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| Edited By: Hiren Kotwani |Source: DNA |Updated: Mar 13, 2019, 06:15 AM IST
Nitin Kakkar’s directorial debut Filmistaan (2012) not only earned appreciation from critics and audiences alike, but also won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. However, that neither helped his second outing Ram Singh Charlie (2015) nor his third directorial Mitron (2018), both of which sank without a trace at the box office. But, now the filmmaker is fourth time lucky with none other than Bollywood superstar Salman Khan backing his next, Notebook, which marks the debut of Zaheer Iqbal and the late actress Nutan’s granddaughter Pranutan Bahl.
We catch up with the director, who’s gearing up for the film’s release on March 29, for a tête-à-tête.
It’s a lovely story. We, as filmmakers, want to narrate good stories. Our film is not a remake, but an adaptation. We have etched out our characters and their storyline. Our story is poetic; it’s set in 2008, when social media had not taken over our lives. Kashmir gave us the cinematic backdrop.
He had liked Filmistaan. We were in talks about doing something together, but that didn’t materialise until this subject came up. Salman wanted to launch Zaheer. I suggested that we find a script that resonated with me. We were discussing three subjects, out of which I picked up Notebook. I was sceptical if he would like it, but when he heard it, he liked it too.
Since Zaheer was on board, I had begun auditioning for the female lead. One of my ADs showed me Pranutan’s pictures on Instagram. I didn’t know she was Monish Bahl’s daughter or Nutanji’s granddaughter. I learnt about it only after I had auditioned her. Gradually, things fell into place. Pranutan has earned the part.
My first movie was an indie film, which released two years after its completion. For me, to not worry about the release of a movie and make a good one was a change. With the name and reach of SKF (Salman Khan Films), I hope it will get good occupation in the theatres.
He is an actor-producer. I’m four films old, he is more than 100 films old. I would be stupid to not take his opinion. He has the experience and knows the pulse of the audience. He never made me feel, ‘Look, I’m the man who will tell you what to do.’ He gave me space and not once did he come to the set to tell me how I should make the film.
When I showed him the first cut, he said it was superb and suggested minor tweaks, which any producer would do. As I’m close to the film, it’s great to have an outsider’s perspective. I take Salman’s opinion seriously. If it doesn’t work, I point it out to him and he’s graceful enough to respect that.
Pranutan Bahl and Zaheer Iqbal in Notebook; and (right) Nitin Kakkar
The difficult part of filming in Kashmir was the weather. We shot from October to November in Srinagar, Sonmarg and in between these two places. When I planned a scene in bright sunlight, it would get cloudy or start to rain. Only once in November, we had to cancel the shoot because it snowed. I got the same love in Kashmir that I got from the people when I shot in Rajasthan, Ahmedabad and Kolkata for my other films.
Notebook is not a candy-floss film; there is depth, love and drama. When you leave the auditorium, you’ll feel you’re taking something back with you.
Yes, it’s a father-daughter story with Saif Ali Khan and Alaiya F, Pooja Bedi’s daughter. I respect Saif as an actor and this is a story I haven’t attempted before. I’m looking forward to it. As for Sara, I was never planning on casting her. Some people assumed that since Jawaani Jaaneman is a father-daughter story and Sara was being launched. She was already doing Kedarnath and Simmba, and I wanted a fresh face. Alaiya is amazing, I have had some meetings with her. Nowadays, kids are more mature and sensible than we were at that age. On April 3, I’m off to London to start the movie.
