Riteish with Jaqueline Fernandez in Aladin

The Mumbai preview of Aladin has supposedly created quite a stir. What did you think of the finished film?

Unfortunately I didn’t get to see it. I was in Bangalore promoting the film. So, I was kind of left out from the preview by my director (Sujoy Ghosh)!

Aladin was jointly conceived by Sujoy and you. What was the initial idea?

The entire story of Aladin was a brainchild of Sujoy. We were having a cup of coffee and I had just finished Masti and he had just finished Jhankaar Beats and was working on Home Delivery. We wanted to work together and we were trying to think of what we can do. And there was this Aladdin comic book lying on the shelf. So he said: “Let’s make Aladin.” I asked: “This one?” And he said: “Not this one... we will make our own Aladin by reconstructing the whole story.” So we decided to keep the essence and inherent qualities of Aladdin in Aladin. Today, when you see the film you will know which story we are telling you, but there’s more than a twist.

How have these twists changed the relationships between the characters in the film?

Oh, the dynamics of the relationships have been completely changed. The relationship between Aladin and Genius, between Aladin and Jasmine and, of course, the supreme power of the Ring Master.

Is it visually on a par with the best fantasy films around the world?

I saw it some time back when some work was still left. Going by Amitji’s judgement and what he has written about the film on his blog (Bachchan wrote: “I am proud to have been a part of this venture, that has certainly created a finesse and grandeur in fantasy film making much much more than what I had expected from it. It is smooth and vibrant and not in your face yet effective enough to know that it is.”) I think we have achieved it. When you see the film — good, bad, ugly, whatever you may think of it — you cannot say that the effort put in to create a new world has gone waste. You have to say that the VFX, the fictional city created, all that is outstanding, unbelievable.

You are Aladin Chatterjee. Did you learn any Bengali for the film?

No, no there’s no Bengali lines for me in the film. I don’t know Bengali at all. And Amitji knows a lot. So he is the one who uses Bengali words in the movie. I think at one point he said: “Bosho, bosho!” Even otherwise, Sujoy and Amitji would often start talking in Bengali and I would be like the lost puppy on the set. I didn’t understand anything but I could make out that the language is as sweet as the Bengali sweets.

What was it like having Amitabh Bachchan as your personal genie?

You know, on the sets, he is the boss. Not because he behaves like one but because of the kind of respect we all have for him. He tries to be as cool as we are but we obviously give him the respect he deserves. It was fantastic shooting with him. On screen, the relationship is different from as you know it in the original Arabian Nights tale. Here Aladin is not the boss of the genie but the genie is like a boss to Aladin. He is always bullying him. And that has added a lot to their chemistry.

If you were given three wishes in real life, what would those be?

I just have one. And that is I have a lamp from which Amitabh Bachchan comes out. I don’t think I need to ask for any more wishes.

Was it difficult working with Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez because she can’t speak Hindi?

I believe that for a newcomer, all the forces of acting are working against you. The only thing you have is hard work and sincerity. And Jacqueline made that effort. She learnt her lines and expressed them even though she is from a foreign land. She really worked hard.

How important is Aladin for you?

It’s my most important film. Not just because I am playing the title role but also because I am trying something different and would like to be accepted.