My father stood in a queue to watch Sholay. Puri Jagannadh too has done it, and I'm sure many of you out there too must have at some given point in your life. But such was the allure of Amitabh Bachchan back then. Today, many seem that he has become placid in his portrayals on screen but come July 1, the angry young man gives way to the angry old man in Puri Jagannadh's Bbuddah...Hoga Terra Baap. The South Indian director has just arrived in Bollywood and look what he has done? He has presented Amitabh Bachchan as never before: colourful, cajoling and kicking. The question is - Will Puri take it one notch higher? To find out more on the origin of Bbuddah and the loss of the angry young man, UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent talks to the director who has given his heart and soul to bring the hero of heroes, Amitabh Bachchan on celluloid all over again. Matinee time is just around the corner and so are the long queues. And believe you me, advance booking starts NOW!
"I stopped watching Mr. Bachchan's films till I came across RGV's Sarkar and the rest is history"
I've been a big fan of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan since childhood and I used to watch his movies like Zanjeer, Deewar, Sholay and Agneepath. He is dynamic and a superstar in front of me. Then he was never seen in the angry young man look for decades. So I stopped watching his films also. For me, Amitabh Bachchan was the epitome of angry. After twenty five years, I watched Sarkar and I called RGV. I have been an assistant director for Ram Gopal Varma. I called and I told him that I wanted to cast Mr. Bachchan in a role for the film that I had written. RGV then took me to Mr. Bachchan and he agreed to do the film.
"I never dreamt that I would work with Mr. Bachchan"
I never dreamt that I would work with Mr. Bachchan in my life because I was just a fan of his. So seeing Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap come to life is a surprise but it's still a film that I have directed and it's my work.
"Mr. Bachchan told me to mellow down the action sequences but he lied. He just couldn't stop once on set"
I did design the action sequences that could be handled by Mr. Bachchan but he told me to mellow down in the action sequences. He was honest to tell me that he won't be able to do too many action sequences. But he lied (laughs). He is so energetic that he just couldn't stop once in the character.
"There will be a long queue to watch him in Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap"
Now-a-days, the youth is watching Amitabh Bachchan on the big screen anyway. But back then, I used to stand in a queue to watch him. I want today's youth to do just that. There will be a long queue to watch him in Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap, that's what I wish. It's a different feeling altogether. Yes, the Rajinikanth fascination is hitting Bollywood big time.
"When RGV told Mr. Bachchan the name of the film is Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap, he laughed out loud"
When RGV told Mr. Bachchan the name of the film is Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap, he laughed out loud. It was the most unexpected title ever. But in today's time the youth really gets their first flavour of the film from its title. I think this is the most risky title that many of our actors or directors or producers would never go with.
"Mr. Bachchan wants to go beyond his characters sometimes"
Mr. Bachchan got so many colourful goggles that I asked myself 'Why' (laughs). But deep down he has this fire in him. He took me home and showed me some of the stuff he brought. That's passion for cinema. That's the level of commitment he brings. He even got some tiger print pants that I and you will never buy but when you have a role like this, Mr. Bachchan wants to go beyond and that's good.
"Sonal Chauhan has played her role with zest"
I earlier wanted Kangna Ranaut for the role that is now being portrayed by Sonal Chauhan in Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap. I didn't get Kangna's dates and so went with Sonal after the auditions. She is very good in the film. She has played her role with zest.
"Bbuddah started with a dialogue and then the story"
When I thought of the title Bbuddah, I didn't know what kind of a story I was going to write. But I wrote one dialogue before writing the story, "Agar mein marunga, toh goli se marunga, BP ya sugar se nahi." (If I die I will die from a bullet and not from BP or Sugar). That triggered off the rest of the film. I designed the protagonist on those lines. The movie will certainly have a repeat audience, I can guarantee.
"I am getting offers to direct in Hindi now"
I am getting offers to direct in Hindi now after the first promo and the look is out. I have been working in Hyderabad since a decade but now I want to make some more Hindi films because I am also starting to live in Mumbai (laughs).
"Mr. Bachchan makes sure that everything is proper from pre to post"
Mr. Bachchan saw the whole film and he told me to edit some scenes only to better the film. Yes, he does talk to you and gives you his personal input but more than that, he makes sure that everything is done correctly in the scene, be it lighting, direction, co-actors and even editing.
"To have the premiere of Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap in London will be amazing"
I told Mr. Bachchan to have the premiere of the film in London. That'll be quite something. Let's see whether we are successful in doing that or not.
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