“Shashi Kapoor for Shah Rukh Khan is a poignant coincidence” – Aanand L Rai

By Subhash K. Jha -

January 4, 2018 - 10:48 AM IST

When the first teaser for Aanand L Rai’s Zero was released we all presumed the song ‘Humko Tumpe Pyar Aaya’ originally featured in the 1960s’ musical blockbuster film Jab Jab Phool Khile, was being used on Shah Rukh Khan as a homage to Shashi Kapoor who died last month.

“Shashi Kapoor for Shah Rukh Khan is a poignant coincidence” – Aanand L Rai

But Aanand who loves vintage music, Mohd Rafi, Shashi Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan—not necessarily in that order—says the song was selected long before the tragic demise of Shashi.

“It wasn’t as if after his death we decided to use this song just to get audiences mushy and tear-eyed. We chose the song long ago, almost a year back to manifest Khan Sahib’s (Shah Rukh’s) ebullience exuberance and…how do you say it in French?…joie de vivre. I’d say that song from Jab Jab Phool Khile chose itself for our film. We didn’t have to give it too much thought. It just crept in to coincide with the character.”

Aanand confesses a fondness for Mohmmed Rafi’s song. “There is something about that song ‘Humko Tumpe Pyar Aaya’ which has captured my attention from when I was young. It represents the youthful aspirations of generations that were young and raring to go in the 1960s and 70s.Rafi Saab’s mischievous playful childlike joy and vitality in the song is just what we needed for Khan Sahib’s character.”

It is interesting that Shah Rukh Khan is seen reacting to the Mohd Rafi song’s beats in Zero just weeks after Shashi Kapoor’s death. “That’s just a poignant coincidence. We didn’t plan it,” says Aanand.

Those millions who have seen the teaser trailer of Zero are most impressed by the special effects that have gone into making Shah Rukh look vertically challenged.

Aanand chooses not to be overly impressed by the technical virtuosity displayed in the trailer. “I’d like to believe Zero will have a lot more to offer than just technical expertise when it releases in December next year. We haven’t made this film to impress audience with our VFX skills nor to exhibit Khan Sahib’s versatility. This is not film made to tell the world, ‘Look at what Shah Rukh Khan can do and look at how we’ve made him two feet shorter than he actually is’. There is a reason why Shah Rukh Khan is in this film and why it has been made in the first place. All of this will be revealed when people see the film in December.”

But why the teaser a full year in advance? Explains Aanand, “We were aware there was a full year ahead. But we believed the time was right to introduce our film to the audience. There is a reassuring level of curiosity and interest in Zero. We wanted to share our excitement with the audience.”

Aanand who has earlier directed the spectacularly successful Tanu Weds Manu films, feels the audiences’ excitement. “I feel we’re on to something special this time. I can feel it. The audience can feel it too.”