Dustin Hoffman was to play lead in 'English' Wazir: Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar   made a brilliant debut with his first directorial film Dil Chahta Hai in 2001 . But the multi-talented son of Javed Akhtar is now as much a bankable Bollywood actor as any other big star. The National Award for Best Actor for Bhag Milkha Bhag put the final signature on his talent.

You are said to be one of the most versatile actor-filmmakers in Bollywood. How do you react to it?

Looking back, I find it rather amusing because when I was 17-18, I was a good-for-nothing lazing around at home, watching films and television the whole day long and doing precisely nothing. Then one day, my mother pulled me up and said very strongly that she would throw me out of the house if I did not do anything with my life. It became the turning point in my life. It was the only way my mother could ‘motivate’ a lazy bum like me. I was a college drop-out because I was more interested in becoming a filmmaker. I began assisting directors to begin with.

How did music begin to interest you because you have sung your own songs in Rock On!

As I began assisting, I discovered that my area of interest was widening. I was interested in music when I was a boy. I bought my guitar at 18-19 and began strumming on it, without training with anyone. Then I searched the internet to study everything about music seriously. I have also dabbled in poetry both in English and Urdu.

You are known for being extremely meticulous about your homework for your acting roles. Can you explain this?

I try to do what I can before I get into a role but I am not sure I can always be my best. For Karthik Calling Karthik which I produced, I had to research for this psychological thriller. Director Vijay Lalwani taught me to solve the Rubik’s Cube to set the tone for the hero who was a psychologically challenged person. For Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhag Milkha Bhag, I had to train vigorously not only in the gym but also in practicing long runs and working on my body. I studied the character of Milkha Singh by researching his body language and had to look credible as a 17-year-old army recruit strong enough to tolerate an on-the-spot preparation at an army cantonment. The hard work was rewarded well when I won the Best Actor Award at the National Awards. 

Wazir has been around in your head since 2004 and the shooting began in 2014. What is the back story? 

Vidhu Vinod Chopra showed me the script of Wazir after the screening of Lakshya way back in 2004. The script was originally in English because Vidhuji wanted to make it in English with a Hollywood producer. Dustin Hoffman was to play the lead character. But the Hollywood producer passed away in 2005 and the English version was shelved. Then after much thought, discussion and argument, it was decided that the film would be made in Hindi, The script went through many drafts and re-drafts and writer Abhijat Joshi joined Vidhuji in the project. In the meantime, ten years had passed. 

Which genre would you want to slot Wazir in?

I would not like to label it as an action film or even as a thriller. Calling it a thriller narrows the concept of the film and what it is trying to say. There are several emotional shocks in the film that basically deals with the relationship between two very different people of different ages and occupations who become friends through a personal tragedy they share. This is what, I guess, would appeal to the audience, not the thriller part alone.

For the first time, you have portrayed an officer of the Anti-Terrorist Squad named Danish Ali. What kind of homework did you put in for this role pitted that you were against Big B himself?

Close observation has been the key to my homework. I have friends who are with the Anti-Terrorist Squad. I observed their lifestyle, their daily diet regime, their workouts on their body, the way they handle guns very closely so that when I enact the role, the audience is convinced that this man means business. As if all this was not enough, I put on around eight to nine kilos to my normal weight. The other advantage was becoming friends with Amit-ji who has known me since I was a little boy and he can make his co-actors feel really comfortable and relaxed.