Ranbir and Minissha in Bachna Ae Haseeno

After his breezy directorial debut Salaam Namaste, Siddharth Anand struggled with a more mature relationship story in Ta Ra Rum Pum. Now, the 29-year-old director is back to his preferred terrain — youthful rom com. Sid tells t2 about the Independence Day release Bachna Ae Haseeno...

Do you think you will be able to brave the Singh is Kinng storm?

I have seen the film... I don’t think that’s an issue. I am very confident of my film. I feel every film has its audience and its destiny. If my film is destined to run, no film can stop it. I am very happy with the release date because it is the holiday period and thanks to the music there is a very positive buzz about the film. Once the audience comes in they should like the film.

Ta Ra Rum Pum could not live up to expectations after Salaam Namaste. Did you analyse why?

Yes, I did analyse. It wasn’t the kind of success that we were expecting but it was a success all right. The producer made money and every distributor in every territory made money. It was one of the highest grossing films of last year, at number seven on the year-end list. The reason I felt it didn’t do according to its potential is because of the poverty I portrayed in the film in New York. People couldn’t identify with it... The idea was to show the rise and fall of a sportsman and how in the fall also, he tries to keep things up and doesn’t let it affect his family and kids. I think it didn’t come across completely and hopefully someday I will re-attempt the film in a different context but with the same theme of a family staying together in difficult times. I think I made a mistake in Ta Ra Rum Pum and I would like to try it again some time soon.

Bachna Ae Haseeno is the first time you are directing a script written by someone else...

Yes, I got a ready script while I was working on Ta Ra Rum Pum. The story is by Aditya Chopra and the screenplay is by Devika Bhagat. I am also a writer but as and when I get help, I use it. I loved the script of Bachna... I didn’t need to do anything on it. I changed very minute things here and there and streamlined it to suit my own sensibilities. While shooting, I made a film which I could say was mine. I brought my treatment to the subject and brought characters which I could see. I owned the film... put my stamp on the film.

What is the essential idea of Bachna Ae Haseeno?

It’s a very unique idea which if I tell you now, the element of surprise will go away. It’s, of course, about a guy falling in love with three different women in three stages of his life and realising the true meaning of love. It’s also an insight into the youth of today... how irresponsible and frivolous they can be. But there’s a lot more. There’s not only a twist in the tale... it is a very twisted tale (laughs). What I can vouch for is that the film will surprise you every 15 minutes. It will not shock you like Salaam Namaste’s live-in relationship, but it will surprise you.

Was the primary cast your idea?

Completely. That’s what Adi believes in. When he gives a director a film, he wants it to be completely his vision. Obviously one can’t go ahead and cast someone for the sake of casting him. Once you watch Bachna you will realise that Bipasha could not have played Minissha’s character and Minissha could not have played Deepika’s character. Every actor is suited for his or her character.

At what point of time did you cast Ranbir in the lead? After Saawariya?

We cast Ranbir when he was working for Saawariya. He was the first person to be cast for the film. We wanted someone new and young. Because he had to portray someone who is 18 and then goes on to become 30. Fortunately Ranbir read it and loved it... he was saying no to scripts left, right and centre. He saw merit in this, I guess.

Right from the time Bachna was announced, it’s being compared to the Chris ’Donell-starrer The Bachelor...

It’s very unfortunate that my film is being associated with it. There is no truth to it. It’s no point in me denying it and then it turning out to be a copy. I actually mean it. It is one of the most original screenplays you have ever come across... You haven’t seen something like this ever.

How did you come up with the title?

Aahhh, I think, somewhere in the middle of all the discussions, Adi came up with the title. It was one of the titles... it was floating somewhere. After a while we zeroed in on three titles and Bachna... was one of them. It was my instinct and my conviction that we finally used this title. The title reduces the seriousness of the film but I wanted it to sound younger and cooler. Even if the film was called Pyar Ke Bandhan or something, Ranbir would have come across as a Casanova because there are three girls in his life. I would have kept the title Bachna Ae Haseeno even if Ranbir wasn’t doing the film and some newcomer was playing the role. And I would still use the title track.

Did you try to make Ranbir act or dance like Rishi Kapoor for the sake of nostalgia?

Rishi Kapoor had a very unique dancing style which cannot be imitated. He is one actor whom you cannot imitate... whether it’s dialogue delivery or dance.

Your three-film contract with Yash Raj Films ends with this film. What next?

I am committed to do a film for Sajid Nadiadwala. I plan to come back to Yash Raj after that and start my own production. But right now my life depends on 15th August.

sid On directing the stars

Saif Ali Khan: I had a tuning from Hum Tum where I was the assistant director. There was already an understanding and he had the confidence in me as a director.

Preity Zinta: It took her four-five days to get used to me. Because in her last few films she worked with Yash Chopra (Veer-Zaara), Rakesh Roshan (Koi... Mil Gaya) and Karan Johar (Kal Ho Naa Ho)... all maharathis. And then there she was with this 25-year-old boy in Australia. Once she knew that I understood the medium and knew my job, it was a cakewalk.

Rani Mukerji: She was in school with me. And I was also hands-on in Hum Tum. So that was no problem.

Ranbir Kapoor: He is my childhood friend. We have grown up together. He is too intelligent to be moulded. It was like having a second director on the sets. He was with me during the music-making and also in the post-production.

Bipasha: She is sort of a veteran now.

Minissha & Deepika: I haven’t seen any of their films. So I moulded them into their characters in the film.