SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2014 (PAGE-4) BOLLYWOOD- BUZZ MOVIE REVIEW 'Most Facebook messages are from girls' To watch or to not watch on Twitter. Given the kind of films that have been releasing recent- He is the latest poster boy of Bollywood. That is perhaps the best complement I could have ly, what one sees is that there is a certain 'talking point' about Tahir Raj Bhasin has not only managed to got. It was one of the best moments of my life. Aamir every film that is coming out from Bollywood lately. Be it the Khan is one of the finest actors in the country today and hero's much-hidden secretive hairstyle, or the suspense of attract the attention of the critics and the a compliment coming from him is certainly a big thing. the film or maybe an integral cameo by a leading superstar, I am happy that people have taken notice of me and or as seen in current times, even adaptation of popular audiences because of his good looks but their appreciation is the best reward I could have got. books or classic literature, which eventually gets all the pos- also for his acting skills as a child trafficker But how did you bag the role? sible mileage for the film before its release. I too had my share of struggle. I have been audition- This week's release HAIDER comes from the stable of in the recently released Rani Mukerji ing for roles for more than two years. Luckily, I got to the 'thinking' filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. After his earlier know YRF's casting director Shanno Sharma and was films MAQBOOL and OMKARA, Vishal brings to you yet starrer Mardaani. Bhasin talks about in touch with her. I got a call along with hundreds of oth- another Shakespearean treat in the form of HAIDER, which er boys to audition for Mardaani and this time I was lucky is an Indian adaptation of Shakespeare's HAMLET. acting, the female attention and his HAIDER stars some of the superlative talents of the coun- enough to impress them and the role came my way. future plans to Gaurav Sharma. try in the form of Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, Kay Kay Menon, But weren't you apprehensive about making your Irrfan Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and others, which makes it debut with a negative role? needless to scale the level of expectations one would asso- Definitely, that was a question that I kept asking ciate with this film. myself . After reading the script I realised that the char- HAIDER starts off circa 1995 in Srinagar, where military acter was really too negative and the audience is sure rule reigned supreme. The film is about Haider (Shahid to hate it by the time the film ends. But that was just for Kapoor), who is the son of Dr. Hilal Meer (Narendra Jha) a moment because I also realised that I was a struggler and Ghazala (Tabu). One day, when Dr. Meer brings home and here I was being offered a role by Yash Raj Films a militant for treatment; this 'information' gets leaked to the for a project that is to be helmed by Pradeep Sarkar with military forces, which leads to a crackdown of the army, who Rani Mukerji in a never-seen-before role. That ended in turn, land up blowing their house in front of Tabu and oth- my dilemma. I couldn't have thought of a better produc- ers. Post this; Dr. Meer goes missing, which leaves his wife tion house or a director or co-stars. I knew that here I Ghazala as 'half-widow'. Taking advantage of the situation, have a chance to perform and I must give my best. Luck- his brother Khurram (Kay Kay Menon) ends up marrying Ghazala, whom he always addresses as 'bhabhi jaan' but ily things worked in my favour. is madly in love with. This is something that Haider doesn't And what about Rani Mukerji? She is not only a approve of, because he still believes that his father is alive brilliant performer but also a very senior actress. somewhere. That's when he confronts his mother openly That was another point. I was really very scared but disapproving of her relationship with Khurram. Amidst all HAIDER definitely is Shahid Kapoor's best performance it was only till we started shooting. Rani maam is very this, the only person who stands by him through the thick till date. It is one of the complex roles that he has taken up senior and it kept playing in my mind but the first time I and thin is his love Arshia Lone (Shraddha Kapoor), who is till date and he definitely gets into the skin of the character. met her on the sets, my entire perception changed. She a journalist by profession. The search for his father leaves Shraddha Kapoor, who is seen here after her last hit EK VIL- treated me just like a mentor and helped me a lot Haider with no time for anything else. That's when one day, LAIN, seems to have perfected her Ps and Qs of emotions throughout the shooting schedule. She is very warm and a certain Roohdaar (Irrfan Khan) appears out of nowhere and even the 'Kashmiri English'. She is loveable in her part accommodating. I owe a lot to her. The confidence you and trails Arshia only to pass Haider a message from his as the innocent girl who is madly in love with Haider. Even see in the character I play is a result of the way she father. When Haider meets Roohdaar, the latter explains though Narendra Jha, who plays Shahid's father, doesn't have many scenes in the film, his voice haunts you till the motivated me on the sets. everything in detail to him, right from Khurram's evil plans to trap his father to Khurram's affair with his mother. But, end, as he seeks revenge from his brother. Kay Kay Menon, How difficult was it playing a cold-blooded child- when Haider confronts his uncle Khurram, the uncle has a as the evil mind uncle, also delivers what was expected of trafficking kingpin? totally different story to tell about Roohdaar, which only con- the role. The show stealer of the whole film is indeed the It was a role that I thoroughly enjoyed playing. fuses Haider further. Avery helpless Haider is now torn apart firebrand actress Tabu, who as Ghazala, towers over every- Pradeep Sarkar asked me to perceive the character of in all the directions, because of his father's grief, his anger one. The rest of the actors (Kulbhushan Kharbanda after a Walt as a really evil character. The character is nega- for his uncle and his unsaid and unspoken longing for his long time on screen, Aashish Vidyarthi, Aamir Bashir and tive but unlike most other villains people have seen in mother. others) simply help in moving the film forward. Here, a spe- Bollywood. The character is not loud and has no con- Does Haider succeed in finding his father and does he cial mention goes to the duo that plays 'Salman Khan do- science. He is cold-blooded and doesn't think of the sins succeed in conquering the love of his life, does he finally alikes'. he is committing. The character is more psychological get to hear the whole truth from his mother, forms the rest Even though the music (Tushar Parte- Simaab Sen) of than violent. After reading the script, I realised that there of the story. the film is soulful and heartening at places, it lacks the was ample scope to perform and improvise and that Even though the film's director Vishal Bhardwaj is known required lustre. With the exception of the lavishly shot 'Bis- for his thoughtful and meaningful cinema, HAIDER is inter- mil' song, all the others look and sound just about average. You must be on a high? helped me a lot. esting only to a certain extent. The film, that starts off on a While the film's choreography (Sudesh Adhana) is average, Yes of course. I couldn't have thought of anything How was it working with Pradeep Sarkar, who too is considered one of the best in the trade today? promising note in the first half slowly losses its fizz as the a special mention goes to the costume designer Dolly better. I am really happy for all that has happened and story progresses. While the first half is engaging to a large Ahluwalia for having come up with some of the most bril- Whatever I am today is because of him. Had he not the feeling is yet to sink in. I never thought that my act- extent, despite its slow pace, the same cannot be said about liant costumes of the characters. The film's cinematography shown faith in me during the auditions, I wouldn't have ing would generate such great response and that peo- the second half, which drags endlessly. Crisp editing is the is first-rate. ple would really like me. been where I am today. He constantly kept motivating secret that could have saved the film from being a yawn-trip On the whole, HAIDER is targeted more at niche multi- Your female fan following has shot up all of a sud- me and I surrendered to him. by the end. The length of the film is definitely a big issue plex audience and not for the masses, which may work den. So, how much has life change in the last month here.