Imtiaz Ali will not make the sequel of Rockstar: Said- Whoever likes, should make it, the upcoming film ‘I will come back’ will show incomplete love and the pain of separation.
Imtiaz Ali will not make the sequel of Rockstar, but in his upcoming film ‘I will be back’, the story of incomplete love, separation and coming back will be seen once again. Starring Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, Vedang Raina and Naseeruddin Shah, this film is not just a love story but a story of memories, migration and emotional breakdown. In a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, Imtiaz Ali told why he does not want to make a sequel to ‘Rockstar’. While he worked with Diljit Dosanjh, A.R. Rahman and also spoke openly about the pain and feeling of separation that appears again and again in his films. Sharvari and Vedang also shared their emotional connect with the film and their experiences of preparing for the characters. Question: In your films, love is seen more in separation than in meeting. Does this come from your personal perspective? Answer/Imtiaz Ali: When I make a film, I am not thinking about myself. Maybe I try to escape from myself by making up stories. But it is true that when you are leaving a city, that is when you miss it the most. I remember, when I used to travel by train between Delhi and Jamshedpur, my city seemed most beautiful when I was leaving it. It is said, “A city looks most beautiful from the light of the burning bridge.” That is, when the way of return ends, the love for that place increases further. Question: Vedang, what does ‘I’ll Be Back’ mean to you? Answer/Vedang Raina: In the beginning, the biggest thing for me was just working with Imtiaz sir. But when the script progressed, I realized that this story is very related to me, because I am also a Kashmiri Pandit. My family has seen migration. That’s why I got emotionally attached to this film. This is not just a film, but also a big responsibility. Question: Sharvari, what does this film mean to you? Answer/Sharwari: This is a simple love story. Love can happen not just with any person, but also with one’s own soil and belonging. The biggest strength of this story is its love. This was a new experience for me as an actor also. While playing this character, I also understood myself a little more. Question: Imtiaz, what is love for you? Do you believe in ‘Love at First Sight’? Answer/Imtiaz Ali: As I am growing up, I am becoming more confused about love. Maybe I try to understand it only through films. I think love can be anything. It can happen at first sight, it can happen again and again, it can happen only once. Just as every person understands God in his own way, so too is love. Question: Why is breaking, separation and coming back visible again and again in your films? Answer/Imtiaz Ali: All this comes from childhood memories and people’s stories. While shooting in Punjab, many elders told me stories of Partition. Someone told that their elders had reached Wagah Border and were saying, “I have to go to Lahore,” because they did not remember that Partition had happened. Someone explained the route to his childhood place over video call, where he could not go himself. Many such small things kept accumulating in my mind and then the story of this film became. Question: Vedang, what is love for you? Answer/Vedang Raina: If you don’t look at love only in a romantic way, then if something touches you very deeply, that too can be love. I don’t know if I have ‘love at first sight’ or not, but being deeply moved by something is probably love. Question: Are you heartbroken? Answer/Vedang Raina: Yes, it is definitely broken. Perhaps at that time it seemed that my heart was broken, but now if I look at it from a mature perspective, perhaps it was something else. But I have felt that feeling. Question: How much did heartbreak change you? Answer/Vedang Raina: Every experience changes a person and heartbreak is a major turning point in life. After that the perspective of seeing people, relationships and the world changes. Perhaps that is what makes a person more intelligent. Question: Sharvari, what is love for you? Answer/Sharvari: We all keep understanding love throughout our life. From childhood to family and relationships, love is present everywhere. For me love means a promise, a truth. Our film is also based on this feeling, a love which is very pure. Question: Have you ever had your heart broken? And how did you get out of it? Answer/Sharwari: When I watch Imtiaz sir’s films, I see beauty along with pain in them. I believe that no relationship ever ends completely. Maybe his films have taught me this. Question: How was the experience of working with Imtiaz Ali? Answer/ Sharvari: We did Reiki with him before the shooting. That’s where we understood what the film was about and how the characters thought. While shooting in Punjab, I loved the people and food there. Question: What are your special memories during Reiki? Answer/Vedang Raina: We were just hanging out on location and understanding how a film is made. Then I realized that the real hard work is done by the director and his team. Question: What was the funniest thing during the Punjab shoot? Answer/Sharwari: We ate a lot of stuffed kulchas during Reiki. I still remember Paneer-Chole. Both the food and the people there were very lovely. During that time we understood the film and characters better. Question: Why is train journey always special in your films? Answer/Imtiaz Ali: I always like shooting and traveling in trains. For this film, we had ordered an old steam engine from Rewari, which looked like the Partition era. In one scene when Vedang’s character shouts, “I will be back,” that’s when I felt that this was the right title of the film. Question: Was it difficult to get out of the characters of this film? Answer/ Vedang Raina: Yes, it felt difficult at times. I had taken a lot of responsibility on myself to show this period and pain in the right way. Imtiaz sir used to narrate real stories of Partition before the shoot. Those things are still in my mind. Question: How does Imtiaz Ali get such raw and real emotions out of the actors? Answer/ Vedang Raina: In one scene I just had to lie down and look at the ceiling. But before that, Imtiaz sir narrated the real incidents of Partition for 10-15 minutes. The visuals of what he said are still vivid in my mind. That’s why that scene became so emotional. Question: Sharvari, what would you say about your character Jiya? Answer/Sharwari: Jiya is a mysterious girl. Throughout the film people keep trying to understand him. But there is only true love in his heart. This is what makes him special. Question: Imtiaz ji, how do you see Jiya’s character? Answer/ Imtiaz Ali: Jiah is like the flower around which the entire film revolves. Every character tries to understand her, but she remains a mystery till the end. Question: How much research was done on the music of the film? Answer/ Imtiaz Ali: During research, it came to light that the youth of that era used to listen to a lot of western music. So we tried to keep the same kind of music and singing. The same western style is visible in the song ‘Maskara’ also. Question: A.R. How was it working with Rahman again? Answer/ Imtiaz Ali: Working with Rehman Sahab is always a different experience. We designed every song and instrument according to that era. The swing and dance style of that time will also be seen in many songs. Question: Diljit Dosanjh has now become a global star. What would you like to say about them? Answer/ Imtiaz Ali: Diljit is a very sweet person. Everyone loves them. I really enjoyed working with him for the first and second time. He is a very honest and pure person, there is no adulteration in him. Working with him is always a pleasure and we hope to work together in future also. Question: Vedang and Sharvari, both of you, tell us, how was the experience of working with actors like Diljit and Naseeruddin Shah? Answer/ Imtiaz Ali: Vedang did not have any scene with Naseer Sahab, because he is playing the character of his young version. Sharvari worked with him and her first scene was with Naseer Sahab. Question: Sharvari, how was the first scene with Naseeruddin Shah? Answer/ Sharvari: I was very nervous. But as soon as the camera is turned on, a different world starts appearing in their eyes. Working with him was a very inspiring experience for me. Question: Is there a possibility of ‘Rockstar 2’ being made? Answer/ Imtiaz Ali: I would tell people to forget “Rockstar” and move ahead. Javed Sahab had also said, “I have made Sholay, now you make it.” So whoever likes “Rockstar”, he should create his own “Rockstar”.
Source link
