BizAsia talks to Arbaaz Khan about ‘Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon’
Arbaaz Khan is returning to the screens after a few years out from acting. He will be seen as the villain in Abbas-Mustan’s ‘Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon’ which is slated to release this Friday. The film marks the debut of Indian TV’s most loved comedian Kapil Sharma.
BizAsia caught up with Khan about the film.
You’re returning to the screens after a three-year gap. Was this a conscious thing?
Not really. I got into production and direction so acting took a bit of a backseat because I had to give my time to what I was doing. I felt it needed my time. Acting has always been my love and my passion and I’m entirely comfortable now and enjoying my time behind the scenes. Acting it now something I would give up on but I took a bit of a sabbatical because I was busy with other things. However, now I’ve kept myself available and whenever there’s an interesting film or role that comes my way, I would love to act. It’s something I want to continue doing. I’ve never considered packing up where acting is concerned.
What appealed to you about the character Don that you’re playing in the film?
Well, firstly it’s given me the opportunity to work with Abbas-Mustan again. I did my debut film ‘Daraar’ with them in 1996. Over the years, unfortunately, we never got the opportunity to work together again. So when ‘Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon’ came my way, it was more a case of that they had considered me for a role in their film. It wasn’t so much the role but more that I wanted to work with them again which appealed to me. It just so happened that the role was also very good and I’m pretty happy with the way it is in the film. It worked for me on both levels.
Abbas-Mustan have switched genres to comedy with ‘Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon’. Your character is a villain but can we expect some comedy from you too?
Yes, of course! It’s basically a humorous film and it is the comedy genre and obviously with Kapil, that is best way to be. Abbas-Mustan are associated with thrillers and mystery type movies but, if you see, their films always include a comical scene or comic character somewhere; in ‘Baazigar’, ‘Daraar’, ‘Khiladi’… they all had that. They’ve always had a flair for comedy but they’ve never used it before and turned it into a fully-fledged film. Maybe after years they’ve felt they wanted to do a comedy film and when they have an actor like Kapil then they had to do something to suit his image. It is right up his alley and it’s also in the zone of where Abbas-Mustan’s humour is. All in all, it is a film which is pretty apt in terms of what the audience will accept and expect and we’re hopeful that it’ll be received well.
What was it like working with Kapil?
It was a great experience. I can almost see him coming out of his TV stage and being himself even in films. He’s quite comfortable in front of the camera. He’s played his part very well. This particular role has fit him like a glove, I think. It was not very difficult for him to essay this character and it’s very much in the characteristics that people would like to see him in. He’s delivered on that and I’m quite certain that people will like him. What he does after this is something he will have to look into, how he would want to progress in his career and how many challenging films or roles he would take but this film is definitely the right launch for him.
As an actor, director and producer, when you’re acting in someone else’s film, do you find yourself making suggestions or are you ok to leave it down to their creativity?
No, I think I’m by and large pretty much down to their creativity. But I don’t think any actor would restrict himself to what has been instructed to him. When filmmakers bring a professional actor into their film, they often expect that he will take the role and add some creativity of his own, from his own imagination, to it. They want the actor to take it beyond what it already there. ��I don’t mind putting in my suggestion or contribution – sometimes it’s accepted, sometimes they’re logically discussed or sidelined. It’s not like you’re a robot on the sets because that’s not what you take professionals for. I think most directors welcome anything that can be added to a role whether that be a dressing sense or gesture or dialogue delivery. I think it’s welcomed.
What part of filmmaking do you feel fulfills you the most?
Well, I’m enjoying turning a filmmaker right now. Even when I’m producing, I’m not your run-of-the-mill producer who gets the talent together, the funds organised and the budget set. I’m quite a creative producer and involved in pretty much every stage of the filmmaking right from the scripting to the casting to which technicians will be on board and right throughout the shooting of the film, re-production… as well as marketing, promoting, posters. When I’m producing I feel more creative but when I’m directing I would expect someone else to take control of the mechanism of production.
You have many fans in the UK, do you have a message for them?
I’d just like to thanks for all the support they’ve given us… my family.. through the years. We appreciate the love and adulation. We just hope we can live upto their expectations in the films we make.
BizAsia would like to thank Arbaaz Khan for taking the time to talk to us. You can see him in ‘Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon’ from 25th September.
