“Crook is based on racial discrimination” – Mohit Suri

By Ryan Lobo -

February 25, 2010 - 2:12 PM IST

The Bhatts have been known to make films that revolve around social issues. With new blood in terms of the young director Mohit Suri, they promised to instil their films with views that have changed over time. Mohit, who is currently shooting for his next film Crook which stars Emraan Hashmi and newcomer Neha Sharma, chatted with Bollywood Hungama about the film. He also explains why the content borders on sending out a social message. Read on to know more.

“Crook is based on racial discrimination” – Mohit Suri

What is the film Crook all about?

Well, Crook is basically about this guy who constantly looks for better prospects abroad and wants to go there. It's based on what's happening in Australia and how he manages to cope with the situation once there. It encompasses the new trend that western nations are the place to go for a new job and also to make your life, and such other situations. There is a lot of drama et al, with the protagonist taking a stand against some racial issues that the film is based on, but in the end if you look at it closely there is also a love story angle twisted into the plot. But still I wouldn't say that there is any kind of social message in the film as there is no solution to this nor have we come up with one as yet.

Crook is based on the racial discrimination happening in Australia with a love story I the background.

Why Emraan?

I guess Emraan was my first and only choice for the film's lead actor, the reason behind this is that I have always said that the two of us share a good camaraderie since we almost grew up together. We quite literally understand each others point of view and thinking process. He's a great asset to me as a director and I seek his help when needed the most.

Who is playing the female lead opposite Emraan in the film?

For the lead actress, we settled on Neha Sharma, she's basically from the south and has done a couple of films out there but in terms of Bollywood or rather Hindi language cinema, this is going to be her debut vehicle.

Neha Sharma, who will be making her Hindi language film debut is paired opposite Emraan.

What's Emraan's character like in the film?

Emraan as I said plays the main protagonist in the film; he plays this guy who's based in Mumbai, who thinks that the best way to make it in life is to head west. With this in mind he ventures to Australia. He is also the kind of person who doesn't mind cutting corners and stepping on people toes so long as it takes him ahead. He even goes so far as to cheat and get into underhand dealings to progress. As the film is based on what's happening in terms of racial discrimination there, it's about how the protagonist copes with the situation and takes a stand in the film.

Most of the film will be shot in Melbourne and Mumbai as these are the places where everything is happening.

Where all are you planning to shoot the film?

We were and are doing the recce of the film here in Cape Town. While I have already settled for Melbourne as that's where the entire heart of the problem was, here in Cape Town I am shooting some action bits of the film and yes of course in Mumbai. Basically Melbourne and Mumbai is where the film is based, that's where the main protagonist spends most of his time and most of the shooting is also done here.

So, when are you looking at releasing the film?

In fact I am looking at wrapping the entire shoot schedule by May, because I shoot non-stop. So latest that it will go on till is the end of June. However, once the post production work is done I don't like to indulge into the deciding of the release dates and promotion of the film. For that I leave it to the Bhatts. I think that the producers of the film are the best judge to decide about the where, when and why of a film's release.

Who is doing the music of Crook?

For Crook, we have Pritam doing the music of the film. This time however there is a bit of Punjabi tadka to it. This in itself is something really new for me as I have never really done Punjabi music in any of my films and I haven't done the entire hip hop mixed with Punjabi variation before. In Crook, in terms of the music, I am trying to mix the UK artists with the traditional Mumbai artists, so I am trying something totally new and different.

What's your schedule like for this year? Planning any other film after Crook?

I can't tell you right now, because I am the kind of person who works on one thing at a time. So right now I am doing Crook and I like to focus my entire attention on doing it, so others will just have to wait.