My Olympian gold film with Akshay Kumar spans 12 years Reema Kagti

15 Nov 2016

ReemaKagtihas not directed a film since herAamir-Rani- Kareena -Nawaz starrersupernatural drama Talaash.She didnt know what hit her whenSaifAli Khan opted out of her next film MrChaloo. The Talaash began all over again, pun intended. For the director who worked withAamirKhan in her next last project, the painful hunt for a hero was humiliating and discouraging. Not thatReemais complaining. Casting changes and delays are an inevitable part of the filmmakingprocess. One cant be bogged down by such problems. Now whenReemaKagtiis all set to directAkshayKumarin Gold , a film recreating Indias historic win for hockey at the 1948 Olympics, she has little to regret, much to celebrate. It wasnt as though I was sitting doing nothing when MrChaloo got delayed. In fact we have found a leading man for the project and I will be making the film after Gold.I was also writingZoyaAkhtars next film which she directs soon, informsReema. ReemaandZoyagoback a long way, Apart from Luck By Chance which she wrote on her own Ive been a part of all her films so far, as she has been a part of my films. She is also been a huge creative support in putting together Gold.Right now,ReemaKagtis entire focus is on Gold.Ive always been interested in the great sports films. I can watch them over and over again. And I wanted to direct a sports film. It wasnt until my friend the lyricist-writerAnkurTiwarishared the idea of a film on a historic hockey match that India played at the 1948 Olympics and brought home Indias first gold medal, that I finally got down to doing my own sports film. Reemais prompt to stress that the film, scripted byRajeshDevraj, is not a historical account of the actual game. Mine would be a fictional take on what actually happened. The game of hockey would feature prominently in the plot. But there will also be a strong human drama playing at the forefront. And it wouldnt be just the Olympics victory in 1948 we will be looking at. Gold will look at 12 crucial years in Indias history. The director is aware of the inevitable comparisons withShimitAmins ChakDe India. Just because hockey is the sport at the backdrop of my film it will be compared with ChakDe India. But why cant two films on the same sport co-exist? AshutoshGowarikers Lagaan and Neeraj Pandeys M.S. Dhoni The Untold Story are based on cricket. But they are very different films. There is room for two films based on a game of hockey as well. And like I said, my film is not just about hockey. There is a very strong dramatic story to be told. ReemasaysAkshayKumarwas the first and only choice to play the lead in the film. It is a dream casting. I couldnt have hoped for a better lead actor for my film. Come to think of it my earlier two films Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd and Talaash worked because of the brilliant actors I got.