What made you determine to make Merry Christmas?
In 2004, when Ram Gopal Varma watched the ultimate minimize of Ek Hasina Thi, he advised me, ‘you’ve got made a great movie.
Now don’t attempt to repeat it. It’s best to do one thing utterly totally different.’ That caught with me… Andhadhun was a giant success with the audiences and critics. I used to be very clear that I don’t need to comply with that template for achievement. I had the story of Merry Christmas for just a few years, and felt it was a great time to do it. For the reason that earlier movie was a hit, I felt inspired to take some contemporary dangers.
Did the title Merry Christmas evolve over time?
Oh sure, I had a few Hindi titles primarily based on a few of my favorite songs. Some choices I bear in mind are Raat akeli Hai, Raat ke Hamsafar, Baat ek raat ki and so forth. Then got here Honey Trehan’s Raat akeli hai and I felt any title with raat would give the same vibe. It was Dinesh Vijan who advised MERRY CHRISTMAS as a title. It was easy, and but excellent within the context of our story.
Had been Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi the unique selections? If sure, why did you need them for his or her respective roles?
I needed the story to have a dream-like high quality. In my thoughts, I attempted varied standard pairings, however some X issue gave the impression to be lacking. Many of the stars had already labored with one another. For the reason that story is about two strangers assembly on Christmas eve, I needed an out of the field pairing. Katrina is a glamorous star and Vijay is thought for his rooted characters. The opposites attracted me.
Did Katrina and Vijay shock you as actors in any manner?
Positively. It was the primary time I used to be working with both of them. I can fortunately say that they enhanced the writing with their performances. I imply, how do you write chemistry in a script? That was purely on them.
In what methods are the Hindi and Tamil variations of the movie totally different from one another?
It’s the similar supply materials however the two languages have totally different idioms, and there are delicate variations in each variations.
Do you suppose the Christmas week of 2023 was a greater window for the discharge?
Positively. We had introduced our launch in December, however then I noticed that the month was filled with huge releases, and we didn’t need to get caught within the blood bathtub. We might additionally not get our alternative of cinemas, therefore we pushed the dates.
What sort of battles do you continue to need to battle to make the cinema of your alternative?
The standard battles. Casting selections, budgets, trailer slicing, advertising concepts and extra. Most essential is the battle throughout the thoughts, relating to how greatest to inform the story in a cinematic method.
Merry Christmas First Day First Present Public Evaluation: Katrina Kaif, Vijay Sethupathi, Sriram Raghavan
After Merry Christmas, what are you going to make subsequent?
I’ve already commenced taking pictures of IKKIS, primarily based on the story of Arun Khetarpal, the younger tank commander who was martyred while defending a vital sector within the 1971 conflict. It stars Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat, together with Agastya Nanda, who performs the conflict hero. We’ve got accomplished an essential part of the movie. We are going to resume taking pictures from February this yr.
How was it working with Dharmendra in Ikkis?
Dharamji is a deal with to work with. As an actor, he’s hungrier and extra exhausting working than many youthful actors right this moment. Everybody loves him on the units. I completely get pleasure from speaking to him about among the nice movies and administrators he has labored with in his illustrious profession.
How do you take a look at your journey in cinema thus far?
I’ve been fortunate with my actors and despite the fact that each movie wasn’t an enormous hit, we by no means misplaced cash, and managed to make our sort of cinema.
It has been 20 years because you made your first characteristic. Do you suppose you can have directed extra movies?
Nicely…undoubtedly, however for varied causes it didn’t occur. Ridley Scott and Woody Allen would have made twenty movies on this interval!
Is there a movie that you’ve been desirous to make, however have not bought the possibility to make it?
Fortunately, I’ve not had a dearth of producers who’re keen to again me. I’ve varied concepts, therapies that are half achieved, or half baked, so it’s all the time a piece in progress.
The way in which movies are made (the present and the biz a part of it), what’s one thing that you’ve got made peace with, contemplating you have needed to battle to make the sort of cinema you need ?
I don’t get pleasure from promotions, however I do know it must be achieved, merely to unfold consciousness concerning the movie. My movies largely depend on phrase of mouth publicity. And hopefully, good evaluations by esteemed critics.
How is Katrina as an actor? The overall impression is that she is a large star, however as an actor she nonetheless wants a task that challenges her..
Please watch MERRY CHRISTMAS and you’re going to get your reply…
