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Director Rajkumar Santoshi says his latest film "Halla Bol" is
inspired by murdered theatre activist Safdar Hashmi and urges
people to raise their voice against injustice. "'Halla Bol' means
attack and the film says that one must not take injustice lying
down. I am not advocating violence in my film but talking about
raising our voice against injustice," Santoshi told IANS in an
e-mail interview.
The film will be released some time in August and stars Ajay
Devgan, Pankaj Kapur and Vidya Balan in important roles.
Most of Santoshi's films are inspired by reality. And this one is
no different. It is based on the late Safdar Hashmi - who was
killed by political goons while trying to stage the play "Halla
Bol" in Delhi in 1989.
Santoshi has made films like "Family", "Khakee", "The Legend of
Bhagat Singh", "Lajja", "Pukar" and "China Gate".
"I have always followed my heart, instinct and conscience and made
movies. At this point of time, I am awaiting the response to
'Halla Bol'. I have made it with great love and affection," the
director said.
The new film has Ajay playing the protagonist.
"Ajay is playing an actor in the film who moves from being a
reel-life hero to a man whose reality gets lost in the mire of his
roles and how he grows to become a hero in the real sense. Ajay is
very versatile. He has the ability to portray this part
realistically.
"The character required no stylised performance or a put on. I
wanted to depict the star in a candid manner. I expected Ajay to do
justice to the character and he hasn't let me down," said
Santoshi, who feels that Ajay's talent hasn't been fully
exploited yet.
Both Ajay and Santoshi bonded well in "Khakee" and "Lajja" and
since then they have been trying to come together again but the
plans didn't materialise. Finally, Santoshi managed to make "Halla
Bol" with him.
"Ajay is a very good actor. Unfortunately, mainstream films have
not tapped his talent enough. It is quite thrilling to see his
histrionics slowly opening up in layers, film by film. He is a star
performer on Indian celluloid."
Santoshi, who worked with Vidya for the first time, said: "Her role
is very important. She plays Ajay's wife and her character goes
through the trauma that every star wife goes through.
"Her character moves from being the girl next door who loves a
struggling actor to becoming the love of his life to adjusting
herself to the life of a star wife and coping with the trauma.
Vidya has truly brought out the essence of the part she is playing.
She has complemented Ajay's character with her performance."
Santoshi roped in Pankaj Kapur to play a reformed dacoit in "Halla
Bol" and says he wanted to cast the talented actor right from the
beginning.
"He plays a reformed dacoit who is into street theatre and does
issue-based plays. It is in his troupe that Ajay starts his career
as an actor.
"I had Pankaj in my mind for the role and he has performed so well.
He had grown a beard for three months to look genuine for his
character in the film. I worked with him when I was assisting
Govind Nihalani. I have immense respect for him as an actor for
him," he said.
How did the director manage to can the film in 75 days in two
schedules in over 65 locations? "That speaks for the efficiency of
the production team. We planned well, so shot well."
Quite a few big stars are making special appearances in the film -
Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Ruby Bhatia, Pahlaj Nihalani,
Neeraj Vora, Tusshar Kapoor, Ranjit Kapoor, Mukesh Tiwari, Kareena
Kapoor and Lekh Tandon.
"Yes, they are friends and they have just played themselves."
It seems to be Santoshi's turn to take up a theme that featured in
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Rang De Basanti". But the director says
he had been toying with the idea for several years.
"I have been toying with the idea for the last four or five years.
There is an urgent need for people to know what is happening around
them and also to openly speak their mind. They should raise an
issue and give a platform to it, only then things will change."
Asked about his future projects, he said: "I have never been the
type to follow trends. For example, I made 'Ghayal' when mostly
musicals were being churned out. Even 'Andaaz Apna Apna' did not
follow any trend. I had made 'Damini', which showed that justice
delayed was justice denied."
By Arpana
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