Akshay, Ash, Saif, Ajay, Emraan step back into the past

It was all about looking into future for Akshay Kumar (8X10 Tasveer), Neil Nitin Mukesh (Aa Dekhen Zara), Madhavan (13 B), Jackky Bhagnani (Kal Kissne Dekha) and Hurman Baweja (Love Story 2050). However, when it comes to playing characters belonging to a different era, actors today are more excited about stepping into the 60s and the 70s and exploring the times that have been left behind.

This is something pretty much visible in number of films that are either lined up for release or are currently under production. These are 'Love Aaj Kal', 'Action Replay' and 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai'.

Informs Imtiaz Ali, the director of 'Love Aaj Kal', who has brought together the two eras in his third directorial outing after 'Socha Na Tha' and 'Jab We Met', The film moves in two different era - 1965 and 2009 - almost simultaneously. They could well be termed as 'Love Kal' and 'Love Aaj' respectively due to their relevance with the characters and the time period involved. The story is told from the point of view of Veer and Jai respectively who have a different perspective about love and relationships.

Incidentally, Saif Ali Khan plays the double role of both Veer and Jai though Rishi Kapoor forms an important part in the entire narration that travels across London, San Francisco, Delhi and Calcutta.

From the 60s, story moves to the 70s as Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai come together for 'Action Replay'. The film is said to be going into two time zones - 1975 and the current times. Admits producer and director Vipul Shah, Yes, the film is about a time travel tale. It also stars Randhir Kapoor who plays an important role in the film. Beyond that, I can't reveal much about the film's plotline.

Composer Pritam too confirms that 'Action Replay' is set in the 70s. Yes, I have created compositions that completely go with the mood of the 70s. It has been a unique experience for me actually, he says.

Emraan Hashmi shares similar sentiments as well after briefly shooting for Milan Luthria directed 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai'. Excited about finding himself in an underworld setup belonging to the 70s, he says, It's good to be stepping into an era when underworld had just started making it's presence felt. Milan is coming up with entirely new presentation of what crime was back then.

He is impressed with the way the film has been shot so far. 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai is an entirely new way of narrating a story and such kinds of scripts are Milan's forte. You can see that he is all pumped up when it comes to high testosterone male oriented films like the ones he has directed in the past ('Kachche Dhaage' or 'Deewar - Let's Bring Our Heroes Home'). The 70s flavour is only adding to the entire fun.

The film sees Emraan coming together with Ajay Devgan for the first time. Also leading ladies Kangna Ranaut and Prachi Desai are going all out to get that perfect 70s look.

Meanwhile Bollywood continues to be inspired by the 70s even though the film may be set in the current times. Two years back Sriram Ragahvan came up with Neil Nitin Mukesh starrer 'Johnny Gaddar' which was a clear homage to the action masala potboilers from the 70s. In a few weeks from now, Vishal Bhardwaj would be unleashing his 'Kaminey'. Going by the look, treatment and music of the film, yet again Bollywood seems to be searching into the past.

In fact makers of 'Kaminey' have been making no bones about the fact that this Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka starrer belongs to the caper genre, something that has been mastered by Hollywood film makers like Guy Ritchie, Quentin Tarantino and Tony Scott. Incidentally each of these directors has been known for the 70s treatment imparted into their films.

No wonder, Vishal Bhadrwaj instructed his entire cast and crew of the film to watch caper classics like 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', 'Snatch', 'Pulp Fiction' and 'True Romance' to catch the finer nuances of a caper thriller. That's because each of these films has traditionally acted as text book material not just for India but even West when it comes to caper thrillers.

This is why Vishal wanted to be sure that everyone from cast as well as crew member gets familiar with the entire idea of story telling when it comes to a caper thriller, informs a prominent crew member who was assigned this 'homework' just like the rest, There is a certain 'sur' in movies belonging to this genre and one miss here or there and the film risks falling flat on it's face.

Well, that's the last thing a film maker would want, especially when there is so much of knowledge from the era gone by out there in open to learn and get inspired from.

Last updated on Jun 30^th, 2009 at 08:10 am IST--Sampurn Media