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Handling the egos of stars is no cakewalk: Anees Bazmee
Watching several actors together on the big screen is a treat for fans but how easy is it for people who work behind the camera to bring that to a film? Well, Anees Bazmee is perfectly suited to give an answer, having directed several multistarrers over the years — No Entry (2005), Welcome (2007), Singh Is Kinng (2008) and Mubarakan (2017).
“It is very difficult to make these multi-starrers and handling their egos is not a cakewalk. But I have made it with utmost ease. All the actors have been always very happy on the sets of my films. The reason being it has always been very transparent. I have never hidden anything from my actors. I don’t take actors to just add to the faces on the posters. All the actors in my films have very solid and central roles. I ensure that every actor feels that their characters are crucial. I believe in moving ahead with everyone,” shares Bazmee.
The filmmaker is also known for refraining from offcolour jokes in his brand of comedy. “The films that I have made are films that people revisit all the time, like No Entry. People still call me and praise my film. My comedies are clean and there are no double meaning dialogues. I don’t mind others doing it but I personally don’t do it,” he explains, adding that he does not enjoy watching such films.
And talking of No Entry, one can’t help but ask about the delay to the sequel to the film. But Bazmee says there is no problem from his side — he is ready with the script.
“It is a fabulous script. Boney Kapoor (producer) can only tell you when exactly the shooting will begin. But itna hai ki people will really love the film,” he says.
The original film starred Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Fardeen Khan, Bipasha Basu, among others. What are his casting plans with regard to the second instalment? “I would
I don’t take actors to just add to the faces on the posters. All the actors in my films have very solid and central roles. I ensure that every actor feels that their character is crucial. ANEES BAZMEE
FILMMAKER
He is a senior in the industry. I need to prove my mettle (as a filmmaker) before I direct him. I would love to direct him because he is a fabulous actor.
want to repeat the cast. But it will also depend on the situation. I also wrote it keeping the old cast in mind. But if there are any changes, I will just have to do a bit of rewiring as every actors has a different approach,” he shares.
TAHIRA KASHYAP
WRITER