‘WE HAD WRITTEN SCRIPTS FOR SALMAN’
Farhan Akhtar talks about Hollywood, directing stars, and how knowing an actor helps him write their part better
Farhan Akhtar has explored unconventional subjects and steer clear of run-of-the-mill content. The actor-director starred in two movies last year, Wazir and Rock On 2, and recently began shooting for his next project, Lucknow Central. In an interview with HT Café, Farhan talks about working with A-listers, writing scripts and Hollywood.
You have directed big names for your films. Have their off-screen personas overshadowed the characters they portray?
It’s quite strange, because I can only speak for myself in this department. When I was working on the script of Lakshya (2004), I was clear that the only person I could imagine playing that part was Hrithik Roshan. There is a part of you that somehow, subconsciously, starts writing for that person, because you are imagining that person in the movie. So when you are writing a dialogue or constructing a scene, you are imagining that actor playing that out in your head. The same thing happened with me when I was writing Don: The Chase Begins (2006). The first visual that came to my head was that of Shah Rukh Khan as Don.
Does it also make a difference when you know the actor in person?
I know them personally, how they behave, how they speak, and their sense of humour. So, almost inadvertently, I start writing for a particular actor. It is a strange, mysterious process of how it comes together. I think I’d have to struggle to answer what you are asking me.
You have worked with Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh. Salman Khan is the only exception.
I think these things will happen when they have to. It is not really about, ‘Oh I want to work with this person, so I must write something for this person’.
You had said that you came close to working with Salman…
We had written stories [scripts] in the past for which we felt an actor like him [Salman] would suit the part. And we did meet him. But at times, things don’t work out, which is very normal and is a part of [how] our industry [functions]. Everyone has a plan of what they would like for themselves. So, I guess it will happen as and when it is meant to.