FILM INTERVIEW: ARBAAZ KHAN

 

“We are in communication with Dileep Shukla. We had no clue he had written the original story,” Arbaaz Khan, who tried his hand as an actor in films such as Daraar and Hello Brother, told the press of franchising out the highest-grossing film of 2010. “Scripting has already started, the filming starts by early January. Start sound, camera, action. Inshallah, Dabangg 2 will live up to all the expectations and be a huge blockbuster because of you all.”

 

Arbaaz Khan steps in as director of a film that not only launched the directorial career of Mr. Kashyap, but also introduced Hindi film fans to the stunningly gorgeous Sonakshi Sinha.

 

The 43-year-old actor-turned-producer-director said he had no patience to wait around for Mr. Kashyap to resolve his differences with those associated with the film.

 

“We cannot really figure out what went on in Abhinav’s mind, nor do we care. But we do know he was not happy with the fact that (my brother and I) took creative charge of Dabangg,” Arbaaz Khan told the press. “(Mr. Kashyap) had made a film of two hours, 50 minutes. We thought that was too long. We edited it down to two hours, two minutes. Maybe Abhinav felt creatively challenged due to this. I really don’t know. All I know is God has his own plans. I didn’t know He planned to turn me into a director so suddenly.”

 

The acclaimed Dabangg producer added that Mr. Kashyap had everything at his disposal to make his directorial career work out better than anyone could have envisioned, yet petty differences are keeping the young filmmaker from staying aboard one of the most lucrative Bollywood titles of all time. 

 

“We had an array of great technicians helping Abhinav make his directorial debut. I’d get the same help,” Arbaaz Khan added to the press, claiming he, above all others, cared just as much about qualitative content as anyone. “Finally, it’s the story that matters. My father (Salim Khan) is a renowned scriptwriter with 40 years of experience. I’ve inherited his genes.”

 

Initially, it seemed as if Mr. Kashyap would inherit Dabangg 2, what with him adamantly denying, a few months back, that he was still on board for the sequel.

 

“This is just a rumor. I want to know, if I am not making it, then who is making it? I even spoke to Arbaaz (Khan). Even he doesn’t know from where these rumors are coming,” Mr. Kashyap told the press last November amidst unverified reports that either Arbaaz Khan or Sohail Khan (also Salman Khan’s brother) would take over the bullhorn.

 

Of course, five months later, here is Arbaaz Khan taking over for Ms. Kashyap of one of the most successful masala films ever, even confirming the news on his Twitter account.

 

“Hey guys it true, I will be directing the sequel of Dabangg. Abhinav for some personal n professional reasons opted out (sic),” the Twitter post read.

 

The question now is whether Arbaaz Khan will be able to write a script for Dabangg 2, exceeding the expectations of the first Dabangg, which released in September 2010 and instantly became one of the biggest Bollywood box office hits in cinematic history.

 

Stay tuned to Buzzine Bollywood to keep up with all the real-life drama surrounding the overly dramatic film that was Dabangg.