I'll wait for a date when I can clash with somebody: Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar, who is currently seen onscreen in ‘Wazir’ and has been on the receiving end of innumerable applauds from all around for his excellent performance in the latest release. The actor in a candid chat with India- Forums; gives us an insight about his journey of ‘Wazir’ and his upcoming projects ‘Rock On 2’ and ‘Raees’.

At the trailer launch event, Vidhu sir said the script was ready since Lakshya and he had approached you after the movie.

No, no. He didn't come to me with the script, but just told me about it, round about Lakshya time, he said he'll send it to me and I should read it. I agreed and then he never sent it, that's what happened. Then many years later (about 2 years back), while I was shooting for Dil Dhadakne Do, he called me up and said remember the script I had told you about? I was like kind of, you're still to send me the script. He was like its' finally ready. Then I met Bejoy (Nambiar), who is directing Wazir and found it amazing, it's a great script.

You had directed Amitabh Bachchan in Lakshya and now you're acting with him in Wazir. So what was the difference? Was there any pressure now?

To be honest, it was more challenging to direct Amitabh Bachchan than to act with him. As a director, your responsibility is way more towards the actors. The director has to create an environment in which the actors can perform without stress. When you are acting in a shot with Amitabh Bachchan, you don't get much time to spend together, because you're constantly prepping for the next day. There are many other actors to deal with also. But on this film, I had a lot of time to spend with Amitabh Bachchan because the larger responsibilities were of Bejoy's. We spoke about movies, his experiences working on a lot of films that I've enjoyed watching. When I was first told Mr. Bachchan agreed to do the role in Wazir, there was a serious amount of excitement even thinking that we're going to be working together. Then we spent a lot of time, reading and rehearsals happened at his house which helped break the ice. When I saw him the first time in his look, it felt like the world is going to watch what happens today! That was quite a surreal and out-of-body experience for about 15 minutes.

How was your equation with Aditi Rao Hydari?

We didn't really know each other too well before this film was made. We met socially like most people in the industry do but it was very nice to hang out with her. She's a very sweet girl and she has got her own sense of humour going on which is nice. She is very easy to work with, very pro and prepared, so it feels very good to work with somebody who is like that.

Your contemporaries are doing 2-3 films in a year, whereas you do one film a year. Is it a strategy or by choice?

It's about how films pan out and what interests me to do. My contemporaries only do acting. We have a production house where we are constantly working with directors, developing their films, casting and giving music in their films. So that also keeps me really busy. But again, I don't want to say yes to a film if my heart is not 100% in it. It's a job, but at the same time it is something you have to be inspired by. That makes my process easier in films.

You are doing action for the first time. So did you have to do some special preparation for the role?

I went in with a lot of preparation but the action director told me not to worry as I'll be absolutely safe which I did feel while working with the Wazir team. It's come a long way, those days are gone when you used to jump off a building and land on boxes. They take a lot of care of you so that you can focus on what is happening in your head and emotionally what you can put out there. None of the action sequences are there in the film to show just strength. The action is actually a scene, not a sequence by itself. I've directed action movies, always been a part of creating that action, so I have an idea of how it works and what it takes to do action. This was fun.

How do you prevent injury?

You can't really prevent that, but only make things as safe as possible. After that, it's all about focus. Everybody's who's involved needs to stay really focused.

How do you withdraw yourself from a role?

Some are easy, others tough. I think the toughest one to get out of was Milkha (Bhaag Milkha Baag) it was difficult to kind of let go of how good you're feeling. There was a lifestyle I lived for in year and a half - like an athlete, eating healthy things, sleeping 8-9 hours every day, waking up at 5, your regimen is set and everyone is taking care of you. You feel immiscible, strong, and optimistic in that frame of mind.

Your sensibility is very different from that of Bejoy's. So how did you connect when working on this film? Did you give any inputs too?

I think there's a slight misconception as to what the director-actor relationship is. People feel that when an actor gives an input to director he's trying to assume their job. Of course all actors share their thoughts. As a director too, I want actors to come and ask me about stuff. I would love them to come suggest to me because that makes me feel they are thinking about the role. As an actor, you've occupied a certain emotional space in that film and you're thinking about the scene from maybe a different point of view than the director's thinking of, so at times certain clarity may be needed for yourself or a suggestion, but then it is the director's call if they want to try it or no. I think Bejoy has strengths of being technically very sound, of having a great eye, creating mood and atmosphere. He's really good with his job ever since Shaitaan.

Ranveer Singh recently went into a deep rabbit hole for his Bajirao Mastani character. Do you also have a method for preparing for your character?

Yes, there is a process, but it's not the same on every film. Some films have larger demands than others, so depends on the nature of that. How exactly that happens is very difficult to say because there are many different starting points. At times, you may want to start looking like the character first so that it can influence the way you are thinking about it or maybe you just focus on certain experiences you feel are very similar to what the character has.

How did you prepare for Wazir?

For this it was a combination of two: one was to be researched. Certain backgrounds of the police force, their training regimen and all and then I have also met enough people from the police department and noticed their body language at different occasions.

Youngsters have immense respect for you because of your association with social causes. Do you think that will have an impact when you take up a role in the future?

I think to a certain extent yes because eventually your choices are a manifestation of how you think who you are especially when comes to aesthetics and sensibility. Anything outside my realm of what I consider aesthetic or dignified, I'll probably feel uncomfortable to do it. That will help in automatically, I don't think I'll have to even think about it.

Recently two big films clash (Bajirao Mastani and Dilwale) and the collections of both the films have dented, next year, with Sultanand Raees the clash is even bigger

Firstly you all have arrived at this thing that the clash is going to happen. Let the date come, let the films be made, they're still being shot. Let that happen and then we'll talk.

Do you think such clashes affect the business?

I guess it does because the audience does get divided between the two films. It has happened in the past. Many times big films have released on the same date and there have been times when both the films have done exceedingly well. So it depends on the nature of the film. What is truly very important for the film is that if the film is good and there's word of mouth for your film, for me, it is the best publicity a film can get.

When will we see you directing next?

I don't know yet. I'll see. I'll wait for a date when I can clash with somebody (laughs).

Will we see you in a larger-than-life role?

Well, that would depend on the writing of that film. I am not averse to doing any kind of film. You want to connect with what you're reading and asked to play, that's very important. For me, at the end of the day, I look at a character like Milkha Singh, for me he is an exceedingly larger than life character. He is a hero in the most real sense and you can't get heroic than him because he actually exists. You want to be part of a film which is character driven where it rests on one person's shoulders, but has to give that meat behind it. You can't want to do it because you're getting an opportunity to do it. Somewhere you can't take the audience for a ride.

You think Raees would have been that film?

No, not really. I mean when I heard the script I enjoyed it very much which is why we're producing it. Again, I feel it is important to listen to your inner voice and somewhere when you're reading or writing things, if you feel somehow inherently this character is suited for somebody else, I think you should let it go because it will be nicer for the film and the viewer.           

You have performed at many gigs; do you plan to come up with an album or a single?

I think that is immensely possible because there is a lot of new material that I've already worked on which is completely independent of any film; my thoughts, my poetry, if you want to call it that, I feel quite ready now to share it with the world. Hopefully once Rock On 2's shooting is done, I'm going to take some time off to go into studio and produce stuff.

So you haven't started working on it yet

No, it needs time. The thing is, it can't be done lightly and the music is the kind of thing you want to sit back and listen to. Also, it's going to be the first time that it's going to be produced, so I want to make sure I listen to it enough if there's anything I feel I could do differently in it. I want enough time and space to be able to do that. I'm going to take a good 2-3 months' time to make sure it's done correctly. I haven't decided what my role will be in that single, that's much later. Right now the important thing is that I go into the studio and put down the songs in a way I feel happy about.

When is Rock On 2 going to wrap up and have you all finalised any release date?

I think end of January or first week of February, somewhere between that we'll wrap up the shoot. No we haven't decided on a release date, I don't want to say anything more then you all will create a clash. There's no fixed date but I don't think it'll be before the last quarter of 2016.

How much is your involvement in Baar Baar Dekho?

I was involved in the scripting process, casting, music of the film, but I don't go on the sets of any director that we're producing with if I'm not in that film. My work is done in terms of setting up the film for them because it's important that they have their own vision and they deal with it in their own way. You come back when they edit the film and kind of streamline if it needs to be.

Which is your favourite thriller film?

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