Imran Khan is a bonus for 'Kidnap'

Mumbai, Sep 25 (IANS) After the successful "Dhoom" series, Sanjay Gadhvi is looking forward to his forthcoming release "Kidnap", which has current flavour Imran Khan in an important role. The director describes his presence in the movie as a "bonus".

The film also stars Sanjay Dutt and Minissha Lamba.

"Imran is a bonus now. I never knew he'd become so big. It was Shibani Bhatija (the scriptwriter) who mentioned that Aamir Khan's nephew was looking to act," Gadhvi told IANS.

"When I decided to cast Imran, I didn't even know he was doing 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na'. I had no clue Imran's first film would turn him into a household hero. Everything happens as it is meant to be. I wanted to cast a boy who wants to be a man.

"When I saw him, I knew this was the guy who'd play Kabeer in 'Kidnap'. Because of his mixed lineage, Imran has a very interesting face. He reminded me of Marlon Brando in 'On The Waterfront'. I didn't have to change Imran's look, like Hrithik in 'Dhoom 2' or Esha in 'Dhoom'. Just a stubble and a muscular look," he said.

Although Imran has a sizeable part in the film, the director says "Kidnap" is Sanjay Dutt's film.

"'Kidnap' is a Sanjay Dutt vehicle. From 'Jaane Tu...' to 'Kidnap' is like Kashmir to Kanyakumari for Imran. His character carries the weight of the world on his shoulders like Mr. (Amitabh) Bachchan in 'Zanjeer'. Sanjay and Imran share a great chemistry."

Sanjay agreed to play Minissha Lamba's father in "Kidnap" without a second thought.

"I think Sanjay wanted to do a father-daughter film for a long time. In the film, he doesn't get to see his daughter for eight years. Somewhere he connected with that situation on a personal level."

The director rebuffs rumours that it is a remake of Hollywood film "Ransom".

"'Kidnap' is halfway between what I believe in and what is expected of me. But it is not a remake of the Mel Gibson starrer 'Ransom'. 'Kidnap' will establish me as a filmmaker of more gravity because a lot of people believe 'Dhoom' had no story. At least 'Dhoom 2' got a little weight from the chemistry between Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai."

Before making "Kidnap", Gadhvi directed three films for Yash Raj Films - "Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai", "Dhoom" and "Dhoom 2". After star-studded "Dhoom 2", Gadhvi walked out of the banner.

The departure got really bad for Gadhvi as some people in the Yash Raj camp said that "Dhoom 2" had been ghost-directed by Aditya Chopra.

But Gadhvi revealed that he never wanted to make "Dhoom" in the first place.

"Dhoom was a space filler, a stopgap film. 'Kidnap' was the first script of Shibani Bhatija (who wrote 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' and 'My Name Is Khan') . This was the film I wanted to make for Yash Raj right after 'Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai'.

"Adi (Aditya Chopra) suggested I team up with Shibani on 'Kidnap'. The only one who could play the main role was Sanjay Dutt, but he told Adi he couldn't give dates before 2004. So I was at a loose end. Adi suggested a quickie featuring actors who were easily available to Yash Raj Films."

Gadhvi was supposed to start "Kidnap" right after "Dhoom".

"But then the demand for a sequel to 'Dhoom' was so high that I had no option but to make 'Dhoom 2'. I wanted to make 'Kidnap'. But Adi insisted I do 'Dhoom 2' and promised me that I'd do 'Kidnap' and no one else would."

After doing three films for Yash Raj, Gadhvi moved out with the script of 'Kidnap'.

"That's the way it works at Yash Raj. After three films all directors either move out or they become co-producers. Production isn't a responsibility I was willing to shoulder. I told Adi this. I wanted to walk on the wild side. Yash Raj was like the parents' home. I was the child that left home. And I got the script and title of 'Kidnap' as a going-away gift."

But Gadhvi continues to be known as the "Dhoom" director.

"I never wanted to become a director who makes the 'Dhoom' kind of films. Suddenly after 'Dhoom', I was offered many 'Dhoom type' scripts. They thought it was easy. A lot of people tried it after 'Dhoom' and failed. But 'Dhoom' wasn't my forte.

"I assisted the late Anant Balani from whom I learnt everything I know about filmmaking. My first film was 'Tu Hi Bataa'. It featured Arjun Rampal, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher... it got shelved. Then I made another film 'Tere Liye', but most people think 'Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai' with Yash Raj is my first film."

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