This is a film with absolutely no depth,? jokes Anurag Kashyap, while talking about his upcoming venture Gangs of Wasseypur, at the Screen Preview on Wednesday afternoon at Express Towers, Nariman Point. Kashyap was accompanied by the cast of the film ? Manoj Bajpai, Richa Chaddha and Huma Qureshi, who professed their excitement at being part of this gangster saga.
Apart from the title, in treatment the film is almost like The Godfather trilogy. ?While it is largely about the coal mafia in Bihar, the film revolves around the Khan family in Dhanbad and its three generations,? says Kashyap. The film will release the film in two installations. The first part hits screens on June 22.
The idea to do a film set in Bihar originated from Apple Singh; the iconic gamcha-clad, cricket-loving Bihari in the late Nineties. It was Kashyap?s idea to send his writers to live in that area and get a feel of that life before the script was penned. He then asked his writers Akhilesh Jaiswal, Sachin Ladia and Syed Qadri to put down the events like in a novel, after which the script was developed. Kashyap stresses that he wants the audience to understand the world of Wasseypur. ?It?s a situation where something is freely available to all but controlled by a few, like in the case of natural resources. My aim is to show the politics of its coal mines, but in a manner understandable to all. Hence, I have interwoven the larger story with the Bollywood obsession of the people there,? he explains.
The lead characters of Kashyap?s films have always pushed the boundaries of morality. Bajpai?s character of Sardar Khan dwells on similar lines. ?He is obsessed with the idea of revenge and sex,? says Bajpai, who is working with Kashyap after almost ten years. The actor was delighted at the prospect of doing a film different from what he has done earlier.
The happiest, however, were the two girls, Chaddha and Qureshi, who play prominent roles in this male dominated saga. Chaddha says, ?When I auditioned for Dev.D, Anurag had told me that he would work with me in future. I was, however, not hopeful. So when he did approach me for the role, I was thrilled.? Chaddha then ordered books on acting from Flipkart, which ultimately were of no use to her. ?On the sets, Anurag tore my notes and asked me to go with my instinct. As an actor that is the best way to learn,? she confirms. For Qureshi, a newcomer, working with stalwarts like Kashyap and Bajpai was a dream come true, but nevertheless intimidating. ?I wasn?t a part of any narration or workshop. I directly went on sets and was given the script there and made to act. Initially, I was taken aback, but in retrospect it did help.?
While the film has been granted an A certificate, the team is not complaining. ?It was meant to be that way,? says Kashyap. ?The censor has loved it,? says Chaddha. Also, given the film?s positive reception at Cannes, Kashyap and the cast expect more from the Indian audience.