Filmmaker Guddu Dhanoa’s historical saga 23rd March 1931: Shaheed completed 23 years on June 7. The film was a biopic on Bhagat Singh, played by Bobby Deol, and it revolved around his martyrdom along with Sukhdev and Rajguru. Sunny Deol was seen in the role of Chandrashekhar Azad. Dhanoa looked back at the film in an interview with us.
Guddu Dhanoa on 23 years of 23rd March 1931: Shaheed, “I wanted to make this film many years ago with Sunny Deol”
Your Bhagat Singh film clocks 23 years
Amazing Subhash ji. 23 years of 23rd March 1931: Shaheed, look at the amazing dates, they are matching, right? I wanted to make this film many years ago with Sunny Deol. I wanted Sunny to play the role of Bhagat Singh ji but then the film was not made and later when Sunny planned a film on Bhagat Singh, he called me and said that “Guddu, let’s make a film on Bhagat Singh. I will not play the role of Bhagat Singh ji because I am not of that age. I am over age. Bobby can play this character. Bobby will play the character of Bhagat Singh ji very well.” And then we planned the picture and started writing. Sutanu Gupta wrote the story, screenplay and dialogues were by Sanjay Masoom ji.
Then came the avalanche of Bhagat Singh films
And during that time, a lot of movies started being made on Bhagat Singh ji. At least I think, apart from our movie, five more movies were started, including one by Raj Santoshi ji. There was a film, everyone knows about it and there was a Sonu Sood film, someone named Mr. Ved Gandhi was making it. He said that five more films were also being made and when we planned this film, before Sutanu Gupta, we went to Manoj ji. Initially Manoj Kumar ji was writing this film. But Manoj ji was taking some time to write it. Then Sutanu Gupta was finalised, complete research began and work on the film began. The costumes were being done by Simple Kapadia. The DOP of all my films was Mr. Sripad Natu. But Sunny wanted Tiru from the South.
Apparently the film was nearly stopped
As the competition increased, Dharamji felt that whether this film should be made or not. I remember I was called to the bungalow and Dharam Bhai sahab said that Guddu, we are not making this film because a lot of movies are being made. I said ‘Okay, it’s okay no problem’. So, I came home. As soon as I came home, I got a call from Sunny saying, ‘No no Guddu, the project is on and we are making it.’
Dharam ji called Raj Santoshi and asked, ‘Why are you doing this? Everyone is making a film on the same subject’. And Dharam ji even offered Raj Santoshi to direct Bhagat Singh under Dharamji’s banner.
When you had already started work on your Bhagat Singh?
Yes, Dharamji told Raj Santoshiji, I will talk to Guddu. I will convince Guddu as he is my brother. But Raj Santoshi had already gone ahead with Tips and Ajay Devgn. He did not agree, he did not listen to Dharam ji and he started making it. He continued with the project.
So, many Bhagat Singh films, must have been stressful
There was a lot of competition. There was a lot of stress. Actually, I remember how stressful it was making this film. I used to sleep only for two hours. I used to come home at 2:00 in the night and sleep at 4:00 and all these huge sets were set up. Nitish Roy was the art director of the film and the film was made at a very fast speed. We used to shoot and it was edited at the same time. We used to do a music setting with Anand Raj Anand and Dev Kohli ji had written the songs. Sunny had played the character of Chandrashekhar Azad. He had done an amazing acting and these are the only memories and I remember that we had a very good set.
There was an accident?
There was a fire in the studio and there was a lot of tension as to how this film would get completed on time. I also remember I got a call from Sanjay Dutt asking, ‘Are you ever releasing the film?’ And I said on 7th June. I remember there was a character in Manoj Kumar ji’s Shaheed which was played by Pran Sahab. For that character in our film, Nana Patekar ji was approached. He said, ‘No Guddu, I have also got an offer from another movie for that same role and I will not do anyone else’s movie.’ Bobby did a very good job as Bhagat Singh. His look was very close to Bhagat Singh.
More Pages: 23rd March 1931 Shaheed Box Office Collection , 23rd March 1931 Shaheed Movie Review
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