"No Smoking is a mind bending comic thriller"- Anurag

Courtesy: IndiaFM
Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Anurag Kashyap is superbly unconventional in whatever he does; he has been donning many hats since the advent of his career. Be it story writing or a dialogues or direction. With films like Satya, Shool, Yuva, Nayak, Mixed Doubles, Main Aisa Hi Hoon, Kaun and Fool and Final, he has left an indelible imprint on the minds of people.

Black Friday was Anurag's directorial debut. Although it did not make the box office registers ring, it was critically acclaimed. Now, Anurag is all set to release No Smoking starring John Abraham and Ayesha Takia.

In an interview with us, Anurag Kashyap talks about his directorial venture, No Smoking that will be releasing on October 26.

What is No Smoking all about?
No Smoking is a mind bending comic thriller, a Kafkaesque. It revolves around this man named 'K' played by John Abraham, who is a chain smoker. People dislike him because of his addiction to smoking. His wife is aggravated about of his smoking habit and decides to leave him. In order to bring her back into his life, he enters a rehabilitation centre.

How was it working with Vishal Bhardwaj and Kumar Mangat since they have co-produced the film?
It was a sheer delight working with Vishal Bhardwaj and Kumar Mangat. The making of this film would have been impossible without their support and of course John too. All of them are thorough professionals and great human beings.

What is Ayesha's character in the film?
Ayesha does a double role, one as John wife, and the other as his secretary. Ayesha keeps nagging John about his obsession for smoking. Out of frustration, she finally takes an extreme decision and abandons him.

How is the music of the film? Which is your favorite track?
There is only one word to describe the music in the film, 'Smoky'. My favorite track is 'Ashtray Bharti Ja Rahi Hain.'

How was it working with John and Ayesha?
It was a great experience working with John and Ayesha. All my inhibitions about working with stars have vanished. I think this is John's best performance until date, as far as Ayesha is concerned, although she did not have a great scope of performance in the film she still has done justice to whatever was offered to her.

All my inhibitions about working with stars have vanished.
What according to you was the reason for the film, Black Friday to fail at the Box-office despite having a strong concept? Is it Promotions?
Black Friday not being the part of mainstream cinema says it all. Nowadays the audiences like entertaining and commercial films, which was not offered through Black Friday. Most of them watched it on DVD's which in turn affected the box-office collections. However, whosoever, watched the film liked it. Moreover, I feel every film is promoted in a different manner. Blaming it on the lack of promotional activities would not solve the mystery of film's failure in the box office.