‘Junglee is a must watch for families and kids’: Vidyut Jammwal

For someone who began his Bollywood innings as a baddie in Force (2011), Vidyut Jammwal has fast become synonymous with action. More so after the kind of stunts he performed in Commando (2013), his first turn as a protagonist. Since then, he has further consolidated his action-hero image with movies such as Commando 2 and Baadshaho (2017), never mind that he’s selective about the films he does.

This year, he has three releases, starting with Hollywood director Chuck Russell’s Junglee, which opens in cinemas on March 29, followed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s Commando 3 and Mahesh Manjrekar’s Power. Vidyut, who is a vegan, believes that maintaining the ecological balance on earth is imperative. He says, “I will try to convince whosoever wants to lead a healthy and holistic way of life. Whoever doesn’t want to do it, it’s their choice.” Excerpts from the conversation...

You spent some time of your childhood learning Kalaripayattu in Kerala, one of the states with good elephant population. Any memories of interacting with the pachyderm?

Apart from Kerala, I’ve grown up in several places. Since my father was in the Indian Army, I’ve lived in every state of the country. While I've spent time with elephants in God’s own country earlier, the way I did it for Junglee is completely different. I’ve practically lived with them — eating, resting and working — for over 40 days while shooting the film.

Rajesh Khanna’s Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) and Dharmendra’s Maa (1976) are perhaps the last films with tuskers that come to mind.

I had not seen Maa before, and saw it only when I signed Junglee. I’m happy that after 40 years, we have a movie with animals and I’m working with real ones. I think Junglee is perhaps one of the last films that will have actual animals and not those generated by VFX or CGI. That’s why it’s a must watch for families and kids.

Why do you say that it could be the last movie with elephants?

Because people are not careful with them. The way they are being hunted and killed or chained, they could be the dinosaurs of our time. Twenty years later, kids might say that elephants existed once upon a time.

Your involvement in the film goes beyond acting, as you've also designed the action sequences.

There are five big action pieces in the movie. One is a complete entertainer that can not only be watched but also learnt by the kids, so they will see how we can use our body. One is gymnastics-based. Then, there is hardcore action. We’ve tried to do different kind of stuff. I know my potential and capability. So, I could suggest what I can do. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved during the making of the film.

How was the experience of working with Hollywood director Chuck Russell?

Chuck is a genuinely great guy. I'm told he researched about me, the kind of actor I am and the kind of action I do. He's made a huge hit like The Mask (1994) and given a break to Dwayne Johnson with The Scorpion King (2002). He said, ‘I’ve been looking for an action hero all over the world and then I found you.’ That’s a great compliment coming from him.

Another interesting thing about him is that he has worked with animals. So, he knows how to deal with them and get them to perform for the camera. He’s gentle with creatures and for a subject like this, it had to be someone like Chuck.

Vidyut Jammwal with his reel friend Bhola in Junglee

International directors are not used to seeing leading heroes do their own stunts. He must have been pleasantly surprised with your skills? 

Chuck still calls to tell me that I should be careful. He says, “I know you are talented and very good with your stunts, yet you must take all precautions. The earth needs people like you.’ Initially, he was sceptical that the hero should not do it, but eventually he got used to it.

You should have seen his expressions. In Hollywood, they are not used to actors attempting their own stunts. Here, heroes do action and sometimes get hurt. And after that, they come back to the set to resume shooting. Chuck said that Indian actors are not only talented and hardworking but also spare no effort to ensure that what you see on screen is what they do while shooting.

You think Junglee will make people realise the importance of saving wildlife? 

One of the most important reasons that people should watch this film is the awareness of how important it is to live with animals. It is also an educative movie for families and kids. It shows how animals are not as ferocious or harmful as they’re made out to be. In fact, they are more cautious of the humans around them.

Besides Commando 3, you also have Power, Mahesh Manjrekar’s family drama lined up this year. Having consolidated your image as an action hero, is that akin to a break from the genre?

Power is an action drama, Junglee is an action adventure, it’s nothing like Commando 3. The only similarity between Junglee and Commando 3 is that both have climaxes with high-octane stunts. Whatever I do has to have some action. I’m born to do that.

Though you’re synonymous with action, would you do a film that offers you a great role but no hand-to-hand combat scenes?

If there’s no action in a film, but it's a fantastic role and an interesting subject, I will do it.

When you don’t have a film for release, you stay away from media glare. What keeps you busy when you’re not shooting?

My last release was Baadshaho. After that, I worked for a year; about 300 days. When I’m not acting, I’m busy trying to develop a new skill, or chilling with my friends. That's what my life is for now.