Firose Khan and Fefsi Vijayan are busy with the shooting of their films. So what’s new about this? Both have donned the director’s cap to introduce their respective sons in the film.
A veteran in the industry for 20 years, Firose was last seen in Thambi Arjuna. “My 15-year-old son Ajmal has been training to enter the film industry since he was three years old. He even got a black belt in Karate when he was barely 11.”
It’s bit unconvincing when Firose says he took the decision for his son when the latter was just a newborn. “When my son was born, the nurse at the hospital said he looked like MGR with dimple on his cheeks. I always wanted to become a director. I was very sure that Ajmal would make a good actor and that I would direct his debut film,” says the proud father.
After 15 years, his dream is finally coming true with Paasakara Nanbargal. “My son plays a kick boxer in the film and he underwent training in boxing before we commenced the film,” says Firose, who is also acting in several films in Tamil and Malayalam.
Ajmal says he knew what was expected of him since his childhood. “I learned stunts from Prakash and am also learning dance from Sridhar.” A Class 10 student at Gateway International School, Ajmal plays a college student in the film. “My teachers are very cooperative and they grant me leave for shooting.”
Wasn’t he uncomfortable working with his father? “No, my father was always approachable and would clarify my doubts. I was very nervous on the first day but I’m slowly getting used to it. We shot the climax at the Bangalore stadium. As I play a kick boxer I had to punch a lot and I got severely hurt too.” Pasakara Nanbargal will release on May 6 and the father-duo will come together again for Pandian Express. “Shooting will begin soon,” he adds.
A popular stunt director, Vijayan has done over 470 films and has choreographed stunts for Hindi films like Wanted and Dabangg. Though he has directed four Kannada films and two Telugu films, he makes his foray in Tamil with his son Sabarish as the lead. Titled Markandeyan, the film traces the lives of people living in a bamboo forest.
Says Vijayan, “The films that I’ve directed in Telugu and Kannada revolve around female protagonists. My women characters are always strong. The same applies in Markandeyan too. Not just my son Sabarish, everyone has been given equal importance in the film. There’s no heroism in the film.”
Vijayan is careful not to give special preference to his son. “For me everyone is same on the sets. The film was shot in the interiors of Orissa and it took 155 days for the shooting,” he adds.
An enginnering graduate from Sathyabama Engineering College, Sabarish says, “I’m very conscious about fitness; so I took training in Thai Boxing in Bangkok for six months before the film began. I realised my interest in acting during college days. I’ve accompanied my father on sets and I know the struggle to make a film. Though my father has provided a platform, it’s up to me to use my skills to move ahead.”