir your future projects?
onir : this film is a thriller.... the next would be an adventure or comedy
harry : hello onir its harris from pakistan.namsatay!
onir : hello harry your countrymen rock... i mean atif
| Pakistanis rock... I mean
Atif |
Riya : wht is ur kind of cinema?
onir : but sensible
onir : my kind of cinema is more european and definately not tom dick and harry
sahil : Is juhi chawla having a negative role in this movie?
onir : well juhi has shades to her character
shrenik : hi onir! would u like to do a film with aamir khan?
onir : i would like to do a film with Aamir... yes
| I would like to do a film with
Aamir... |
PulpFiction : ur take on Deepak Tijori of Tom Dick Harry fame
onir : tom dick and harry is regressive
| Tom Dick and Harry is
regressive |
Angi : In the movie 'Bas Ek Pal', the song 'Tere Bin' is damn good, was it your idea to have a song like that ?
onir : i liked the song and wanted it in the film.... all the creative dec are my
ley : tell us more about yourself! what do you love the most in life?
onir : i love my work the most... and very close to my immediate family and a few friends
onir : i love walking/cooking/travelling/ films
mitu : hi how r u?
onir : i am fine mitu
Dushyant : Hi Onir! you did not answered my question!
Dushyant : Hi Onir! I want to become a director and for that I want to work as a assistant director. Do you have
any coming projects for which you need assistant? I want to meet you too for my new short film.
onir : dushant write to me at anticlockfilms@gmail.com
ROHIT2 : Donu u think that jimmy shergill is most under underestimated actor
onir : yes jimmy is underrated.... he will surprise everyone in my film
passionburner : y did u choose the jessica lal murdercase
onir : my film has nothing to do with jessica lal case
passionburner : is bas ek pal similar to KANK
onir : no bas ek pal is not similar save for the fact that they deal with adult relationships
Jerin : Whos your faavourtie actor personally?
onir : i do not have favourite actors.... like diff actors in diff films
rahul_cool : you thoughts on KANK.
onir : KANK could have been a much better film
| KANK could have been a much better
film |
esh : i've heard that the storyline of bas ek pal is like an urban version of omkara
onir : nooooooooooooo nothing to do with omkara
p : are u making hamlet?
onir : i amworking on the adaptations of hamlet
passionburner : onir r u married?
onir : passion are you proposing.... then i shall answer :-)
Sinister : This may sound like a cliche of question but what advice could you offer to somebody aspiring to
break into the film industry?
onir : sinster... if you have a dream.... figure out if you are ready to slog for oit.... but keep analysing yourself all
the time to realise that it is the correct dream
passionburner : 1st aids.then adultery. now what?
onir : iT IS NOT ADULTERY>>>>>
Angi : Do u have any plans for Hollywood, Onir ?
onir : I HOPE HOLLYHOOD HAS PLANS FOR ME :0
Rizjee2good : I heard that u want hrithik in hamlet?
onir : wanting to cast hrithik
farhan ali : how did atif land in ur movie?
onir : mithoon my musid dir was recording with him.... i really liked the tune and wanted the song for a situation
in the film
shrenik : onir, i must congrat u for ur new film promos. u present ur heroines with much dignity.
onir : thanks shrenik
passionburner : any plans for big budget movies or is it that no 1 wants to back u
onir : i do not wake up to say tom i need to make a big budget film
onir : the budget will be according to the requirement of the story
MediaGuyVishal : will u accept outside scripts
onir : yes.... stories from anywhere are welcome
aradhana : Onir sir,what is your opinion on remakes?Like devdas,Don Umrao Jaan etc.?
onir : i do not like remakes
onir : they are like remixes
onir : show a lack of coonfidence in the name of tribute
Jerin : Sir will you again work with Ram Gopal Varma in the future?
onir : no i will not work with ramu
| I will not work with Ram Gopal
Varma |
Rizjee2good : tell me about story of BEP.
onir : rizjee check out basekpal.com for story
Angi : You are from Bengal aren't you ? Ever thought of making a bengali film ?
onir : yes some day a bengali film will be fun
Munnabhai : what is your take on Munnabhai-2 & sanjay dutt ?
onir : i like munna bhai... but think sanjay dutt looks too old
onir : too old to be in love with someone who looks like his daughter
onir : and too old to behave like a teen in love
| Sanjay Dutt looks too old in Munnabhai
to be in love with someone who looks like his daughter and also to behave like a teen in
love |
Jerin : Which is your favourite film till date?
onir : my fav film not one.... but the one that comes to my mind now... MEGHE dhaka tara by riywik ghatak... a
bengali film
Paresh : What are your expectations with ur next one??
onir : paresh my expectations are .... i have a story to tell and i hope people are interested in listening :) thats
all
Jerin : Really sir you are very bold enough to tell everything publicly in filmfare
onir : thanks jerinm
PulpFiction : does the david dhawan kind of cinema appeal to you
onir : no david dhawan does not appeal to me
Angi : Did you know that Pritam has copied a song in BEP ?
onir : realized it later that one line was from his earlier composition :-(
| I realized later that one line from a song
in Bas Ek Pal was from Pritam’s earlier composition :-( |
aradhana : Onir sir,who is your favourite bengali actor and actress?
onir : suchitra sen
MASk : what do u think about new DON,
onir : i am right now only thinking anbout BEP.... remakes dont excite me
Soul : Onir any advice for somebody wanting to break into the industry?
onir : soul........... be ready for a long walk..... if you do not have contacts.... but nevermind it will lead you
somewhere
Angi : Can Indian cinema ever be at a scale with Hollywood ?
onir : why is hollyhood the scale we judge everything by.... we need to make good films thats all.... hollywood
too produces 90% trash like us
| Why is Hollywood the scale we judge
everything by.... we need to make good films that’s all.... Hollywood too produces 90% trash like
us |
Munnabhai : your take on Black Friday !
onir : sorry i have not seen the full film
onir : saw half and really liked it
MediaGuyVishal : how did start off as a director then...?
onir : i trained in film making in Berlin
Angi : Today's Teacher's Day ! Has any teacher inspired you in life ?
onir : yes my professors in university were a big inspiration
MediaGuyVishal : how did u start off as a director then.... what if i wanna cast urmila n juhi in a hilarious film.....
will u help
onir : sure media
krazy1 : Onir, which film this year do you thing is worthy of being India's entry to the Oscars?
onir : RDB
jaadoo : onir, what do you think about krrish which has become a blockbuster of the year?
onir : i think krish was boring and long
Paresh : Onir, i live in UK and here films with a low star value does not appeal to the audiences
onir : i make my films for audiences at home.... i think people here are looking for something
onir : and hopefully nri s abroad will also start looking beyond stars
passionburner : what enable u to type so fast?
onir : i am fast i suppose
onir : not old fashioned dir .... you know !
Soul : lol, I must say you Bollywood personlities are quite enouraging, but are contacts everything? Does talent
hold no value?
onir : yes talent holds value.... here i am :-) lol
cupidsk : Don't ya think language is the biggest drawback for Indian Films to go Global?...I mean, to compete
Hollywood!
onir : how are chinese and japanese films going global
timtomlee : u were a film editor. can u recommend some books that teaches aesthetics as well as technicals of
editing?
onir : hey tim send me a mail at anticlockfilm@gmail .com .... will send you some book names
Soul : and would you say modelling is the easiest way to get into bollywood?
onir : nooooooooooo.... good looks and acting are two diff things... of course we have some hunks and
bimbos.... who look good and cant act
Jerin : Who`s your favourite among Aamir and Shahrukh?
onir : amir
| I prefer Aamir over
Shahrukh |
PulpFiction : do u think munnabhai and naksha will harm ur prospects at the bo
onir : not really worried about other films.... there will always be something
onir : need to trust oneself a lil
Angi : Do you think Bollywood films should not be escapist ?
onir : i thin any genre of film can be good.... if made intelligently. i enjoy all kind of intelligent films.
Angi : Do you think MBN has helped AIDS consciousness in India today ?
onir : i think MBn was a small step.... but yes definately a step towards that dir
Paresh : the distributors here in UK can not recover the money if they buy a low budget movie with no star
value, ur comment pls...
onir : paresh..... how did page three become such a big hit. everyone thought it wold flop.... bvut ...
Siffat : Onir, what is your one goal in life?
onir : to make films that i am not ashamed of
Angi : So you don't like SRK ?
onir : i like srk but i like amir more as an actor
acomni : Onir will you make movies like Aditya Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhanshali an Karan Johar ?
onir : i will make film like none of them .... want my own identity
razz : are you married??
onir : razz is that a proposition too
raj : what is the usp of bas ek pal ?
onir : usp.... unusual story.... great performances.... visually beautiful
bhavin : don't you think the technicians in out film industry are not getting recognition they deserved????
onir : yes bhavin.... because we dont stick together for our rights
kran57 : hi am Karan from Mauritius, had 2 say the mauritian audience enjoy your good cinema, good job!!!
onir : thank kran ... hop e you like BEP
razz : dont you think that your films lack commercial publicity as in the kind of movies like munnabhai and fanaa
.... many people do not know what bas ek pal is about ...
onir : you have to realise that Fanna amd Munna bhai are films with over 20 cr budget.... i havea budget of
3.5.... does that answer your q
rahul G. : What abt ur project based on hamlet? have u approached hrithik yet?
onir : no will approach him after the script is ready
cupidsk : Why sanjay suri in Bas Ek Pal?Wasn't there any other actor?...Never mind, i don't like him as an actor!
onir : i suppose i mlike him as an actor
PulpFiction : Do you think the audience should be grateful to IndiaFM for letting us chat with such a talented
person?
onir : no no one needs to be greatful.... i enjoyed... and it was fun for the site too i hope
redrose : Onir, I read somewhere that you are planing Hamlet, is it still in scripting stage?
onir : scripting stageWho is cast? Would it be a intense tragedy, a dark film? Or just jist would be taken and
juxtaposed in athe modern milieu?
onir : intense tragedy
onir : am setting it today
passionburner : will u ever make a movie like PULP FICTION
onir : have not rewally thought of a film like that yet
jahangeer : what is more imp.,? good story or director
onir : haha........ a good dir to recognise a good story and shape it
sarf : this is sarf from australia
onir : hi sarf
Angi : Did you face any oppostion from ur family for your decision to join films ?
onir : parents were a lil worried.... but they are proud now..... i supported myself so took my own dec
redrose : Onir, for the kind of films you make targetting niche audience is the finance difficult to get?
onir : yes it is a lil diff to get finance.... but things are becoming better as the audience is growing
farhan ali : just wanted to say that the music of BEP rocks!!!
onir : thanks farhan hope you like the film too
onir : HEY EVERYONE.... THIS WAS GREAT.... CHATTING TO YOU ALL AND THANKS INDIAFM FOR
ENABLING ME TO CHAT LIVE WITH ALL OF YOU..... BE HAPPY :-)
|
After ‘My Brother Nikhil, it’s ‘Bas Ek Pal’
