‘There were definitely some flaws in Thugs of Hindostan’

Actor Zeeshan Ayyub minces no words when it comes to talking about the failure of his last outing, Thugs of Hindostan starring Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan. He says, “You have to accept whatever comes your way. There were some flaws definitely, I won’t say ‘it was a great film’. If audiences didn’t accept it, it means that the connection wasn’t there.”

He adds that getting praise for your specific portrayal in a film isn’t enough to make you happy. “If people appreciate your performance, and the film doesn’t, you don’t feel good about it, since I had acted for the film. I had prepared my character (Shanichar, Aamir’s character’s friend) for that world. You are happy your work was praised, but it doesn’t leave a good taste in your mouth when people say ‘picture achhi nahi hai’.”

Aamir recently said, “I take full responsibility for Thugs not working with the audience.” On this, Zeeshan says, “He shouldn’t be taking full responsibility. I really appreciate jo voh kar rahe hain because it’s a very nice gesture, but he was a part of the film. Everybody was trying to give their best, and if it didn’t work, it didn’t. It doesn’t mean you stop taking risks. They (makers) also tried, and there was a thought in mind ‘Aisi koi film banana chahiye, yeh references hain, aisa banayenge’. I think that was a good thing, varna safe kheloge. They (makers) could have thought they have Aamir and Amitabh and they will have the heavy performances, the story can be plain and the entire film will be about their tussle. They could have done this too. But they wanted to create a new world and time.”

It’s all about learning a lesson in the end. “We should learn rather than getting depressed about it. It’s everybody’s fault. The full responsibility is not on one person,” Zeeshan signs off.

We should learn rather than getting depressed about it. It’s everybody’s fault. The full responsibility [of a film’s failure] is not on one person ZEESHAN AYYUB

ACTOR

PHOTO: PRATIK CHORGE/HT