The star cast and director of the Jeetendra remake speak out.
Sajid Khan says about the remake of the ‘Himmatwala’, “When I was making ‘Heyy Babyy’ I was writing this film and it was a sort of homecoming for me. I noticed something in Ajay’s office which he promised to give me after the shoot of the film and that is his father’s silver jubilee trophy of ‘Himmatwala’. ‘Heyy Babyy’ was a drama and ‘Housefull’ 1 and 2 were comedies. This is my first film which has action and multiple choreography.”
He says Tamannaah has done a great job in the film, which is her second for Bollywood.
“We have not approached either Sridevi or Jeetendra to do a cameo in the film as it’s not a spoof. We wanted a south reigning star and we zeroed in on Tamannaah. We got someone who will do justice and she has done a fabulous job,” he adds.
“I have taken five reigning super stars of regional films for a song. Sayantani Ghosh from Bengali cinema, Rinku Ghosh from Bhojpuri, Amruta Khanvilkar from Marathi, Surveen Chawla from Punjab and Mona Tibba from Gujarat.”
He says he will never make a flop film. “I will make a film for the ticket buying audience, not for awards. Awards to me are more like TV shows. Everyone is giving awards these days.”
We asked Ajay Devgn if he prefers dancing, acting or fighting.
He replied,”Dancing stresses me out. I did not wear white shoes like Jeetendra did in the film. Sajid fought with me and we tried to be true to the ’80s style. We are doing a spoof here.”
He adds, “It was nostalgic for me. I started my career and happened to see my first film ‘Phool Aur Kaante’ in this theatre. I came to watch the film and was sitting in the front row and people were throwing coins. One coin hit me and I have preserved it till date.”
We asked him who he thought was a ‘Himmatwala. He says,”Children are ‘himmatwalas’ because their demands are agreed to.”
Is there an item number in the movie?
“It’s part of the story of Mumbai in 1983. The song introduces the film and Sonakshi has done the number. It’s called ‘Thank God It’s Friday’. It’s true to the ’80 s kind of song with a lot of disco dancing. Sonakshi has done a fabulous job,”says Ajay.
Tamannaah says she is from Mumbai and had watched ‘Himmatwala’. “When I was working in the south I would wait and wonder when I would get a good Hindi film. This film is a brilliant combination with Ajay Devgn in the lead and Sajid directing it.”
“I don’t consider ‘Chand Sa Roshan Chehra’ my debut film. ‘Himmatwala’ is like starting fresh again. I got to play the lead opposite Ajay and I got to dance to songs which I have been hearing since my childhood,”she concluded.
