Wazir – Further Stories. In cinemas Friday January 8th 2015
Further Stories in relation to ‘Wazir’
Farhan Akhtar had a great time working with Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Wazir’
Farhan Akhtar expresses how he had a wonderful time working with screen legend, Amitabh Bachchan, in the upcoming film, ‘Wazir’. Farhan had previously directed the megastar in ‘Lakshya’ but will be seen sharing screen space with him for the first time in the action thriller. Farhan says, “I was happy to spend time with him. We are all huge fans of him and have grown up watching his films. I spoke to him a lot about the past, about him approaching other roles, about his association with Salim Saab and my father, how they worked together. We spoke a lot about ‘Deewaar’. He is very witty, very funny.”
Farhan Akhtar Amitabh Bachchan
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, who essays the titular role in ‘Wazir’ explains that he was extremely nervous when approached by producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra for the film. Neil says, “I had a mammoth task as my character had to intimidate Mr. Bachchan’s character. I said how can you intimidate someone whose name itself intimidates you? But then I thought my career would be incomplete if I don’t work with him, Vidhu Sir and the team.”
Neil Nithin Mukesh
Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar give a game of chess the vodka twist
Actors Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar will be introducing a new and merrier way of playing a game of chess to audiences in the upcoming ‘Wazir’ – vodka chess! The stars of the film had to play a version of the game whereby, after the defeat of a pawn, the losing player has to consume a vodka shot, for a scene in the film.
Mr. Bachchan’s character in the film is called ‘Panditji’ and Farhan now refers to the veteran actor as ‘Panditji’ off screen as well. Be it during meetings and phone conversations or on Twitter, he has been referring to Mr. Bachchan by his reel name.
Farhan Akhtar & Amitabh Bachchan
Farhan Akhtar on recording a song with Mr. Bachchan for ‘Wazir’
Actor Farhan Akhtar has revealed that he has never specifically requested his producers for him sing in his films. He explains, “I never do that. In Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, I didn’t sing any song. In Shaadi Ke Side Effects, I had just one song, which was there in the background. Even in Luck By Chance, I didn’t sing any song. It depends on the genre of the song. If I think I can emotionally contribute to it through my character, then I do request. Otherwise no.”
Amitabh Bachchan & Farhan Akhtar
Farhan has recorded a song, ‘Atrangi Yaari’, with Amitabh Bachchan for their upcoming film, ‘Wazir’. Farhan explains it was a delight to sing alongside the superstar. “It was a very beautiful experience. We have heard his songs, which he has sung in many movies. It’s a wonderful song, so it was fun performing it together,” he says.
Mr. Bachchan, who has previously sung songs for his films such as ‘Mere Angne Mein’ and ‘Main Yahan Tu Wahan’, does not consider himself a singer per se. “I am not a singer. Nor do I know how to sing. But a lot of things happen in a film where people say if the actor sings the song, then it’ll be better. So, if it fits the scene, I sing,” says Mr. Bachchan.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra turns Lyricist for ‘Wazir’
Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra has himself penned the lyrics for the sublime song, ‘Tere Bin’, for his forthcoming production, ‘Wazir’. The source of inspiration for the romantic number was his wife, Anupama Chopra. When Chopra was working on the lyrics, he had his wife in mind and kept writing until he finished the song and was satisfied with the results. “Vinod, who writes poetries, came up with the lyrics while he was in the zone and working with the music composer, Shantanu. After finishing the song, Vinod first recited the song to his wife,” says a source from the film.
Says Vinod himself, “I wasn’t meant to write the lyrics initially, however when Shantanu was working on the melody of the song on a piano, I kept mouthing words and by the time we finished, we realised that one whole song had been created beautifully. At the end, everyone said that the song should remain as it is.”‘Tere Bin’ is picturised on the lead pair of the film, Farhan Akhtar and Aditi Rao Hydari.
An action thriller starring Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, Neil Nitin Mukesh, John Abraham and Aditi Rao Hydari, ‘Wazir’ releases in cinemas worldwide on 8th January 2016, produced by Vinod Chopra Films and distributed by Reliance Entertainment.