Vikram Bhatt speaks on <i>Red</i>

Vikram Bhatt has given us films that touch the brim of love, odium, betrayal, and passion. Following the footsteps of movies like Ankahee, Raaz, Kasoor and Fareb, is yet another picture about fanatical love, Red. Read on, as the director unfurls tacit secrets about his dark romantic drama.

With four films in your hands (Red, Life Mein Kabhi Kabhi, Fear, Speed), you are one of the busiest directors in the industry. How do you manage?
I am not really, actually let us just say that I do my work fast.

So what story are you trying to narrate through Red?
It is very difficult to reveal everything about the story, because it is a thriller at the end of the day. But it is a story about a man who has got a hole in his heart and is about to meet the end of his life where he finds a surprise donor and he realizes that it is Celina's husband's heart, the woman who is now a widow. He meets her and falls in lust with her and also in love with her. But later, he realizes that everything is not what it seems like, in Celina's life, and there are pressures from every end. There is a story behind a story, and there are lies and there are betrayals. She desperately needs him to sort all those things out, and what those things are and what parallels these things put them both in, is what the film is about.

All your films have been intensely passionate, what was the idea behind making this film?
Exactly what you said... Red is about intense passion, so yes, it is a high romance and high intensity kind of a film.

Himesh Reshammiya is known for a signature style of music, so how much have he adapted his style in this movie?
He has done what he calls sufi rock in the film, and that is what absolutely suits the film. I think he has drawn a very precarious line between popular music and the demand of the film, and he has won. The music is already doing well and people like the music, so I am happy about that.

After Red, you have a multi-starrer lined up - Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee
Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee is a story of five friends. It's about Dino Morea, Aftab Shivdasani, Anjori Alagh, Sameer Dattani and Nauheed. They have a bet as soon as they pass out of college, which says, who would be the happiest amongst them in life. They have the bet for five years and they decide to meet again after five years. The film is about what not they are willing to do to achieve and what they want to do to win the bet. Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee means what you are willing to do in life and what life sometimes throws in your path or what you are sometimes willing to do to achieve what you want.

Most of your films are intense dramas what should people look forward this time?
Well, it's not really that intense. Yes, it is a dramatic film but it has got its share of fun, youth, the college humor. It has that share of the ups and downs and attitudes of people. I think you can call it as a slice of life kind of film.

How does composer Lalit Pandit feature on your list?
Because he is an excellent music director. Again we had a very good working relationship and all the films that we have done have been very successful whether it's Fareb or Ghulam. I think he has that emotional quotient to understand the score I wanted. He is an emotional person and he has the ability to blend the kind of music I wanted; the one which is emotional with modern score.