5 minutes agoAuthor: Ashish Tiwari
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Actor Vikrant Massey, who won the hearts of the audience with director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s film ’12th Fail’, is in the news these days due to the film ‘The Sabarmati Report’. The story of the film is based on the 2002 Godhra train burning incident. The film revolves around two journalists investigating the burning of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra. Apart from Vikrant Massey, the film also stars Rashi Khanna and Riddhi Dogra in lead roles. Directed by Ranjan Chandel, the film is produced by Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures. While Amul V Mohan and Anshul V Mohan are the co-producers of the film. Recently, Amul V Mohan had a special conversation with Divya Bhaskar.
The movie ‘The Sabarmati Report’ is being talked about a lot these days, you are the producer of it. how do you feel
Feels so good. When we thought of working in this film. Since then we had a very clear idea of what to do. This is such a sensitive subject that it cannot be taken in any other direction. In such a situation, the responsibility of all of us increases a lot. Whatever actually happened, we have shown in the film. Our writing team took a very careful step while writing the film.
Produced by Amul V Mohan
Where did this idea come from?
I was discussing with Asim Arora Sir, the writer of the film ‘Ek Villain Returns’. Meanwhile, the idea came that a film should be made on this subject. Me, Anshul and Asim Sar decided to make a film on this subject. We thought of sending the script to Ekta Kapoor. Ekta read the script and agreed to produce the film. The film was supposed to go on floors in July-August 2020. The lockdown came in March and we could not go on the floor. The film went on floors in March 2021. We were a year late.
What was the biggest challenge in ‘The Sabarmati Report’?
The biggest challenge in this film was how to research together with the writer. When we researched the film, we spoke to a TV journalist. We have learned very interesting things from it. If we had deviated even a little while telling such a story, the meaning of the film would have been lost. The film required knowing the vision of director Ranjan Chandel and Ekta Kapoor. Ekta is very creative.
This is a very sensitive topic, one community may get angry and another may like it. How did you balance it all?
Your question is absolutely valid. This is a topic that can go here and there very easily. But we have kept the whole matter very honest. People of any community feel good or bad. How to balance it, it was necessary to break the situation.
The film was earlier scheduled to release on May 3. Rumor has it that the censor board has objections to some scenes, so the release date of the film is being extended?
These are all rumours, only the teaser of the film was sent to the censors. When we announced the release date of the film, the election date was not announced yet. Bollywood has 52 weeks, if you want to make 200-250 films how do you release. A lot remains to be seen, but we will announce the release date of the film soon.
Did Vikrant Messi just like it or thought of someone else?
When our script was finished we were discussing who to approach. Anshul suggested Vikrant’s name. Vikrant didn’t know we were bringing up this topic. He has played the role of Vikrant in the film very well.
You have a background as a journalist, was that what drew you to the film?
My father Vikas Mohan started Super Cinema magazine in 1999. I was in 9th then and started working with dad. Worked with dad for four years. In 2003, he went to London to study. Dad told me that I will do film making course. But Dad said there was no need for that. If you come back after studying there, you have to study here again.
Then in anger I told my dad that I will go there and study business. I went there and started studying business. After the first year it seemed that the business was getting bigger. At that time some other creative things were coming to mind. After completing the business course, I convinced my dad to do an eight-month course in film making.
You could have worked in Super Cinema in the comfort zone if you wanted, but you chose a different path for yourself?
Then I have no separate identity of my own. People know me because of my father. The advantage of this identity is that you can meet someone for 5 minutes. But how to talk inside the room. How to deal with artists depends on your talent. I was very clear with my thoughts.
When you deal with big stars for projects, how do you coordinate?
The most important thing is that you should not have an attitude. It does not happen that what we say should happen. Listen fully to the other person. What project are you working for? The matter should be discussed accordingly.
You are associated with big films. Tell us about ‘Baby John’ and ‘Sub First Class Hai’? I am related to Murad Khetani of Sinewan. I was very excited when it came to the movie ‘Baby John’. I am a big fan of Atlee. Even before ‘Jawaan’ I have seen his South movies like ‘Raja Rani’, ‘Theri’ and ‘Bigil’. When I heard that Atlee was producing ‘Baby John’, I was so excited. The shooting of the film is about to be completed. Only 3-4 days of work was left. Be it ‘Baby John’, ‘Sub First Class’ or ‘Sabarmati Report’ it has been a great journey.
Cast and crew during the shooting of ‘The Sabarmati Report’
What do you consider to be the biggest USP of ‘The Sabarmati Report’?
The biggest USP of this film is its story. Vikrant Massey, Rashi Khanna and Riddhi Dogra have done a great job. Everyone has done justice to the story of the movie, which will make the movie a lot of fun to watch.