Farhan Akhtar— film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, playback singer and lyricist—an all-in-one artiste’s career got another boost in his upcoming film “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” based on the biography of a former Indian athlete Milkha Singh.
Hindustan Times recently published an interview of the gifted artiste and here is a part it for the Dhaka Tribune readers.
What makes Bhaag Milkha Bhaag more special than the other films you’ve done so far?
All the movies I choose to do are very special to me. But this film is a rare opportunity since there is a very strong reference point and you cannot go wrong in any way.
You’ve got to adapt to it as precisely as you can and that requires tremendous focus. Such opportunities do not come often.
When you were approached with this biopic, did you feel connected to the story, or was signing it a calculated decision?
Your instinct has to tell you whether you want to be part of a project or not; because you also realise the kind of commitment a film like this will require. It’s not a fictional piece of work — I have a huge responsibility towards the character and the film.
Before you became an actor, did you also have to go through the usual grind of perfecting yourself to face the camera by taking stunt/dancing/acting and horse riding lessons?
I think the time where one has to be groomed perfectly to face the camera is slowly passing. And we should be very thankful for it. Acting should be beyond physical traits and personal stunts.
Having said this, I remember being bitten by a fitness bug at the end of my film Lakshya (2004).
As for the horse riding bit, I’m not comfortable sitting on a horse, unless I’m playing a daku (dacoit) from Chambal. Then I’ll have to learn how to ride a horse. I remember I had to sit on a horse for my film Luck By Chance (2009) and Adhuna, my wife, who is an ace rider, gave me tips.
People liked the shot and complimented me saying I looked like a professional rider, but I knew my heart was beating faster.
You’re settled as a director, but do you feel settled as an actor?
I find myself at a place where I have the freedom to choose the kind of work I want to do and that, according to me, is satisfying. As for being settled, I don’t know, but there’s an area in acting, that I’m still not comfortable with.
What dictates your choice of films?
I haven’t heard of anyone saying that I must do a certain kind of films because the audience loves watching those types. I would never go by that diktat.
I would do a film that instinctively tells me that I should do it and I will sincerely believe that the audience will love it. Those who do such films genuinely enjoy doing it. And if you don’t enjoy your work, people won’t enjoy seeing you.
Whose work in cinema has inspired you the most?
There are many. But Robert De Niro remains my all-time favourite. I admire him a lot. In my pursuit to be more like him, I would mimic dialogues from his movies for my friends in college.
I loved what he did in The Untouchables (1987) — shaving off his hairline, gaining all that weight for a film where he had only a few scenes. It was truly inspirational.
Enlist four films that, according to you, have been trend-setters.
I would like to list films and filmmakers. Yash Chopra was a trend setter. He created love stories that everyone started replicating. It reflected in Aditya Chopra’s work.
His film “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995) brought about the trend of NRI romances. Rajesh Khanna set a trend.
There were many phenomenal actors that came before him, but he set a unique bench mark. Next would be my own film “Dil Chahta Hai” (2001).
In many ways, it has changed the spoken language in movies. Then, “Satya” (1998) is another film that was a trend-setter. It stripped away all that glamour and gave you this very naked movie.