We had joy, we had fun…

Nonika Singh

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They came, sang, danced and wore their hearts on their sleeves. The ensemble cast of Dil Dhadakne Do, led by its woman director Zoya Akhtar (in Chandigarh for its promotion), seemed to be having as much fun as they promise you in the film ready for release coming Friday.

Amidst the good natured humour of Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh’s crazy antics, Priyanka Chopra’s beauty in a slimmer, younger avatar to fit the ultra feminine part in the film, of course questions too are answered and rumours dispelled.

Or, actually not quite. Ladies first, Zoya feigns ignorance when asked about certain Hollywood studio’s interest in her film. Not as yet, is the answer, the operative word being ‘yet’. Another secret she wants to keep close to her chest is Aamir Khan’s voice-over for Pluto, the adorable pet, in the film. But she is game for other queries, occasionally expressing grudging admiration for the questions. Yes, she has a thing for travel but then goes on to add how Dil Dhadakne Do isn’t really a travel ‘travel’ film.

She wanted to show the family together at one place and the best way was to put them on a luxury liner. The metaphor too is obvious. She reasons, “Just as one is stuck with a family, just as there is no running away from relationships you can’t go anywhere from a ship.”

Talking of family, the sibling relationship between Ranveer and Priyanka’s parts in the film, is supposedly the backbone of the narrative. Yes, indeed there are shades of Zoya’s bond with brother dearest Farhan. Actually more than her it’s Farhan who nods and admits, “There were times that both of us were more clued about each other than our parents.” But before you take the ‘real meets reel’ bit too far, the sister interjects, “Mind you, the Mehra family is nowhere near Akhtars.”

But why Mehras… we mean why a Punjabi family and pat comes the reply. “For no one is more large hearted and Punjabis live life king size.”

But to make a good film or an international one, she is positive that you don’t need a king’s ransom. It’s not the scale but the subject that makes a movie. That her subjects often have too many stars on board is almost a given. She says, “Yes, I like to populate my films and can’t quite imagine a two-person subject.” But even if it’s a multi-starrer, Ranveer tells you, “Rest assured Zoya will not give a short shrift to any actor.”

That’s the reason why he said yes to the ensemble film, his first bonafide multi-starrer by the way. Priyanka too rises to sing paeans in praise of her director. “No one holds the mirror to society in such an entertaining and engaging manner as she does. When you see the film you will be able to relate to it.”

Relating to the director of her films such as Don and Don 2, Farhan as a co-actor, that too in a romantically paired part, however, wasn’t easy for Priyanka. She shares, “I had known Farhan as a stern authority figure of a director.” Similarly Ranveer, a self-confessed fan, nay bhakt of Anil Kapoor, too found it enormously difficult to act with someone he is so much in awe of. Of course, by the time the film wrapped up the kissas of their bonhomie and their off-screen chemistry have become the stuff legends are made of and a sample of it was palpable at the Press conference too.

As for the changing contours of onscreen chemistry (from lovers to siblings) between Ranveer and Priyanka, Ranveer clears the bhaiya-sayyian confusion. Right now it’s bhaiya bhaiya all the way. With a twinkle in his eye Ranveer quips, “Actually all my life I have seen Priyanka through the eyes of a brother only.”

Zoya puts things in perspective and reminds, “Hey, they are actors.” As for the actor in her brother, well, she never has any problem directing Farhan. For, he comes into the picture right at the scripting stage, and thus is the least of her worries. Can this successful woman director then enumerate the difficulties she might be facing because of her gender? Well, judging by her cryptic response, “I have never been a man so couldn’t know otherwise” clearly entertainment knows no gender.

Forever young 

Among the bevy of younger gifted actors, this ageing oops ageless actor Anil Kapoor, holds his ground. The secret behind his ever youthful looks is his happy state of mind. “Stress makes you bloat and age too.” 

In Zoya’s film he agreed to dye his colour grey for that’s what the director wanted, “I will colour them green if that’s what the role demands.” 

In Dil Dhadakne Do he is playing an overbearing father, if Ranveer Singh’s (his screen son), words are anything to go by. But the real life dad is more worried about his children’s (Sonam Kapoor and Harshvardhan) films than his own releases.

nonika@tribunemail.com