Aamir Khan is predictably in a happy mood as he sits down for a chat-his first to a news publication-since his new production Peepli (Live) opened to good initials on Friday.
"One is never fully confident that one's film is guaranteed to work at the box office. Choosing a script, as an actor or as a filmmaker, is an emotional decision. If it touches my heart, I'm in," he says, when you point out Brand Aamir Khan is enough to pull the crowds even if his participation, as in the case of Peepli (Live), is only in the capacity of a producer.
That brings us to money matters. "The film cost Rs 10 crore, which is a small budget by the standards of the Hindi film industry," he says.
"But given its unconventional theme and the absence of familiar stars, even that amount seemed big while we made the film. I'm glad that people love Peepli (Live)." While Bollywood's most successful actor-filmmaker of the hour has always acknowledged his fan base as the biggest factor for his success, of late he also seems to be in the mood to be friends with the media unlike a few years ago, when he had virtually boycotted journalists.
"My relationship with the media is a happy one right now. I am thankful and grateful that they are interested in me," he says.
Aamir was always one to choose his words well.
A TV set blaring in the background momentarily distracts him, and Aamir, ever the perfectionist, springs into action. He gets up personally to reduce the volume.
For Aamir, even giving an interview should be a flawless affair and not a routine publicity act to just get over with.
He gives due credit to debutant director Anusha Rizvi for the way Peepli (Live) has shaped up.
"The research, the scripting and the casting were entirely done by Anusha and her husband Mahmood Farooqui. I did support their effort creatively but my main role lay in providing resources." So what is the one factor that makes Peepli (Live) a special film? "I'll vote for the film's unusual casting among several other important factors. The cast is what makes this film real and effective," Aamir says, adding: "A lot of them were facing the camera for the first time, and they have given the film a freshness which is its biggest appeal." During Saturday's whirlwind tour of the city for the postrelease promotion of Peepli (Live), Aamir was accompanied by the film's lead actors, Raghubir Yadav and Omkardas Manikpuri.
"This is the second time I've worked with Aamir after Lagaan. I can only say he has matured impressively as a filmmaker in all these years," Raghubir says.
On his part, the producer seems equally impressed by the actor. "I've been a huge fan of Ragu ji ever since I saw Massey Sahib ," says Aamir referring to Pradeep Kishen's 1985 film that won Raghubir the Critic's Award at the Venice Film Festival.
"I admire his tendency to be selective about good work." Call it a mutual admiration club. But maybe, it is exactly the sort of professional and personal respect a creator and a performer need to have for each other to make good movies.
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