Arjun Rampal speaks on Don

Courtesy: IndiaFM
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Do we really need to give him an introduction? We all know Arjun Rampal will be seen in Farhan Akthar's remake of yesteryear's blockbuster Don. Getting into the shoes that were immortalized by Pran, Arjun spoke about the film and his role to IndiaFM.

What was your first reaction when you were offered Don?
I was very excited and happy when I came to know that Farhan decided to remake Don because it is a film that we have all grown up watching and definitely is a cult film. I think all the characters are legendary and it's really flattering that I am part of this film.

Tell us something about Farhan's new interpretation of the film?
What Farhan has done is nothing but a tribute. He has done justice to the screenplay, in terms of characters etc. the characters names haven't changed either. The only difference I think is that he has given a face lift and stylized the film a lot more. It's an outstanding job.

A lot of comparisons are being made between the old and forthcoming Don. Don't you think every director has his own interpretations and that comparisons are unfair?
When you remake a film you have to be prepared for comparisons. But what Farhan has done is his take on Don. I cannot emphasize too much on that but when you see the film you will understand what was going through his head when he was making this film.

Farhan Akthar has taken a big step in remaking Don. Do you think he could pull it off?
Not only remaking the film is a big step but also handling the characters was difficult. Many people think there was a lot of pressure on Farhan but I don't think people remember the director of the original Don. Definitely a comparison will be drawn between Shahrukh and Mr. Bachchan and that I thought would be the pressure point for Farhan. When I saw Amitabh, he was outstanding and when I saw Shahrukh he also brought his own style into it.

You are playing the role which was enacted by Pran saab. What new things can we expect from you?
When Pran saab played this character he made it very powerful and strong. I wanted to do the same thing with an emotional graph. One doesn't have many problems when the dialogues and the screenplay are right.

There is apparently very stylized action in the film?
Farhan brought a Shaolin Monk from China by the name of Kanish. He is the only Indian to become a monk in China and knew a lot of techniques. He gave everyone a particular technique of fighting. Shahrukh had one way where he would hit a person's pressure points, Priyanka has a different kind of martial arts style, Boman is handy with knives and for me it was a brutal kind of strength. So each character has their own style of fighting and it is very stylized but at the same time it is also very realistic.

Tell us something about the music of the film?
I love the music and I feel Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have done an amazing job. Personally I like the two new tracks i.e. the Don title track and Aaj Ki Raat and I think Shahrukh has outdone himself in Kaike Paan Benareswala.

Do you have any songs picturized on you?
No, this is my first film where I don't have any songs.

This film is releasing during Diwali (holiday season). So do you think that will help the prospects of the film?
I think this film would have always come in with expectations whether it would come out on Diwali or not. But it is a good period and people do come to watch films.

What according to you will be the USP of the movie?
The way it has been shot and executed. When I saw the film I really felt that Farhan has done an outstanding job.