For those who did not know, Rock On is directed by Abhishek Kapoor. Yes, and much as we choose to believe that it was Farhan's film, the director who's finally tasted success would like us to believe otherwise. Over a short phone call, the happy director told us how success feels and what he likes about Rock On...Read On...Hi, Abhishek, so how does it feel to have travelled from Aryan to Rock On?
Well, it definitely feels great. It has been an interesting journey!
So, how did it happen? From boxing to music...
Well, the backdrops have been different. Aryan was a love story, the back drop was boxing. Rock On is a nostalgic trip for a group of friends. The background could have been anything. Well, moving from boxing to music has been a different experience.
Which one do you personally like better - boxing or music?
They are two different things. I can't compare the two. they are totally different.
Well, moving on...after the success of Rock On, people expect more from you. Does it scare you?
I don't look at things that way. I compete only with myself. Every movie is a learning process. It only makes me better.
How much of you is there in Rock On?
Not only Rock On. Both my films - Aryan and Rock On have me in it. Both have this underdog which rises and there's a lot of hope in both. The characters do what they want to do and they struggle to achieve what they want. And that's a great moment. Like with Rock On, now I feel like my struggles have found an answer.
If Rock On is your story, then which character would you identify with?
Joe's character. All the characters have a piece of me. But Joe is the closest. Aditya is what I aspire to be.
(Well, well, well...So even director Abhishek Kapoor is Arjun Rampal now. NICE. Considering half the country wants to be Joe post Rock On and the other half wants to marry him.)
We thought we'd move on to other actors and characters in the film...
Which is your favourite scene from the film?
You mean Rock On?
Yes.
Well, I would say the scene where Farhan and Prachi have a fight right before the interval. The intensity of the scene was awesome and the performances by both Farhan and Prachi were brilliant.
Who out of the two newcomers, Prachi and Farhan is your favourite?
Well, as for Farhan, I knew he'd deliver this well. When I saw him, I saw him in the role...as Aditya. I had very high expectations from him and he's delivered. But Arjun Rampal really impressed me. He was superb as Joe.
And what about Prachi? (We reminded him since he seemed to have forgotten her)
I have never seen Prachi's earlier work. I cast her because I thought she fitted the character. And she's done fine!
(So HE had cast Prachi...now we know!)
Ok. So...Critics have loved the film. But some of them found it a li'l lengthy. Do you think it could have been shorter?
No. It could not have been shorter. And by the way, it's NOT lengthy. The film is two hours twenty minutes, which is a decent length for a Hindi feature film. Maybe the pace was not akin to the pacy Bollywood films. Most of them go too fast. But then in such films, that's required. This film was nostalgic. It was about remembering the past. There is a certain rhythm to the film to make the experience even stronger.
The songs in the film were extremely situational. So whose idea was that? You, Farhan or Javed Akhtar?
Other than Sinbad the Sailor, the other songs were not too situational. The songs came from Aditya. They were an extension of his personality. When he was young, the songs were youthful. As he grew up, they changed. Sinbad epitomises the soul of the film. I totally identify with it. From Aryan to here...the song i can really identify with.
(So it's Aditya who worked the songs out...does that mean Farhan or some third person?)
What kind of music do you like?
I listen to all kinds of music. From Punjabi to classical. I even listen to Bollywood songs at times.
Tell us...how was it working with Jason West?
It was great. His sense of framing made me choose him. I knew he'd be able to build the story better than any Indian cinematographer. Primarily because we wanted to depict Bombay in a new way. And Bombay has been shot so many times in so many films, we wanted to show things differently. We wanted an underground, grunge feel for the film.
How was it shooting the concert sequences?
With so much training and rehearsals, it was easy. We shot most of it in just one go. It was fun.
So, how does it feel...the success?
I feel redeemed. I have been around for quite some time. And it has not been too easy. Now I feel good.
So you feel like Joe?
Yeah, you can say that!
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