EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
By Neeraj Nanda from Mumbai
Saif Ali Khan stars with Katrina Kaif in Director Kabir Khan’s new spy thriller ‘Phantom’ scheduled for release in Australia on the 28th August by the Mind Blowing Films. The movie will have its World Premiere on 27th August at the Hoyts Melbourne Central as the closing night of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2015 (IFFM-2015). Saif Ali Khan has acted in more than 60 movies since 1992 and many of them were hits. I interviewed him in a cool vanity van at Mumbai’s Mehboob Studio’s, where he was busy shooting. In a candid conversion he detailed the theme and his character in ‘Phantom’ and also spoke on other issues of importance.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: Why is the movie called ‘Phantom’?
A: Phantom means a ghost. My character is on a mission without credit. It’s a black operation. Despite success the world will not know who did it. My character is a person thrown out of the army but there is nothing on file. It’s a Phantom mission.
Q: Tell me more about your character?
A: He is very dark. He does not get along with people. The government offers him a secret mission. The backdrop is an international terror network and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Q: What feeling you had doing this character? Felt patriotic?
A: Doing something patriotic as a character one does not have to feel patriotic. You are risking your life to save the country. Don’t have to stress that too much.
Photo: Disney-UTV
Q: Anything patriotic like Manoj Kumar movies in ‘Phantom’?
A: No, that would be disastrous today. The audience is more educated and aware. Simple notions don’t work. India has changed. Every decade is different. Those who watch movies in India have changed. Manoj Kumar’s time was different but may work again one day at the right moment.
Q: The movie is being called sensitive.
A: There is a political side which can be highlighted. It’s black and white. There are people responsible and people know who they are.
Q: Some might not be happy with the film’s theme.
A: The villain or those who did it will not be happy. Better to see the movie and decide. Kabir Khan will not make a film targeting someone.
Q: What’s the message of the film?
A: The factual message of the movie is more exciting than the fiction. I would want to know who is responsible for 26/11 and who are they? Why they are not being brought to justice? The hero is the fantasy and the negative part is the realistic part. It’s like a Fredrick Forsyth novel, theme is a factual situation and the hero is fictional.
Q: And inspiration from the situation.
A: Inspiration will come later. It’s about entertainment.
Q: And the action in the movie.
A: Lots of action. The hero lands up in Syria with militant commandos in a war zone with bullets flying and gun fighting around.
Q: What’s your message for the Indian Film Festival Melbourne (IFFM)-2015?
A: I am proud to be part of the Indian film industry. One of the few film industries which has survived Hollywood. We have a responsibility to make better movies. Thank god, we have a lovely audience to support us.
Q: What do you expect from your fans in Australia?
A: I don’t know what I expect from them but know what they expect from us. Those missing home have a connection through us. They want us to be entertaining.
Q: New technology, for example, like You Tube is a help or hindrance?
A: It depends who you are and what you trying to do. Any multilayered technology can be used positively and negatively. Though piracy is a problem.
Q: Why piracy is there?
A: Piracy is encouraged because many people cannot afford expensive stuff. If this stuff is economically priced piracy will have no meaning.
Q: Bollywood is global now and needs new themes.
A: We need better writers and they need to be paid well. Because we don’t pay them well the top talent does not write for movies.
Q: Like your dad do you play Cricket?
A: Yes, very much. I also like watching Cricket. It’s a family passion. We have Cricket stuff all around the home.
Q: What was the inspiration from dad?
A: He was a role model for me as a father, gentleman and a good man.
– SAT News Service.
