‘I couldn’t have made Badla without Amitabh Bachchan’: Sujoy Ghosh

For someone who started his career with Jhankaar Beats (2003), a film on music and friendship, Sujoy Ghosh seems to have made thrillers his speciality with the super success of Kahaani (2012). Even though his last two movies — Te3n (2016), which he produced and Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016), which he also directed — didn’t meet the audience’s expectations, the curiosity generated by the trailer of his Friday release, Badla, suggests that he’s on terra firma.

Considering that this Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu-starrer is a remake of the 2016 Spanish film, The Invisible Guest, Sujoy says his challenge is to tell this story in an engaging and exciting manner. In a quick chat over coffee and croissants, he talks about teaming up with the Big B again, why he finds suspense films appealing and more. Excerpts... 

Now that people have loved Badla’s trailer, do you feel relieved?

I feel I have passed one leg of the journey. Everything is a test. I’ve passed the poster, teaser, trailer and even a song. The big exam is on March 8. 

Taapsee told us that she first suggested you direct this film, but you refused it back then. Some months down the line she heard that Amitabh Bachchan was doing the film and you were directing it. What made you change your mind?

As a director, my job is to tell a story. You give me one, I will tell it to the audience. If you give me a book or a script to do so, I’m happy. If you give me a plot that has already been told so beautifully, how do I make it better? What am I bringing to the table? That was my dilemma.  However, the producers of Badla had an interesting approach and Taapsee nagged me to hear it. I felt I could add to that and then I felt confident. 

And how did you convince Mr Bachchan to give the nod?

Sir ko kheench ke laya. I told him, ‘Sir, ek saath doobenge agar kuchh hoga toh.’ I thought he’s the only person who could play this character. That’s why I asked him. When you visualise the character in your head, as a director you see who can fit this role, and this one just happened to be Sir. Maybe Balraj Sahni, but he’s no longer with us. That’s the kind of actor I needed — Sir, Balraj Sahni or perhaps Dilip Kumar saab.

With Sir, you tell him this is what it is. He hears you out and gives his decision, whether he’ll do the film or not. In this case, he said yes. Otherwise, this movie couldn’t have been made.

Sujoy Ghosh with Amitabh Bachchan on the set of Badla

Having worked with him as a producer in Te3n, how different was it directing him in Badla?

Both the jobs come with different kind of responsibilities. When I’m producing a film with him, my job is to make sure the director has everything the film needs. He is very sharp; so if I’m compromising on anything, he will know. That was a challenge. Te3n had everything the team needed. When I’m directing him, I have to be careful and ensure that I’m not compromising on the storytelling. Sometimes, he will give a bad take just to see if I’m awake.

Having started with a musical like Jhankaar Beats you seem to have found your calling in the thriller genre, with Kahaani, Kaahani 2, producing Te3n in the interim and now, helming Badla.

Every story comes with its own challenge, irrespective of its genre. Each movie is like a painting which demands its own canvas, whether it requires oil colour or watercolour or charcoal. This film demanded its own telling, unlike any other film I’ve done. After a point, you forget that it’s a thriller. For me, it’s just that this is the story I have to tell. Whether it translates effectively and convincingly on the screen, we don’t know till we see the final print.

Once I decide on the story, I’m good. The genre doesn’t matter. That’s how I made Jhankaar Beats, Kahaani, Ahalya and Anukul.

How much did you have to deviate from the Spanish original, The Invisible Guest? Especially since those who’ve seen it, know the suspense.

As far as the characters are concerned, yes, a little in keeping with our cinema, but I haven’t tried to mess with the world too much. That’s like saying, I can recreate the Taj Mahal. I can’t and it’s silly to even attempt it. For me, principally, I have to be true to the story, as a writer. The characters, their lives, their nuances... what I’ve altered and how much, you’ll have to wait to see it when the film releases.

As for those who’ve seen The Invisible Guest, that’s the challenge you have to undertake. Take Kahaani for example, after the first show, everyone knew what was the ending. So, I could hide it only till the first show. Whatever success my films or I have got is because of the audience. They have taken the onus of my movie and made it a hit. I know that if viewers likes my film, ending kuchh bhi ho, I don’t need to worry.

It must have been upsetting when Te3n and Kahaani 2 weren’t as successful as Kahaani.

It’s always a disappointment. I agree that it’s normal for people to have expectations. I come from a middle-class family, and nothing was given to me on a platter. I had to struggle for everything. I’m okay with that, not to say that I’m happy about it, but I can move on. I have a wife and kids, I have to pay my bills. If a film doesn’t work, you have to move on.

What keeps you going and motivated?

The bills keep me going (laughs). Storytelling is inspiring. When you see other people working, the kind of films that are being made, new-age filmmakers like Amar Kaushik and Aditya Dhar, that is inspiring. Anything that makes me feel I want to do that also, is motivating. The digital world is inspiring, the kind of writing you see there is something I’ve never experienced before.

What’s next after Badla?

Honestly, I haven’t decided yet. Yeh film banana stressful tha. Now, it will be a litmus test for me on March 8. I haven’t written anything new either. But I want to pen something for my daughter.