“Now Anurag will be called Abhinav Kashyap’s brother” – Abhinav Kashyap: Part 2

By Devansh Patel -

August 7, 2010 - 11:55 AM IST

What if Diwali crackers start to burst in Eid? It is pretty evident that Dabangg is releasing this Eid. Abhinav Kashyap cannot thank his good fortunes enough. When I met him recently at his Andheri office, he too bursts a cracker of a quote, "It's a great burden off my head that I am not being known as Anurag Kashyap's brother after the Dabangg trailer released." Such is life guys! UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent brings you Part 2 of the explosive Abhinav Kashyap interview on Dabangg.

'Mujhe pyaar se dar lagta hai sahab'

“Now Anurag will be called Abhinav Kashyap’s brother” – Abhinav Kashyap: Part 2

Sonakshi plays a very powerful character in Dabangg. She is this woman who sees life in perspective. She has an alcoholic father in the film who she is devoted herself to. She doesn't want to fall in love and get married. But right through the film, she is willing to face all the challenges head on. That line, 'Mujhe pyaar se dar lagta hain sahab' says it all.

Anurag Kashyap's brother

Being Anurag Kashyap's brother created difficulties for me initially. Now I am enjoying it. There is a certain kind of expectation from me also because I am Anurag Kashyap's brother. People are expecting some sort of sensibility, whether it's massy or classy, doesn't matter.

Arbaaz me, "Would you mind if I produce the film also?" I said, "I would love it."

Arbaaz Khan

Nobody approached me. I was approaching people after I had my script almost ready. I was meeting a lot of people when I saw Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. I loved the cameo by Arbaaz and Sohail. I thought they were outrageously funny. One of my friends happened to know Arbaaz and he set up a meeting with him because I wanted to cast him for one of the roles in Dabangg. I got twenty minutes from Arbaaz and he said, "This is a brilliant script". He called me the same evening and told me that he wanted to turn producer but he couldn't get a perfect script. He also asked me, "Would you mind if I produce the film also?" I said, "I would love it." We then met the day after at Sohail's house and took it from there.

Salman Khan

Both Sohail and Arbaaz, after getting convinced with the script, put an idea into my head saying that why people like me wanted to make films by taking small stars. They told me, "Why don't you think of this film with a huge star?" That's how Salman Khan came into the picture. I was considering some other people for Chulbul's role. I was going to take a different route which was going to shock a lot of my friends but I did it eventually. I was trying to make a film since three years with Irrfan, Kay Kay, etc but I could never raise the money. But all the Khan brothers backed this film with great passion and belief.

I was trying to make a film since three years with Irrfan, Kay Kay, etc but I could never raise the money

Re-writing Chulbul

Even Anurag rewrites his script keeping in mind his actor's personality. I too incorporated Salman's personality thereafter. His personality was always there to some extent. He had a macho image of a guy who never puts a foot wrong and breaks a few rules. But we tweaked his character a little bit and rewrote it.

Now Anurag will be called Abhinav Kashyap's brother

Expectation

I've never sincerely expected anything great from a film I'd make. I actually love it. This is very personal but I am working in this industry for fifteen years and people have been expecting an Anurag Kashyap out of me. For the first time, they are now expecting Abhinav Kashyap and I love it. I am finally reading articles in the newspapers where I am not mentioned as Anurag's brother. It's a great burden off my head. We both are the best of friends but I hate it when all I do in my personal capacity is attached to him by the media and others. Now he will be called Abhinav Kashyap's brother (laughs). It's good that he is going around telling people that Abhinav has made a commercial film. Now the rest of his life, he'll be funding my films (laughs).

Click here to read the first part of this feature