Deepak Tijori was a part of some very memorable films in the 90s. Khiladi, however, stood out. As the ‘hero’s friend’ in films, he contributed a lot to the narrative of this film, especially to the laughter quotient. No wonder it is one of the most memorable roles in his career.
As Khiladi completed 30 years on June 5, Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to Deepak Tijori about the film.
How did you bag the role in Khiladi?
My films like Aashiqui and Sadak (1991) had already released. It was a time when I was holding the tag of the hero’s best friend.
I remember director duo Abbas-Mustan were trying to reach out to me. I had heard about them; they had made a Gujarati film earlier. I didn’t really know them, and they wanted me to do this film. Venus was also a new company at that time. Their background, however, was known. They were seven brothers coming together. Hence, their banner was also called United 7. I made it clear that I don’t have a problem with the banner being new. I just wanted to hear the script.
My narration was the most amazing part (smiles). It was in a hotel room in Juhu. Abbas bhai was sitting on one side and Mustan bhai on the other side. They started narrating and they were like a stereo system. One guy starts narrating. After a point, he takes a pause and immediately, the other guy jumps in and continues the narration. So, it was like left-right stereo playing one after the other (laughs)! It was wonderful as they are brilliant narrators. Hence, I was totally sold. I also felt it was something up my alley as it sounded like a good thriller. I also felt that would be a perfect jump for me to get a step ahead of being just another friend of a hero. I probably felt that it was a good bet and I think it worked.
They informed me that they will get Akshay Kumar to play the lead. I knew him as he was also a rising actor who was trying to make his mark. I was also in the same space. It was good to know that a colleague friend of mine is playing the lead. He had done a few films as the lead. So, I had no issues and was happy to be supporting him in this particular film.
I believe that you were more known than Akshay Kumar at that point…
Recently, I read Abbas-Mustan’s interview wherein they revealed that during that time, they were told that for the hero’s role, they had an option of getting either Ronit Roy or Akshay Kumar. But for the friend’s role, the producers clearly told them that they want only and only Deepak Tijori! It was so nice of them. I was elated when I read it after so many years as to how much they wanted me for this part.
Even Kundan Shah really wanted me for Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994). And he chased me. As for Khiladi, they did connect with me, but they never mentioned to me that for the producers, I was the only choice.
I read you used to get mobbed by fans more than Akshay Kumar on the sets of Khiladi…
Yeah, those things happened as I was already famous among the masses, after having done Aashiqui and Sadak, in which they had loved my character. So, at that point in time, yeah you can say that I was (more popular than Akshay Kumar). And that’s why I guess the producers were keen to cast me.
How was it to work with Akshay Kumar?
We both got along very well. We were almost like colleagues. I used to see him do a lot of hard work, especially at Raghu Master’s dance class, where he was one of the lead dancers. During shoots, he was the one who’d wake up at 4:30 in the morning!
Chinni Prakash was the choreographer. Unke dance steps karte karte hamari band bajti thi. It used to be like a workout session; rigorous imprisonment, I would say! Akshay was always into fitness and martial arts. Hence, he was disciplined and could wake up at 4:30 am. I used to tell him, ‘Saala, tereko kya farak padta hai agar shift subah 7 baje ki ho toh? Hamare jaise logon ko farak padta hai’! For him, a 7:00 am shift was a cakewalk. Meanwhile, I had to die a million deaths to reach the sets at 7:00 am (laughs)!
In the college canteen scene, when you get hurt, your voice changes. It was too funny…
It was intentional as I was playing to the gallery. Abbas-Mustan also liked it as they also come from the school of commercial cinema. Also, I had to do a little different from what Johnny Lever was doing in the film. I had to ensure I don’t end up doing a similar kind of comedy as Johnny Lever bhai. I remembered films like Hera Pheri (1976) and Parvarish (1977) and the comic timing displayed by Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna in these films. So, these movies probably were there at the back of my mind. I was also given a lot of liberty as Abbas-Mustan trusted me. They let me loose.
Were you nervous while doing the cross-dressing scene?
For that, I had to change my voice. I was totally excited about it. I had no apprehension also because Tinnu Anand sir was there. He’s a senior and also an acclaimed director. When you’re doing a scene, he knows exactly how to pick it up. In comedy, you need to have a person opposite you who interacts and reacts correctly and gives you the bouncing board. Otherwise, it’ll fall flat. The magic was not in me performing the girl’s role. The magic was also in Tinnu sir reacting to the way he did.
Who else from the crew would you credit for Khiladi’s success?
Abbas-Mustan’s chemistry was great but their chemistry with the editor Husain Burmawala was something to watch out for. He is a genius. He used to be on the sets and observe the shots. Then he’d work on the editing table. He’ll come back to Abbas-Mustan and says ‘Iss scene mein ek yeh shot daalo, uss scene mein ek woh shot daalo’! As per his advice, Abbas-Mustan used to make us wear the same clothes and get the shots done. They’d tell me, ‘Deepak bhai, uss time ek shot reh gaya tha. Toh yeh shot kar lete hai’. I used to wonder, ‘Aise kaise reh gaya’ (laughs)! In teeno ki jodi kamaal ki hai!
Did you visit cinema halls to check the reaction?
Yes, it was crazy. However, I was very scared while attending the premiere. And guess what, I took Pooja Bhatt with me to see the film. I was jittery as this was the first time, I had done a highly commercial film. Aashiqui and Sadak were in a different space. Hence, I wanted to see Pooja’s reaction as she comes from a different school. Fortunately, she loved it. That made me confident that the film would work and masses, as well as classes, would accept it.
Is there anyone significant from the industry who called you after watching Khiladi or any other film of yours of that time?
There was one person I was always trying to pursue and that was Rikku Rakesh Nath. Being Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor’s secretary, he was like the top boss. For strugglers like us, he used to wait to get acknowledged by him. He doesn’t have the patience to watch as he was quite busy. I used to sit outside his office and hoping to get some work.
One day, fortune smiled upon me. He saw me and told me, ‘Tum andar aao’! I went inside with him, and he said, ‘Tumhari taareef ho rahi hai. Tumne acha kaam kiya hai. This is very good. I am very happy’! This is how he talks (laughs)! I was on cloud nine since he acknowledged me. Rikku was also very happy that I signed Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. He had told me, ‘Bahut sahi film pakdi hai tumne. Ab se tum jo bhi film karoge, tum mujhe batana’.
In fact, he helped me when I bagged Khiladi. I had asked him whether I should do this film. Rikku was the one who cracked the whole deal. He insisted, ‘Tumko yeh picture karni chahiye. Producers acche hai’. So, he was vetting my projects, not officially, but as a well-wisher. Later, we became very close, and I used to go to his house for lunch. Even when he told me to do Anjaam (1994), I never questioned him. He told me, ‘Madhuri ke saath ek role hai. Tumko yeh film karni hai’. I was like, ‘Aapne bola hai karna toh main karunga’.
More Pages: Khiladi Box Office Collection
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