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3 Deewarein broke rules: The Times Of India
Mumbai, Aug 16: His latest film, 3 Deewarein, has crashed at the Indian box-office. But director Nagesh Kukunoor, who crafted a successful crossover in his Hinglish film, Hyderabad Blues, four years back is not the least disturbed or discouraged.
"The marketing department decided to pitch it as a Hindi film. In fact I wanted to call the film by its English title.
"The labelling didn't matter as long as my audience came for my film. Unfortunately in 3 Deewarein everyone thought I was making my foray into Bollywood, which wasn't my intention at all."
The experience of working with Bollywood stars in the film has delighted him.
"All the actors are amazing. Look at Jackie Shroff! I was looking at some other actors for the role, like Ajay Devgan.
"When I zeroed in on Jackie he wanted to know why I wanted him. I felt the audiences had seen him long enough in a certain way. I wanted him to underplay to a ridiculous degree.
"The character Ishaan whom Naseeruddin Shah finally played was such a well written role that any competent actor could've carried it off. He's a character with so much gall. But Jaggu needed to be cast with more care."
Kukunoor is also pleased with Naseeruddin. "I think after a long time he has come up with a performance as subtle as this. And when people say he has only done the expected, it's unfair to him.
"He busted his ass for the role. I thought of myself in the third protagonist's role as the character grew."
But it's Juhi Chawla who has left the strongest impression on Kukunoor.
"Juhi is strong. She was my first choice. When I was writing the script she was the only actor I had in mind. She's amazing.
"On the first day of shooting she jokingly said, "You're going to ruin my career because I've no idea what I'm doing." I snatched all reference points from her. She learnt how much can be done with minimum expressions. She's an instinctively brilliant actress. During rehearsals I'd say, "Oh my God!" and she'd go, "What did I do!"
A lot of critics panned the film's cinematic ending. But Kukunoor stands by it.
"All said and done 3 Deewarein is a work of fiction. The finale tells the audience not to take it too seriously. I'm a great believer in fate. In my film, as in real life, fate plays mind-blowing tricks on an individual.
"The whole challenge of doing the cinematic ending was to make it believable. Now when some critics aren't buying it, there's nothing I can do about it. I think critics are pissed off because some cinematic rules have been changed. They thought the movie would go one way whereas it went another."
Kukunoor has moved on. His next film would be a sequel to the cult favourite Hyderabad Blues. This time the sensitive filmmaker is taking no chance. He's producing the film on his own.