Long before filmmakers Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar created history at the box office with the sports biopic “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, the director had offered the actor a pivotal role in his acclaimed drama “Rang De Basanti”.
Directed by Aamir Khan, “Rang De Basanti”, which released in 2006, chronicled the story of a group of college students who become rebellious for a cause.
Mehra had offered Akhtar the role of Karan Singhania, who was eventually played by South star Sidharth.
The director recalled that Akhtar, who made his directorial debut with “Dil Chahta Hai” in 2001, which also starred Khan, was meeting “Lakshya” when he turned the actor-filmmaker into the project. Offered.
“He was really happy because he had just made ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and was finishing ‘Lakshya’. I told him I wanted him to act in my film and he couldn’t believe it at the time! I offered him the part of Karan, who was the only writer-backed character in the entire film. Farhan was fascinated. I could see the sparkle in his eyes. He thought, ‘What has happened to this man who made me act in a film?’ Seeing?'” Mehra said in an interview.
The director said that Akhtar liked the script, but “at that time I couldn’t see myself acting”.
Years later, interestingly, Akhtar appeared in the 2008 musical drama “Rock On!!” Started acting with
He saw a career change five years later with Mehra’s “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, a biopic on the life of the late legendary athlete Milkha Singh.
“Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” earned two National Awards for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Choreography for Ganesh Acharya.
The director-actor duo have now reunited for another sports drama feature “Toofan”, which is set to release on Amazon Prime Video on July 16.
Mehra said that both he and Akhtar wanted to work together after ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, but the right opportunity came only three years ago when the actor called the filmmaker with an idea for a story that they had heard.
“Then it was not a complete script. When I heard the story idea for 20 minutes, I told Farhan ‘let’s do it’ because it has a voice, I could feel it.”
Written by Anjum Rajabali, with additional screenplay and dialogue by Vijay Maurya, “Toofan” traces the journey of Aziz Ali aka Ajju Bhai, who turns into a national level boxer.
The film also stars Paresh Rawal and Mrunal Thakur.
The 57-year-old director described “Toofan” as an extremely surreal film, not only in the way its characters dress or the film’s shooting locations – in the neighborhood of Dongri and Nagpada in south Mumbai – but also emotionally . graph.
“Down deep, the feelings are real. In each character you will see your reflection. With their struggle, you will connect with yourself, with their fighting and determination, you will be inspired, that ‘I too can win the battle of life.'”
Produced by Mehra’s ROMP Pictures in association with Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s banner Excel Entertainment, the film is based on the character rather than inspired by the plot.
“It’s not just a boxing ring movie, not about winning a match but a fulfilling journey in your life. Characters emerge when their backs are against a wall, not when it’s good to walk. And the story of relationships is…”, Mehra said.
With “Hurricane”, Mehra returns to the game to use it as the backdrop for a larger storytelling.
While “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” was his attempt to understand the horrors of the India-Pakistan partition, his latest is an exploration of the difficult lives of boxers.
The director observed that most boxers dealt with serious obstacles—from being born in broken families to being raised in orphanages—to becoming champions.
Akhtar’s Ajju Bhai faces similar challenges in “Toofan” before he realizes that he can turn his talent into something worthwhile.
“It is interesting to characterize Ajju bhai, a money-gatherer, a henchman who is in a phoda bhodi (fist fight), but his talent is being misused. It’s like you are an amazing race car driver but you are being used as a getaway driver after bank robberies. The character of Ananya, played by Mrunal, requires him to mirror her and provide her choices in life. Inspired by him, he inspires the entire nation,” said Mehra
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