Source: TOI
Date: July 8, 2011
Ritesh Sidhwani is the force behind Excel Entertainment just like his partner filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar is the face of this banner. Between the two of them, they have made their banner one of the most envied and rock solid ones with a body of work that includes Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Don and Luck By Chance to a name a few. Today they have everyone from Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan on board. Here Ritesh takes some quick questions on his banner and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara that releases worldwide on July 15.
In the promos of ZNMD, there is a scene where three boys scare the daylights out of a gentleman pissing in the toilet. This kind of humour is seen more in single screen filmmakers' movies and not in your productions. Have you succumbed to the pressure of pleasing frontbenchers?
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is a film about three boys who are on a bachelor trip and are re-living their college days. At its core, Zindagi... is every one's journey.
The scene you're talking about is translated exactly how Zoya and Reema Kagti have written in the script. It essentially is about a gag Abhay is playing and you can expect many such gags in the film. You can expect to have a lot of fun watching this film.
Zoya and Reema have written these scenes beautifully. We work on films that we are excited about and our stories are not made to cater to any particular audience group.
Does ZNMD have a lot of other masala elements that the lowest common denominator can connect to.
What's upmarket about three friends taking a road trip. Everyone who is in college knows the phenomenon — let's keep things aside and live again for some time. We all do it in our own way. Thematically, this film can be on a road trip anywhere, even in India. If masala means entertainment, fun, laughter, adventure, emotions then ZNMD has it all. It's a Big YES. Alongside we have exciting adventure sports and drama. In fact, there is an aspirational value to this film, in a sense. It's a story that is beautifully told and will connect with audience.
You've worked with the biggest names — Aamir, SRK. Hrithik, Kat, PC — How do you manage that?
At Excel Entertainment, we always cast actors to characters. The story is never made keeping an actor in mind. Our USP is the script and we pay keen attention to the screenplay of the story. At the same time, we also ensure that we get the best creative talent behind the camera. We are a visually engaging medium and thus, this is utter most important. We are fortunate that when we approach actors, they are very happy to be apart of the stories we back.
Farhan and You : How does this combo work? Who is creative? Who calls the shots?
We stand by each other in all decisions at all times. At the same time, we respect individual freedom and space. As a team we trust each other and are mutually involved in all stages of making a film — right from the process of choosing the script, to selecting the cast and crew, to marketing and distribution of the film. Our sensibilities are similar which serves as the core factor.