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The team of Vibe met batches from the media for a rapid-fire shortly before the action comedy’s release. Though the meet was very brief, it was all that was allowed by the marketing team as the print and digital media has grown beyond expectations.
In a combined interview, we caught up with Preity G. Zinta, filmmaker-actor Kunal Kemmu, Sparsh Srivastava and Vanshika Dhir, the NRI who makes her debut with this film.
Preity, you had done an Advanced Program in Criminal Psychology. But apart from a bit of Sangharsh in 1999, you have never got down to do action before this. How much of your knowledge came handy while doing this role? Did you do any research?
Nothing really! (Laughs). I chose to do this role because it was a comedy and I also got to do action. I did do some research earlier, when I produced the Indian version of The Night Manager.
You executive produced only the first season. Why was that?
After that, my children were born!
So how was the prep for this film?
I had to put on muscle so that I would look real when I kick or beat up people! So it was a lot of hard work. Kunal and I thought differently about my character, but he was very particular about what he wants, so whenever I tended to go offtrack, he would guide me. I had come back after a break, and I decided not to have any preconceived notions. The world has changed since, life has changed, I have changed. I decided to approach work as a complete newcomer.
Way back in 2020, you had released videos with Aaron Cohen, to prepare for your transition into action cinema.
(Pleasantly surprised) Not baaaa-aa-d—you know that! Yes, I shared several videos on Instagram showcasing my training under Cohen’s guidance in Los Angeles. Cohen is known for training actors like Keanu Reeves for the John Wick franchise. I wanted to break stereotypes and prove that women can headline major action films in Hindi cinema. But on sets, I had to put aside all that and start from scratch.
Kunal, how did you home in on Preity?
I had liked her vibe from her first film. But my vision of her here was an action avatar when her screen image was completely opposite. So when she agreed to do my film I was over the moon!
Kunal, what do you think of the numbers game today?
Opportunities come in only when films work. If a good film flops, they don’t. If a bad film works, they do. This numbers game has always been there. And it’s difficult for a writer, director and actor to understand it. As a producer who was starting-out, I needed a partner who was an expert in that game. That is why I needed a partner, and Chirag Nihalani, my co-producer, was the ideal one. He would absorb all the shocks in production as well.
(Preity butts in)
I think people should put money on content, not on numbers. But it’s tougher to make films now, as there are many more choices in entertainment. But I still think content finds its way.
Kunal, you have consistently worked on comedies—Go Goa Gone, which you co-wrote, Madgaon Express, which you also write and directed, the web series, Single Papa and the Golmaal franchise. Did you contribute anything to Single Papa or the Golmaal films?
I am relaxed as an actor when someone else is the director or writer. You may have a different idea about any aspect, but you have to surrender to the director’s vision as he knows best. Coming to Single Papa, its talented writers were so good that I did not need to contribute anything.
As for Golmaal, Rohit Shetty and I go back a long way. I really enjoy the big films he makes with big stars and manages all of that and the scale. Someday, I hope to reach that level myself. I look up to him.
Sparsh, you have done Laapataa Ladies and also the web series, Dupahiya, which is also coming up with a second season. How did you prepare for this role, besides beefing up, as Kunal mentioned at the trailer launch?
Today, audiences want newness all the time, so that they are not bored. I had to work at that. This time, I had a lot of meetings with Kunal.
Preity, at the trailer launch, we came to know that you supported Vanshika Dhir, a newcomer quite a lot, which is exemplary.
Making it in films can be very difficult even if you have no film family backing. I was very lucky that my first female co-star was Manisha Koirala. She was very gracious, very wonderful when we were doing Dil Se…, and then there was Madhuri Dixit in Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke, and she was unbelievably amazing too. There were others too, and I can never forget them, just as I have never forgotten those who were not good to me. It’s very nerve-wracking to come in here, and Vanshika’s done really well.
Vanshika, what do you have to say to this? Will you like to do the same to a newcomer 10 years down?
(Smiles) If someone so experienced is looking out for you like that, obviously I would like to do that to someone else. I learnt a lot during this film.
