In 1997, when Govind Nihalani made Thakshak, he was making a choice between commercial and parallel cinema. A bit reluctantly, Nihalani chose mainstream. The compromise reflected in the film and weighed heavily on his conscience.
Nihalani resolved that he would always follow his heart and made films like Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa and Deham. But some dreams remained unfulfilled. For 20 years, he ached to work with Amitabh Bachchan, yet it never happened. Then, in 2003, he finally got a script that Bachchan approved and felt strongly about. The filmmaker looks back on the making of Dev, his first project with Amitabh Bachchan, and his last collaboration with the late Om Puri.
It was my privilege to have had them both working together on my film. They were highly professional and shared a similar attitude to work. I never saw Bachchan refer to his paper once he was on the sets. Om had a slightly different technique. But because I has done so many films with him, I was familiar with his rhythm.Govind Nihalani - Producer, Director, Screenwriter, Cinematographer
Q: Waiting for two decades to fulfill a dream is a long time.
Govind Nihalani: The idea began in 1984, soon after Ardha Satya. One day Jaya Bachchan called me for a meeting with Amit ji at their home, Pratiksha. He was the reigning star at that time, while I worked in the other cinema. This was the time I was preparing to go on floor with Party, with Tamas brewing on the back burner. We met, chatted, and parted on the note that whenever I find a suitable subject for him I’d get back to him.
Q: And in all these years there was no suitable subject?
Govind Nihalani: After Tamas, I approached Amit ji with a period subject, but he said that he would be more comfortable doing a contemporary film. So we dropped the idea. Then, maybe a decade later, he called me and narrated a subject close to his heart. I liked it too. But on second thoughts, both of us felt it was not the right subject. Another few years went by. I did Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa, but never gave up on him. Then Meenaxi Sharma, my assistant, narrated an idea and something clicked. I asked her to put it on paper. It was a hard-hitting subject and had to be made without songs.
Q: Did that pose as a problem, finding a producer?
Govind Nihalani: Absolutely. But Manmohan Shetty, my longtime friend, was always by my side to support me. I knew that I could depend on him. For years, he had been urging me to make Ardha Satya II. I felt the title would be misleading, but a sequel in spirit would be fine. I narrated the idea to Shetty, and he was ready to back it. My next stop was Bachchan. I had made up my mind that if Bachchan said no, I would drop the subject. When I met him, he was geared for a narration, but I’m a poor storyteller so I offered him the concept and character note. He promised to read and get back. He got back within a week to say he was game.
Q: I attended the mahurat of Dev and remember there was a stampede at Rajkamal Studio.
Govind Nihalani: Yes, and I was unprepared for the chaos. The media almost hijacked the event and it was only because Bachchan was able to control the mob, that we could even commence the shoot. For the guests, it was yet another event, but for those involved, it was an anxious moment. Fortunately for me, both my actors, Amitji and Om Puri, were well prepared and I appreciate that. On the very first day of the shooting, I learnt something about Bachchan. When the camera rolls, he offers nothing but his best.
Q: What qualities attract you to an actor?
Govind Nihalani: Passion. When Amit ji and I first began talking of doing a film together, he said, “I want to do a role where I lose my sleep.” I was taken aback, I said “let’s not be under so much pressure. Let’s do a film that is effective, and we can also have a little fun.”
Q: Why are all your films so violent?
Govind Nihalani: Now that’s really unfair. There is more violence in real life than we show in our films. Violence exists in my films, I agree. But it’s never as an item, or without justification. Ardha Satya was made four decades ago and corruption still exists. There is no glamorisation of violence in my films. On the contrary, it is always an undercurrent, and that’s why it is so terrifying.
On 07 January came the sad news of Om Puri passing way. The very next day I was on a panel discussion with Govind Nihalani, and we paid a tribute to the late actor on stage before starting our discussion.
As we left the venue a little later, I chatted with Nihalani on Om Puri. "Strange isn’t it that Dev will be remembered as your last film with Om Puri?”, I said. Nihalani took a long pause to answer, then whispered “Yes, but none of us knew this at that time. Life is full of surprises.”
Yes. I continued as we walked together to the parking. “Even casting Om Puri with Amitabh Bachchan seems like an odd pair today” I remarked. Nihalani looked surprised.
I would not agree with that. Both Om Puri and Amitabh Bachchan shared a passion for their work. They were disciplined and always came prepared on the sets. Their techniques of working were different, Amitabh is more internal. Om Puri being a trained actor had his own style of working. But because I had done so many films with him I was accustomed to his rhythm. He called me a greedy director, said I was never satisfied. Perhaps I am greedy. I always feel that maybe the actor will offer me something better in the next shot. I cannot believe that I will never shoot with him again. Life is tough, but it has to be lived.Govind Nihalani
(Bhawana Somaaya has been writing on cinema for 30 years and is the author of 12 books. You can read her blog here and follow her on Twitter: @bhawanasomaaya)
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