As candid as it gets...

Courtesy: IndiaFM

Friday, May 26, 2006

All the films from the Yash Raj camp are notorious for being shrouded in secrecy. Never has a cast or crew member spilled the beans, about anything related to the film. It's like they have taken a vow to never reveal anything, prior to the release. Their talking to the media is restricted to interviews done by the production itself. So as we near the release of the much talked about Aamir-Kajol starrer, Fanaa, Yashraj Films did grace us all with an exclusive conversation between Aamir and Kajol.

Interestingly enough, the conversation wasn't just centered around Fanaa. There's more than enough fodder in this one to feed gossip mongers for a long, long time. They start of the conversation with first impressions of each other. Aamir didn't even hesitate for a fraction of a second to say that at their first meeting, he thought that Kajol was brash!

Kajol countered that by saying that she didn't even have an impression of him. The only impression that she would have liked to make at that time was that of her fingernails on his neck! Under all that banter, one can easily sense the strong camaraderie between the two! It does take a great comfort level to tell someone that you didn't like them at the first meeting, after all!

The two went on to discuss a whole lot of topics, under the sun. They chatted on everything from what makes them choose a film, to what they like and dislike about each other. In fact, this was the first time that Aamir even spoke about his broken marriage to Reena. He said that he still cherished the time he had spent with her. With time, he has learned not to be judgmental of others. For Kajol, her marriage helped her find and accept the grey areas in life.

The entire conversation ended on a light note, with them talking about each others positive and negative points. A rare interview, it was indeed refreshing to see that they didn't just give diplomatic answers heard a zillion times, before. And now let's hope that this off-screen chemistry translates just as perfectly onscreen, as well.

Following is the transcript of the conversation.

Aamir: I know it's a little late in the day but its Kajal or Kajol??

Kajol: Hmmm.....it's Kajol

Aamir: Kajol, I have been calling you Kajal throughout the (making of) film.

Kajol: Well.....

Aamir: You haven't corrected me.

Kajol: I didn't feel like correcting you at that point of time (laughs).

Aamir: You know interestingly, when I heard the script for the first time, I simply loved the script and I said there is only one person I can see in the role of Zooni and that is Kajal.... Kajol. (Kajol laughs....) and there is only one problem - if she is in the film I might not be in it.

Kajol: (Laughs)...I don't know whether to slap you or call and say thank you for the compliment.

Aamir: And then I said if she even hears that I am in the film, she will say no!

Kajol: You have such a high opinion of me!

Aamir: I never thought actually we will get down to working together.

Kajol: Yeah.... I know what you mean.... It seemed kind of impossible then....

Aamir: Because we are supposed to have completely different styles of acting or working.

Kajol: I have to share something with you Aamir... I have to tell you a little trade secret I don't know whether you know this as yet or not.... but your FIRST (her emphasis) take is the best shot ever!

Aamir: It is??

Kajol: Yes it is... Kunal and me have already discussed this several times.... that your first take is usually your best...

Aamir: Well I am glad to hear that....Well but I don't go for that many takes. What is your experience? I mean people tell stories that I take 50 takes and all that... Is that what you think?? (looks at her meaningfully...)

Kajol: Well (points towards the camera) we are on TV now... (laughs).... No, really, jokes apart, but I think for sure that you have chilled out. I think you are much more confident now, at least that's what I look at it as... (Aamir says... "right... more relaxed"...) yeah you are more cooler... much cooler.

Aamir: What was your first impression of me, then.... back then?

Kajol: I didn't have an impression, really.... The only impression that I wanted to make was my finger marks on your neck at that point of time... but beyond that I thought that... I still do think that you are completely 300 per cent into your job... and a little too into your job... But that's okay... I like you besides that... despite all this... you are not such a bad guy... Now, what was your impression?

Aamir: Well... My impression of you was... quite pathetic to begin with... (Kajol interrupts... "sounds familiar"...) yeah... I kind of felt that you were really brash and difficult to deal with.

Kajol: (interrupts) You can say brat...it's okay...

Aamir: Brash... and then... (a long pause) Actually after doing Fanaa it hasn't change... No it HAS... it was a real pleasure to work with you I have to say. And I really enjoyed it... It's very few times (that) I can say that to an actor... You know that I had such a good time working with you...

Kajol: Thank you! Ditto and vice versa... I really thought I will kill you within the first schedule but, surprisingly, we both survived... na...

Aamir: I think we both have grown older and are more matured...

Kajol: Yeah, we have matured...

Aamir: Tell me one thing... I wanted to ask you.... We have not had this conversation actually... How do you select a film, to begin with...?

Kajol: First and foremost, it HAS to be a good script otherwise I won't do it... no matter what.

Aamir: And then, once you select how do you approach the role or your character - how do you go about working on it...???

Kajol: Wait wait..... this is a question I think I wanted to ask you this... I am more instinctive and you are more scientific about it.... Logically thinking... I am sure by now you must have all the steps worked out so please tell me exactly how that happens...

Aamir: I'll tell you but first you tell me... I asked you na?

Kajol: I am telling you... I am instinctive. I do what I like... I go by gut (feeling) if I like it.... if I really really like it, if I think it will work... my gut says yes go for it. I go for it...

Aamir: But once you have said yes to the film and then there is, may be four to six months before we can start shooting it... do you think about the character...

Kajol: No......... I don't sit down and think about it.... I do think sometimes. I think about - oh you know when we do this particular scene... exactly what will I do... I should keep my body language like this.... once in a while, but I am not a conscious planner at all...I go with the flow...

Aamir: I like to get into the head of the character and that's what I try to (do) and when I get that then everything else flows for me.... (laughs) Sometimes, I don't get the head right till the end of the shooting... I am still searching for the head.

Kajol: How do you choose a film???

Aamir: There are three things that are really important for me... the script, the director and producer... only then I do a film. I mean only then I say yes to a film...

Kajol: No wonder.... you have only done one film in FIVE years...(laughs)... also these rumours say that you sit on editing, get involved in post-production... really get, like, into it completely....... Do you actually do that???

Aamir: At times... if I am invited by the director or the producer I do...

Kajol: So... have you sat on Fanaa and cut my role?? ...

Aamir: Well NO... actually no...

Kajol: (Laughs)...Like everyone has been claiming you have cut my role or as it is...

Aamir: Kahan yaar...but Kunal and Adi called me to see the film and they wanted my response. So I saw the film and then sat with them for about four to five days because when I saw the film there was not much that I had to comment... there were a few minor things, but I gave my input whatever I felt... what they liked they took, what they didn't like they didn't...

Kajol: I want to ask you something generally... When Kunal told me that Aamir is doing the film...I thought to myself that when I meet Aamir, HE will be of a certain way... be a certain kind of person... and you were ... I have to say that you came in with no expectations... How did you do that??

When I saw you and when we worked and when we met and things like that... the script reading and all that... you were very warm. I mean I would like to say you are very open... didn't you feel that you needed to... didn't you feel that, 'Oh my God, I hated her when I saw her... when I was working with her, she is not really the nicest person... when I meet her now, what is it going to be like...'

Aamir: I was apprehensive about that... Besides we had not met for years... and...

Kajol: I know I was... I was apprehensive... I was thinking, 'OH MY GOD...how is he going to be like... what's the whole deal...' How will we deal together??' I mean I did think about it...

Aamir: Adi and Kunal were convinced that there will be fireworks and the film will stop mid way and all.... but yeah I was apprehensive... to be totally honest... I have always respected you as an actor....

I have always like your work tremendously...So on a certain level I was really looking forward to do this film with you and I was just hoping that it went well... So I was a ....creatively I was so sure that you were so right for the role...