Race franchise has been a hit once since the beginning, and the third part of the series is here with an all-new star cast and director, except Anil Kapoor, who has been a part of it all along. While Race and Race 2 directed by Abbas-Mustan had an almost similar cast comprising Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Anil Kapoor, Race 3 is being directed by Remo D’Souza. Apart from Salman Khan in the lead role, the action-thriller has Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah, Saquib Saleem and Freddie Daruwala in prominent roles.
Salman, who has produced the movie, says, “We are distributing the film ourselves as we have spent so much on it. Why give the money to anyone else?”
Denying all speculations, he says the film has no drama or suspense. It is a musical and action bonanaza that will keep the audience intrigued. “When you see the movie you will keep guessing and you will be right at times and wrong sometimes,” he adds.
Bobby Deol, who was last seen in Poster Boys, says, “I have always loved the franchise and since Salman Khan himself called me to be a part of it. I was very excited. But he asked me just one question, ‘Will you take off your shirt for the film’? Though I was not up for it, Salman convinced me. And I said yes Maamu. I call him by that name,” he says.
Bobby has completely transformed himself for the film. “For the past three years, I have been working on myself to remain fit. But when I went on the sets for the first time, I realised that everyone working in the film was in the gym before and even after the shoots. It’s a film, which needs us to be really fit. Even the girls have done fantastic action sequences in the film. I and Saquib used to go to the gym together. I know him from our cricket days. And Salman’s personal trainer helped us get better.”
Jacqueline Fernandez, who was a part of Race 2, says she understands the genre better. “The film has drama, mystery and dance. For the character I played, I had to train myself hard, so I attended workshops and had a lot of discussions with Remo Sir and Salman. I think if you are not clear about your character, you can’t convince the audience.”
Jacqueline has done a lot of action in the film. “I had learnt fencing for Race 2 and my character was delicate, but this film is very raw and real. We used to have a body double to check out certain things before scenes, but while shooting I had to perform every action sequence myself,” says the actor, whose last film was Judwaa 2 opposite Varun Dhawan.
About choosing Remo D’Souza to direct the film, Salman says, “I have known him for many years and he has done 3D films earlier, and this is my first 3D film, so I wanted him to direct this one. I have watched films such as Chhota Chetan and Avatar, and this will be the third 3D film that I will watch. Remo has done a mind-blowing action for the film. We have blown 15 to 16 cars—BMWs, Mercedes—and there’s no count of motorcycles.”
Jacqueline, who enjoyed working with Abbas-Mustan as well as Remo, says, “The difference between both the directors is that Abbas-Mustan have done such films earlier, and they know the genre well but for Remo it was altogether a new genre because he has done only dance films. But he understands the styles better and has worked hard.”
Agreeing with Jacqueline, Bobby says, “Abbas-Mustan have been great with thrillers. But Remo has a different style of working. He is very quiet on the sets but he is also confident about his work.”
Meanwhile, talking about his forthcoming projects, Salman says, “I am doing a dance film with Remo next. Daisy Shah and Jacqueline will also be a part of it. It took me a year to learn all the dance forms. I have learnt gymnastics, spinning on the head, somersaults, back flip and I am trying to get better at them.”
Salman will also be seen in Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bharat.
Bobby Deol has Sajid Khan’s Housefull 4 in his kitty. “And then there’s home production Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se and I am excited about the movies that I will be working on,” he says.
Jacqueline, on the other hand, is prepping up for her Dabangg Tour to the US with Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Sonakshi Sinha. “It’s going to be madness. I am also learning Kathak and Urdu for it,” she says.