Even though he has played a Gabbar Singh-like character in Ramgopal Varma Ki Aag (2007), Amitabh Bachchan isn’t in favour of remaking cult movies. In an earlier interview, he had said that since the earlier Agneepath (1990) with him as Vijay Dinanath Chauhan was the property of Dharma Productions, they had the right to do what they wished with it.
“My contribution was creative and that will always remain mine, since the director and producer weren’t involved in designing and enacting the role,” he added.
Director Karan Johar, who’s producing the remake, says that he can respect and understand the fact that remakes are not welcome. But he points out that for him, this is not a me-too, but a homage to his father, Yash Johar. After the commercial failure of the earlier film, the late director had always wished to make it again.
“Yes, this too revolves around a war between the protagonist and the antagonist, but Sanjay Dutt’s Kancha Cheena is very different from Danny sir’s, as is Hrithik’s Vijay from Amitji’s Vijay Dinanath Chauhan. It’s a completely new take in the way it’s been conceived and crafted; an adaptation rather than a remake. We’ve not borrowed a single frame that instantly associates with Amitji or his husky voice. But he’ll be among the first few to see the new Agneepath,” insists Karan.
When asked why he chose to give a break to debutant director Karan Malhotra, instead of directing it himself, he says, “I’m incapable of directing such a film. Amitji slapping Hrithik in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) was the only moment of violence in my cinema. In fact, it’s overwhelming for us at Dharma Productions to have a film like this. We’ve not had an action film since I took over in 1998. Even the logo ‘alaap’ that went so well with our earlier films seems somewhat archaic this time.”
When asked why he chose to give a break to debutant director Karan Malhotra, instead of directing it himself, he says, “I’m incapable of directing such a film. Amitji slapping Hrithik in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) was the only moment of violence in my cinema. In fact, it’s overwhelming for us at Dharma Productions to have a film like this. We’ve not had an action film since I took over in 1998. Even the logo ‘alaap’ that went so well with our earlier films seems somewhat archaic this time.”
“I’m looking at the young directorial talent in my production company, namely Karan Malhotra, Ayan Mukherji, Tarun Mansukhani, Puneet Malhotra and Shakun Batra to take us into newer terrain,” he adds.
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