JOIN USEmotional connect
It’s been 27 years since Sunny Deol made his debut in the Hindi film industry with Betaab. Since then, he has been a successful actor for more than 20 years, starring in blockbusters like Tridev, Ghayal, Darr and Gadar – Ek Prem Katha besides being a part of acclaimed films like Arjun and Ghatak. He has also donned the hat of a producer and director. And now, Sunny Deol is ready with his latest release, Yamla Pagla Deewana. The film brings Dharmendra, Bobby Deol and Sunny together again after their 2007 film, Apne. Yamla Pagla Deewana is due to release on January 14.
Pro-promotions
The reticent Sunny Deol is suddenly all over the place, reality shows included. He has realised that one has to be promotion-savvy. “We can’t whisper any more about a new film!” he smiles. “We have to shout at the top of our voices. Thankfully, God has given us all loud voices!” he laughs. “We are doing a lot of promotional activities for the film.
Frankly, though it is something that I have never done till now, I am really enjoying it!”
The three Deols, he admits, are pretty charged up about this film, which is directed by Samir Karnik. “We took 18 months to lock the script,” reveals Sunny. “After Apne, it was important for us to make something totally different. An action-comedy with a lost-and-found angle, but with a difference, was ideal.” The original concept by Sunny Deol was about two brothers. “But then, I thought of bringing in a third character, and who better than my dad as our father?” he says. He adds further, “Jaswinder Bath developed the idea further.”
Why did he not produce or direct the film himself? “I am already co-directing The Man with Neeraj Pathak,” says Sunny, who directed Dillagi (1999) and produced Socha Na Tha in 2005. Denying that he is ghost-directing this film, he says the film is a result of team work. “Samir, my dad, Bobby and me would brainstorm with the rest of the team, make suggestions and eventually take a decision.”
Talking about the story, Sunny Deol says, “I play a Canada-based NRI who comes to India in search of his father and brothers. In the film, my dad and Bobby are Robinhood-esque conmen who are more like friends than father and son. The story revolves around our confrontation and the situations that arise as a result.” Sunny is thrilled about the positive response to the promos of the film. “I feel that the film is already a hit!” he smiles. Nafisa Ali, overseas actress Emma Brown and Kulraj Randhawa also star in the film.
Dharmendra has written a song in the film. How did that happen? “Not many know that my father has always been writing poetry. He was inspired by a situation in Yamla Pagla Deewana and we all loved what he had written,” says son. He raves about his dad’s performance and says, “We all knew that he has a superb comic-timing, yet it is a joy to watch him perform on sets everyday.” And why did they sign on multiple composers? “We wanted only one composer!” shrugs Sunny. “But you know how it is. The same thing happened with Dillagi too. Only different people could give us exactly what we wanted.”
Emotional quotient
Exhibiting the Deols’ sound sense of values and gratitude, the music and lyrics credits are led by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Anand Bakshi, creators of the cult Dharmendra-Rafi hit Main jat yamla pagla deewana from Pratiggya that has given birth to the title of the film. “We have recreated the song, but kept Rafi-saab’s voice intact,” reveals Sunny.
An what does he think of the films being made today? “To each his own, I guess,” smiles the actor. “The audience has changed, so has the media. Also, funding companies, who have to keep their stocks up and submit quarterly audits are a new addition!”
Sunny declares that he is very suspicious of people stating that they liked the cinematography or costumes or dialogues in a film. “That means that something is wrong with the film in totality!” he reasons. Look at South Indian films — they have never lost their grain. To me, that’s cinema, where you can connect without knowing the language that is being spoken. A good film must have a story. After all, what do we watch a movie for? To cry, laugh and be moved emotionally.”
Finally, the actor has a crisp rejoinder to my query about the Deols allowing their emotions to dominate while they sign films. “You can ask Bobby this question. For me, it’s always been instinctive. If I like a story, I am on board. If the film flops, or does not turn out the way it is narrated, I don’t fret. I want to be remembered as a good human being than a sweet talker or manipulator. That’s what Dad has taught us to be — emotional and warm like him.”