Aamir Khan turns 59 today! On this occasion, let's delve into the insightful reflections of Bollywood's Mr. Perfectionist as he discusses two of his iconic films, "Mann" and "Akele Hum Akele Tum," and shares his experiences working with the talented Manisha Koirala.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00 Every film shot on a ship is not Titanic.
00:02 It's nothing close to it.
00:04 It is rather a fresh film.
00:06 I think, I know everybody says that.
00:08 This film is really new and all that.
00:10 No, I didn't have any research to do.
00:12 I mean, I didn't have to method the role and start actually flirting with women.
00:15 Because in the shooting of 'Man', we really got along really well.
00:18 We had a roaring time and she told me that in 'Akeli Hum Akeli Tum' you were really reserved.
00:22 You weren't mixing with me and it was a little strange working with you in 'Akeli Hum Akeli Tum'.
00:27 I was really excited to work with you in 'Akeli Hum Akeli Tum'.
00:29 What was the particular thing in the script that you said you should do?
00:31 Well, after the success of 'Ishq', Indu and I wanted to work together.
00:41 He came up with the script which he narrated to me.
00:47 I heard the script and I liked the script.
00:51 So, I signed the film.
00:54 What was the particular thing in the script that you said you should do?
00:59 Well, it's been quite a while since I've done a pure love story.
01:04 So, I was in the mood of doing a love story.
01:09 And it's a very sensitive film.
01:16 And I like the emotional content of the story.
01:26 And it's very moving.
01:29 So, that's what I liked about the story.
01:34 How do you say this film is a love story? What is the whole backdrop of the film?
01:38 Well, it's how most love stories are.
01:44 Two people meet and fall in love.
01:46 And then there is a conflict in the love which they overcome.
01:50 So, broadly speaking it follows those parameters.
01:55 What was fresh for me is that the character of Devkaran Singh which I play in the film
02:00 is that of a playboy and Casanova which I haven't played earlier.
02:05 So, the character is very interesting.
02:08 And he is quite an insensitive person towards women.
02:16 In the sense that he gets them to fall in love and then
02:20 he himself doesn't fall in love with any girl.
02:25 Until he meets somebody who he does fall in love with.
02:28 There were rumours about the backdrop being Titanic.
02:32 So, what do you say about that?
02:34 Well, that is a completely untrue rumour.
02:37 It has no similarity to Titanic.
02:40 I think some of the film press, when the film began, they assumed
02:45 that it's Titanic because one of the schedules we shot on a ship.
02:51 But every film shot on a ship is not Titanic.
02:55 It's nothing close to it.
02:57 So, how is your character developed in the film?
03:00 Does it mean that the playboy character changes to be in it?
03:04 Well, you should see the film for that.
03:07 Something about your character?
03:09 Well, he is actually a very charming person.
03:12 He has a way with women.
03:17 And somehow they all seem to trust him and
03:21 believe that he is very much in love with each of them.
03:26 Whereas actually he is not.
03:28 And in fact, he is a very talented person.
03:33 Which as the film goes along, you discover that
03:36 he is a painter. He is a very good painter.
03:39 And he has a lot of knowledge about a lot of things.
03:46 He is very talented, very intelligent.
03:47 But he never uses that.
03:49 He doesn't use that. He has no profession.
03:52 When the film begins, he just lives off whatever wealth he had inherited perhaps.
04:00 And lives off rich women.
04:04 So, that's the kind of guy he is.
04:11 No, he is not rooted at all.
04:15 One day he is here, the next day he is somewhere else.
04:17 Enjoying his life.
04:21 Not really thinking of the consequences or anything.
04:24 So, was it very demanding for you or it was pointless?
04:27 It was nothing to work on with the character?
04:29 Well, I had two role models in front of me.
04:32 Inder Kumar and Ashok Thakaria.
04:34 So, I didn't have much working to do.
04:38 Just had to observe them.
04:41 But, well...
04:44 No, I didn't have any research to do.
04:50 I didn't have to method the role and start actually flirting with women.
04:53 So, I just mostly used my imagination and tried to understand the mind of the character
05:01 as it is in the script.
05:09 The character undergoes a major change actually.
05:11 As you had asked earlier.
05:13 I mean, the first time in life he is hit in his heart.
05:19 So, it's quite an interesting graph of the character.
05:25 So, the title 'Justify Yourself' is 'Man'.
05:28 'Man' means heart or your conscience or your inner voice.
05:38 And one of the things that the film tries to say is that you should listen to your inner voice.
05:44 Because your inner voice never lies to you.
05:47 Many times in life, we...
05:50 We are tempted to do things.
05:55 We do a lot of things which somewhere at the back of the mind we know it's not right to do.
06:02 And we prefer to listen to our mind, our brain.
06:08 And we don't listen to our inner voice.
06:10 So, the film kind of tries to say that listen to your inner voice.
06:13 Because your inner voice always tells you the truth and guides you correctly.
06:17 That is why the title 'Man'.
06:19 In fact, in one of the songs also, in the lyrics it is used in that context.
06:29 So, that's why the title 'Man'.
06:37 You have been working with Manisha earlier also.
06:39 How was it working with her in this film? Was it completely different?
06:43 Well, actually, yeah, it was quite different.
06:46 Earlier I did 'Akele Hum Akele Tum' with her.
06:49 And a lot of the times, I mean, most of the film we are apart.
06:55 You know, so we didn't have so many scenes together.
06:58 And even the scenes that we had together, we were constantly fighting.
07:04 I mean, not on the set, but in the scenes.
07:06 You know, the scenes are very dramatic and emotional and a lot of pain.
07:10 And the relationship is quite difficult.
07:14 So, this is quite a different experience.
07:19 Because this is a love story in which both of us are supposed to have a lot of very positive interaction.
07:29 I think that during the shooting of 'Akele Hum Akele Tum', I used to be quite aloof and alone.
07:38 I mean, before shooting for 'Akele Hum Akele Tum', I didn't know Manisha.
07:46 You know, we hadn't met or socially we were never interacting.
07:49 So, when we came to the shooting stage, I used to try and stay aloof from her.
07:56 So that, that lack of chemistry or the tension between us, you know, comes out on screen, even in the scenes.
08:05 In fact, in the shooting of 'Man', because in the shooting of 'Man', we really got along really well.
08:12 We had a roaring time and so she told me that in 'Akele Hum Akele Tum', you were really reserved.
08:18 You weren't mixing with me and you know, it was a little strange working with you in 'Akele Hum Akele Tum'.
08:25 So, then I told her, I said, the reason I was keeping away was in the film, the tension between us is required.
08:29 So, if I got too pally with you, then, I mean, maybe it wouldn't show, but it's just a psychological thing for myself.
08:40 That I like the tension between her and me in 'Akele Hum Akele Tum'.
08:46 So, in 'Man', it was quite different and you know, we had a great time shooting.
08:54 It was really relaxed. She is a lovely person and she is great to work with.
08:58 She really understands what the scene is and what the moment is.
09:09 So, it's been a real pleasure working with her.
09:12 According to you, what could be the newness of the film?
09:16 The freshness of the film? The freshness of the film.
09:21 Well, I think… I think it is rather a fresh film. I think, I don't know, everybody says that.
09:35 This film is really new and all that. But see, broadly in terms of the genre of a love story,
09:42 it follows the normal pattern of a love story where two people meet, the process of falling in love.
09:48 Now, the process of falling in love is always the most interesting in a love story.
09:52 Because you want to see how these two actually finally do fall in love.
09:57 And that I think has come out really well in 'Man'.
10:01 And then obviously, it depends on the way you treated the scenes and the way each scene has been written.
10:10 So, I think a lot of freshness is there in this, in the sense that initially he is,
10:15 my character is just playing around with Manisha. He is not seriously in love with her.
10:19 Because of the kind of person he is. So, there is a lot of freshness in that approach.
10:24 And I think the kind of problem they face, I have not seen on screen before.
10:33 The kind of conflict that does come about in their relationship.
10:37 It might have been made long back but I don't remember seeing a film of this nature.
10:45 So, it is quite a fresh script and all the scenes are really fresh. I really enjoyed doing all the scenes.
10:53 It is a love story so the music plays a very important role. How does the music go in the film?
10:58 Well, yes, the music does play a very important part in the film. Like I guess it does in every film.
11:09 I think the music has complimented the film very well. The kind of story it is.
11:14 You know, it is a very smooth flowing kind of a story.
11:20 And the music has that quality, I think.
11:24 And Sanjeev and Darshan, the composers of this film have really understood the feel of the film.
11:33 And have brought that into the music. And I really like all the songs.
11:39 And I feel that as you hear them, they have a very strong tendency to grow on you.
11:47 And that is really the kind of music that lasts long.
11:54 And I think also when people see it in the film, they will really like the songs much more.
12:02 How is Indu as a director compared to other directors in Bollywood? What is different in him?
12:08 Well, Indu, I have worked with twice before. In Dil and in Ishq.
12:13 And he is always great fun to work with. He has got an amazing sense of humour.
12:19 And he is very clear in his mind what he wants out of the film and how he wants to make it.
12:25 Which is a big help for not only the actors but everybody in the unit.
12:31 And he is great to work with. He is very good to work with.
12:36 He is very passionate about the film that he is making.
12:39 He is constantly, the only thing on his mind is the film that he is making which is very good.
12:48 He has got a very strong sense of music.
12:56 And I think he just knows how to give the audience a good time.
13:03 What is your favourite part of the film?
13:07 (upbeat music)