I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM IN DOING REMAKES
Aamir Khan, who has starred in many a remake, says he chooses any script which excites him
Be it time, preparation or efforts — trust Aamir Khan to put his heart and soul into the characters he portrays. At present, the actor is ensuring he gets his next, Lal Singh Chaddha — an adaptation of Forrest Gump (1994) — right. “I’ve been after this film for the last eight years, so I’m thrilled it’s finally happening,” Aamir said on a recent visit to the Capital. Excerpts:
So, what brings you to Delhi? We’re on an extensive recce for Lal Singh Chaddha… seeing locations in Delhi, Punjab, Ladakh, Rajasthan and I’ll be travelling for two to three days in each city.
The film’s title received a mixed response. Were you anxious? That’s the character’s name. [Actor] Atul Kulkarni has done the adaptation and made him a Sardaar (Sikh), that’s why I’m growing my beard. We start shooting on November 1. Hopefully we’ll be able to execute it well.
Tom Hanks did the role when he was 30, you’ve crossed 50. Do you find it a challenge? Not really. [In Forrest Gump]… if you see each running shot, it’s not more than 30 seconds. Woh cut karke sequence mein lagta hai ki woh char saal bhaga. So, that’s not a worry. The challenge is getting the sur of the character right.
Do audiences easily relate with sensitive characters onscreen or is there always a risk? I think so. This character is very lovable. He’s so innocent… he has got this different way of looking at things. He’s someone you immediately empathise with when you connect. Unless I perform it badly (laughs). As a written character, you’d fall in love with him straightaway.
Amid the debate that films lack originality and that’s why we have remakes or adaptations; do you feel any pressure?
I don’t have a problem in doing remakes. I believe that whenever a script excites me, I want to do it. I have done remakes in the past, too — It Happened One Night (1934) was remade into Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991) and the Tamil Ghajini (2008) was remade as Ghajini in Hindi. But, it’s not something I do very often. Most of my films are original scripts. As a creative person, I feel it gives you an opportunity to reinterpret the same material. It’s like doing Shakespeare — down the centuries, people have been doing his plays again and again.
Be it Ghajini or Dangal (2016), you always go that extra mile for the character’s look. Do you want to take it easy now? Each time you have to not just be the character but look like that, too. In this case, I feel Lal Singh is a character — bodily and physically speaking — I see him as a lean person through the film, who is not exceptionally muscular. That’s how I’m hoping to project it. And I’m speaking Punjabi in the film, which I’ve just started learning.
You’re also collaborating with Kareena Kapoor Khan, after 3 Idiots (2009) and Talaash (2012)... Yeah, I’m most excited about that. She’s a wonderful actress, really beautiful and I always enjoy working with her.