The con comedy Bunty Aur Babli (2005) was released 20 years ago, on May 27. The film is memorable for its concept, funny and dramatic scenes, solid casting and of course, the memorable soundtrack. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, its director Shaad Ali spoke about how the film was conceptualized, the original casting and a lot more. The filmmaker is a very early riser and had an interaction with this writer at 8 in the morning in his plush office. Over a cup of coffee, both went down memory lane and hence, it was a morning to cherish.
20 Years of Bunty Aur Babli EXCLUSIVE: “Hrithik Roshan was the original choice; he gave the idea for the ending; Rakesh Roshan was very keen that Hrithik should do the role” – Shaad Ali
One of the first things that strikes when we watch this film is that you have been credited as Shaad Ali Sahgal…
That’s how I was credited in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) as well. My nana and nani (Lakshmi Sahgal and Prem Sahgal) brought me up. Hence, I had the parents’ vibe with them as much as I have with my own. Therefore, I added ‘Sehgal’ to my name in the film’s credits.
Bunty Aur Babli was your immediate next after the much-loved Saathiya (2002), which was also backed by Yash Raj Films (YRF). What made you choose this subject for your second film?
Saathiya was not produced by YRF; it was under their banner. Bobby Bedi of Kaleidoscope Entertainment had produced it. During the promotions and while cutting the promos, I worked very closely with Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Yash ji (Yash Chopra). Yash ji was very close to me even before Saathiya. I showed him the original version Alai Payuthey (2000). That’s how we connected and he decided to come on board. It was one of the first few films he did purely as a presenter and not as a producer. This was also a time when Adi actively started producing a couple of films like Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002), Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002,), etc. Around Saathiya’s release, they asked me if I would do their next film and if I could be exclusive to them. I agreed; I didn’t even look at the contract. Jis paper pe Yash ji ka sign hai, usko kya dekhna hai? Uske baaju mein apna sign aa raha hai is a big deal (smiles).
Then, we began discussing what I should direct. I had the story of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) even then. Adi liked it but he was not sure if it should be my next film. Meanwhile, I always had the desire to make a ‘chor police’ kind of a film involving a couple and set in a small-town India. It’s a space I knew well as I came from Kanpur. That attracted Adi. I was in touch with Jaideep Sahni as I liked his work a lot in Company (2002). It came in the same year as Saathiya and I knew him and the whole of Ramu (Ram Gopal Varma). I insisted that Jaideep should write as he is a great writer and he has a good sense of the world.
As per IMDb trivia, Hrithik Roshan was considered for the role of Bunty…
Yes, we did meet Hrithik as he was our first choice. We sat for a few months with him. Rakesh ji (Rakesh Roshan) liked the script a lot and he was keen that Hrithik should sign the film. But Hrithik was not very comfortable going into the small town zone at that time. He did a very good job of it in Super 30 (2019) though. Then, he had reservations. He did have a lot of ideas for the film. In fact, it was Hrithik’s idea that Bunty and Babli should return to conning in the last scene. He reasoned, ‘They are like Superman! They can’t go back to their lives and not return ever in the con world’. In the original idea, the story ended once Bunty and Babli were let off and they become law-abiding citizens. I should have thanked Hrithik in the credits.
Was Rani Mukerji the first choice?
Yes, she was.
We also see that Jaya Bachchan has been thanked in the beginning…
That was the time when the Uttar Pradesh Film Board had just been established. Jaya ji and Amar Singh were a part of it. This was the first film which was majorly shot in the state. We didn’t get any subsidy but we were assured of complete administrative help.
How was it to shoot in Uttar Pradesh? It was one of the first major films then to be shot there and not in Wai, a norm those days…
It was a big decision. Main toh picture bana isliye raha tha as I wanted to shoot there. There was a lot of hesitation from the production house. Adi suggested that he’ll put up a huge set in Mumbai so that things can be in control. I felt that we would have scaled the film down by shooting on sets. Also, there would be restrictions on freedom of movement as we would have to work around the set dimensions. This was a time when CGI was not evolved either. Also, it would not have gone well with the energy of the film. It was a film about a couple on the run. Humne film bhi bhaag bhaag ke hi banayi thi! The film was shot in 177 locations and in 13-14 cities and small towns. We did a recce for 6-8 months. The recce video, put together by my direction team, was like a movie in itself. Even today, it is said in Yash Raj that ‘Recce karo toh aise karo’. It was properly edited and also had music.
After the release of Bunty Aur Babli, there were reports of a lot of couples who started conning for a living…
It happens even today. I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing. A part of me is flattered ki aisa ho gaya. But on the other hand, many say that the filmmaker should be socially responsible. Logon ko jo karna hai, woh karenge. If we stop making such films, it doesn’t mean that people will stop committing crimes or that conning will cease to exist. Sometimes, filmmakers give themselves too much importance and they feel that because of them, crimes are happening. 99% of the cons we showed in the film are borrowed from real life. Art will always imitate reality.
Bunty Aur Babli’s sequel, Bunty Aur Babli 2, was released in 2021. Was it ever offered to you?
No. While I was doing films in Yash Raj, a discussion happened a couple of times about how it can be taken forward. But we never came up with a story. By the time I graduated, new kids had come in (and they took over and made the sequel). And it’s fine. That’s the way it should be.
What did you think of Bunty Aur Babli 2?
I haven’t seen it. Not because of any reason. It’s just that I was shooting with Mani sir at that point. Hence, I missed the opportunity. Then, I decided that I’d watch it on OTT someday.
More Pages: Bunty Aur Babli Box Office Collection , Bunty Aur Babli Movie Review
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