Mumbai2 hours agoAuthor: Ashish Tiwari and Abhinav Tripathi
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In the new episode of Reel to Real, we will understand the working style and process of directors. For this, we talked to Maidaan director Amit Sharma and film Bhootnath director Vivek Sharma.
The role of a director is much greater than that of an actor in making a film a hit. The director is called the hero behind the screen. A good director can show even a bad film in a better way, whereas a mediocre director can spoil even a good film.
In the new episode of Reel to Real, we will understand the working style and process of directors. For this, we talked to Amit Sharma, director of Ajay Devgan's upcoming film Maidaan and Vivek Sharma, director of 2008 film Bhootnath.
Vivek said that nowadays costume designers charge a lot of money, whereas at the time of Bhootnath, the budget of Shahrukh Khan's clothes was only Rs 40 thousand. He said that Amitabh Bachchan rehearses at home two days before shooting a scene.
Amit Sharma said that he first acts himself and then asks actors to act. Amit said that despite being a big star, Ajay Devgan never interrupts the directors. He has no ego, he likes to listen to the directors.
Amitabh Bachchan rehearses at home before shooting
If actors don't understand a scene or dialogue, do they do it in their own way? Vivek Sharma said, 'Improvisation is not necessary all the time. Every scene and dialogues are written very thoughtfully. It is not necessary for any actor to make changes in it. In this matter I find Amitabh Bachchan quite right.
He gets the screenplay of the scene to be shot at his home two days in advance. Then let's make its graph. The meaning of the graph, how they will act in that scene, they practice beforehand. The old actors do not do much improvisation. Only the actors of this generation experiment more.
The film Bhootnath was released in 2008. In this, Amitabh Bachchan played the role of Bhootnath. His character dies in the film, after which he becomes a ghost.
Only Rs 40 thousand spent on Shahrukh's costume in Bhootnath
How big a role does the director play in choosing the actors' costumes? In response, Vivek said, 'It is the director's job to choose the costume. During Bhootnath, I had Amit ji shoot all the sequences in only three clothes. Apart from this, Shahrukh Khan used to bring clothes from his home. Only his navy uniform was made by me.
Think for yourself, a big star like Shahrukh Khan himself used to bring costumes from his home. Nowadays all this work is done by the costume designer. We give them the contract to make clothes. Costume designers also charge huge amount from producers for this. You will not believe that only 40 thousand rupees were spent on Shahrukh's costume in Bhoothnath.
This is a picture taken during the filming of the film Bhoothnath. Vivek Sharma (centre) is seen explaining the script of the film to Shahrukh and Juhi Chawla.
From standing to inhaling and exhaling, only a director teaches us.
According to Vivek, all the preparations start from pre-production. By then the script is also ready. After this the shooting is scheduled. Actors are called. Then go to the location. Let's check there whether the equipments and costumes have reached or not. There the director's work begins again. He does scene staging. Scene staging means the actor is explained how to stand, how to inhale and exhale.
Like in the film Bhootnath, child artist Aman Siddiqui i.e. Banku did not have knowledge of sound, camera and editing. Therefore the work of the director had become very important there. At what angle should he stand in front of the camera? There was no information about when to exhale so that it does not get captured in the recording. Vivek said that it is very difficult to work with actors who do not know all these things.
Understand what scene staging is
Vivek said, 'To understand scene staging in more simple words, suppose you have come here by walking down the stairs. As soon as you came, you sat on the sofa. After some time a woman came and gave you tea and went away. You chatted with me and left after some time. If we repeat the incident again, it will be called scene staging. In a way, it can also be called a rehearsal.
Directors go to actors with bound scripts
After casting the actors, Vivek Sharma first goes to them with a bound script. He said, 'The story, screenplay and dialogues of the film are all written in that script. If the actors want to make some changes or suggestions in the script, they can do so. Most actors don't have any suggestions. It is obvious that his main job is acting.
It's better to listen than read the script.
Amit Sharma, director of the film Maidan, which is releasing on April 10, said, 'My way of working is a little different compared to other directors. I first perform every character on the set myself. When I feel that I have convinced myself with my act, then I call the actors on the set and make them act. I never read scripts but listen to them. I like listening to the script better. This allows me to visualize the characters. Script writers are very upset with me, they have to give me narration of the script many times.
Ajay Devgan has no ego
How do you deal with big stars? You have just worked with Ajay Devgan. Was it difficult to handle them? Amit said, 'Ajay sir listens to the directors. I told him that the lead character of the film Maidan does not walk with his chest wide. He listened to me and started losing weight to show himself as flexible. Be it the costume he was asked to wear or the dialogues he was asked to speak, he followed everything. There is no ego in him at all.
Ajay Devgan has played the role of coach Syed Abdul Rahim, who showed the golden era of Indian football in the film Maidan.
Actors working in theaters do more improvisation
Amit said that actors working in theater sometimes start acting in their own way. Do more improvisation. This is also a very good thing.
Amit said, 'I never stop actors from doing improvisation. He reads the dialogues as per his own, I have no problem in it. Yes, when I feel that he is dominating the actor in front, then I say the same cut. There is a line, you cannot go beyond it. When I feel that the actor in front is experimenting more than necessary, then I stop him there.
If the actor can't give the shot then he does it himself.
Suppose the actor is not able to give any better shot, you are not satisfied with him. Then how do you convey the message to him? Amit said, 'I myself perform the scene in which the actor is stuck and show it to him. With this the actor understands what I want him to do. Ego does not come into play in this, the day an actor shows ego, we will also think about how to handle it. It is not that only the actor gets trapped. Sometimes even directors do not understand how to show a particular scene.
What is the difference between independent film making and working under a banner?
In response, Amit Sharma says, 'Till now I have worked only with Boney Kapoor ji in Bahar. I never felt that I was working under some other production house. Boney ji has always given me freedom so that I can do better work.
I have done three films so far, Tevar, Badhaai Ho and now Maidan. I produced Badhaai Ho myself. I have made both these films with Boney ji. He never interfered in my work.
Input- Virendra Mishra
