Arjun Rampal on turning actor, producer

Courtesy: IndiaFM
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
It is common knowledge that Arjun Rampal has turned producer with the film I See You starring himself in the lead.

First and foremost tell us what is I See You all about?
I See You is a romantic comedy. It's a fun film. It's about a guy who is the only person who can see a girl and because of that there are a lot of situations that get created which turns his life upside down.

What made you turn into a producer so early into your career?
I am an actor and a creative person. I think there are wonderful stories to be told. Fortunately I have a lot of stories which I have collected during my acting career and I always wanted to tell those stories. I didn't think it would happen so early in my career but it has and I'm not complaining.

Didn't you find making a film risky business?
Making a film is risky business. It's not a business which you can really control. I have a new director, a new actress, a new producer, a new concept as a story. But you have to take risks. I believe in binging good entertainment to people and I enjoy doing what I do. So you take those risks and hope for the best.

How is Vivek Agrawal as a debutant director?
I have known him for about 10 years now and he is a great friend and we have a good rapport. He was very good because he has done production before and he has assisted on big films. He has done Moksha, Kisna and a lot of films with Rakeysh Mehra. He has the experience and he comes from an advertising background. He was very good for me because he had finished the film in less than the time we had scheduled and he was very clear on what he wanted.

How did you rope in on Vipasha, the leading lady?
We came across this photograph and said that she looks really pretty. If she can act then we can go ahead with a new girl. We called her in and she did a screen-test. She wasn't the most mind-blowing actress but there was something very special about her. That is what was required by the script- a person who didn't have an identity or an image and who would have a certain level of mystery. Vipasha has worked really hard and I think the decision we made was a good one.

You have other actors like Boman Irani, Sonali Kulkarni and Chunkey Pandey as well.
I don't have very big actors but I do have very talented ones. Everyone who has worked in the film have worked with a certain emotion, a certain love and they are all dear friends of mine. We all have great chemistry off-screen and on-screen and I think that is very important. Everybody should be friends and that is how we could work together very well.

There must have been more responsibility on your shoulders this time around?
Yes, the responsibility doubles considering that you are doing the job of an actor and a producer. Fortunately the best job that I did was put the right team together. They removed half the responsibility from me when I was acting. When I was acting no one came to me with a production problem until and unless it was really really important. I never faced something that was really detrimental.

How was your wife Mehr as a producer?
Mehr has been very supportive of this whole thing. I think it was very important for me to have people I can trust and there is no person better than Mehr. When I was shooting for Karan Johar's film Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, I saw with Dharma Productions that their hospitality was outstanding for the whole unit and not only for the actors. That is what I wanted. She was a really good host and she took care of the whole unit and was like a mother to them. She made everyone feel very special.

Your comments on the music of the film?
The music is outstanding. I have a certain sensibility of music. Vishal and Shekhar were very eager to experiment. They are talented boys and they do really well with whatever you ask them to do. When something of big music directors clicks, everybody wants to repeat that. However, these two wanted something different and that was the fist plus point. Another thing is that they both read the script before starting their music. I think that is a really great quality because that also gives you confidence of your own script and it also helps them to make music according to your story. They have given great music and lyrics. We all decided that we are going to have a ten song album but a six songs album with superb songs. So that's what it is. I don't have a favourite song as all the songs are good.

What are your expectations from I See You?
It s a fun new film, a youth oriented film. It's a film anybody can go and watch. I had a blast making it and I hope everybody has a blast watching it.