Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan starrer blockbuster film 'Karan Arjun' is going to re-release in cinemas worldwide on 22nd November. Recently, producer-director Rakesh Roshan had a special conversation with Frontpage Insights about this film. He said that when the distributors were told that an action film was being made with Salman and Shahrukh, 2-3 distributors dropped the film. Even Shahrukh Khan was not convinced by the story of the film, later he apologized.
Read exclusive excerpts from the conversation with Rakesh Roshan..
Question: Shah Rukh and Salman had the image of romantic heroes. When you thought of making an action film with these two, what was the public reaction? Answer: 99 percent of people didn't want me to make a film, but I didn't back down from my faith. I felt that there can be no greater love than that of a mother and a son. With the same conviction, Rakhiji spoke dialogues like, 'Mere Karan-Arjun Ayenge'. These dialogues made people believe that a mother killed both her sons in front of her and then she screamed in front of God and said give me back my children. So the children had to come.
Q: You are the first producer who brought Shah Rukh and Salman together? Answer: Both were new at that time. Both worked wholeheartedly. Salman and Shahrukh used to do only romantic films. I saw that both can do action as well. This film is not just action, but there is a story in which they act.
Q: There were a lot of changes in the casting of the film initially, say something about that? Answer: Earlier this film had Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan. Both liked the story. Shah Rukh and Ajay came to see me one day and said they wanted to change their image. Then both chose their roles accordingly. Shahrukh loves action while Ajay loves romantic roles. Then I asked him if this would benefit the film. Both fell silent. I said that if the film runs, it will be beneficial. If you guys change your image and the film doesn't do well, you will be neither here nor there.
I said that both are doing action and romance in this film. Both did not believe in this matter. I cast Aamir and Salman. Then Shah Rukh came and said that you gave me a break in 'King Uncle'. I will do this film. I told Aamir that Shah Rukh wants to do it. I started the film with Shah Rukh and Salman.
Q: What was Amrish Puri's reaction when you told the story? Answer: Amrish Puriji asked me if you think Karan-Arjun will come back. I said you will kill so badly that it will come back in every birth. Hearing this he laughed out loud.
Q: And, what was Rakhiji's reaction? Answer- Rakhiji understood that he is a good character. I narrate the script with complete dialogues to any actor. He liked it very much.
Q: First the film was titled 'Kayanaat' and then how come it was named 'Karan-Arjun'? Answer: The film's dialogue writer Anwar Khan said that the word 'Kayanat' does not match the story of the film. He said the film has two heroes, so let's name them Karan and Arjun. I like his suggestion. The title also sounded good, so we named it 'Karan Arjun'.
Q: You have a good bonding with the distributor of the film, what was their opinion about the film? Answer: When I said that I am making an action film with Salman and Shah Rukh. 2-3 distributors dropped the film. He wondered how an action film with two romantic heroes could be made. Everyone has their own way of thinking. When the film ran, they came back to us and said we had made a mistake.
Q: The songs in the film were of different flavours, tell us something about how they came about? Answer: Usually we explain the situation to the songwriter. A songwriter writes a song accordingly. I am not telling the situation but the whole story of the film with dialogues. Be it a cameraman or a lyricist. That way they understand what I'm making. Due to this, Indivarji wrote very good songs. In my films, songs drive the story forward.
Q: How was the bonding between Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan at that time? Ans: There was a very good bonding between the two. During the shooting of our film, there is such an atmosphere that everyone sits and eats together. Be it a big actor or a small actor. Everyone ends up shooting the film joking around with the technicians and actors.
Q: Any memorable moment during the shoot that you would like to share? Ans: The entire shoot was memorable. Never thought that the dialogues of this film will become so popular. I was mixing the film at Rajkamal Studio. Yash Chopra also had an office there. Aditya Chopra and Hrithik are friends. Aditya used to come to the studio frequently. One day Aditya said, uncle you don't know what you have done. This film will break records I thought if he is Hrithik's friend he will feel the same. After the film was over, I organized a show and invited Salman Khan's entire family to watch the film.
Q: Hrithik Roshan was also an assistant in your film at that time, tell us something about him? Answer: Ever since Hrithik was 14 years old, I used to narrate the stories of my films to him. It was important for me to know what Hrithik thought about this. After the film 'King Uncle' when I was thinking of making a film, I didn't know what story to make. Hrithik told me that you told me the story of a mother and two sons. Then I remembered that I could make a film on this story.
Q: Where do you get convincing power from? Answer: I don't know whether I bring or God gives. I work very hard. I am in no rush to make a film so if one does well I will immediately do another. I don't make films to make money. Movies make money and give it away. We should keep making films.
Q: What do you find most beautiful about 'Karan Arjun'? Answer: The emotional part of the film is the most beautiful. Apart from this, the locations of the film are very beautiful. I think such films are rarely made. If such a film is to be made again, it will not be possible.
Q: Do you think 'Karan Arjun' can have a sequel? Answer: It can be done, but I never thought about it.
Q: How did you come up with the idea to re-release the film after 29 years? Answer: Shahrukh and Salman are superstars. I thought let's republish it. Releasing it on a large scale in 2000 screens. Earlier it had a common south system. I re-recorded the sound in 5.1. Did the DI of the entire film. The film will look brand new. Now let's see what the audience says after watching the film.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
