KABIR Khan is not keen on glamorizing the nude scenes featuring John Abraham (drawing parallels to 'Dostana'), which are in fact an inherent part of the movie. “I spoke to a lot of Indian immigrants and came up with many startling facts before writing that scene. There is nothing glamorous about it. In fact it‘s a scene which shows the character going through lot of humiliation,” says Kabir.
Khan by his own admission doesn‘t belong to any prescribed school of Bollywood filmmaking. When most wannabe directors are trying hard to fit into the popular genres of movie making, Kabir chose a path many would have balked at. So if his debut Kabul Express was considered a documentary, his latest New York made on the backdrop of 9/11 attacks is already getting mixed reviews.
In fact New York, which was started immediately after Kabul Express, took two years to make. “It is not a project report on 9/11 attacks. It‘s a very emotionally told movie. We did a lot of research and went through transcripts of legal cases before penning the script,” says Khan. Though slightly irked by my observation of Kabul Express being documentary like, Kabir is sure the addition of songs in New York is “to keep up with the flow than an attempt at commercialization.”
He is also pleased with the casting. Especially Katrina whom he admits was very eager to take up the challenge of attempting something she has never done before. “She is the surprise package,” he states. For John‘s character he needed a stylish larger than life persona. There was also the Kabul Express comfort level. In Neil‘s case he had the vulnerability, which was key to his character
But why are directors who tackle terrorism always put under the scanner? “Yes, I know that‘s very unfair but I guess most of the films made are often high-pitched and jingoistic. I haven‘t tried making a statement about terrorism nor do I take sides. I am just trying to show a human side to even the worst political ideology,” he declares.
And was he taking too much cinematic liberty by recreating New York in Philadelphia? “We‘ve shot extensively in New York for the outdoors. But when we needed to shoot indoors it made no sense to shoot in an expensive city like New York, that‘s why we shifted to Philadelphia. No offense meant,” he signs off.
expresso@epmltd.com