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Simple stories, deftly told

Ace storyteller Aziz Mirza

All of his previous films (Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Yes Boss, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Chalte Chalte) starred Shah Rukh Khan. So, when director Aziz Mirza cast Shahid Kapoor for Kismat Konnection, the industry was surprised. “This story needed a fresh, young face. Even before Vivaah released, I was impressed with Shahid’s work in some of the films that didn’t do well. I knew that this boy was talented and all that he needed was one big hit. People thought I was crazy to cast Shahid. After Vivaah and Jab We Met, Shahid is hugely popular now,” he laughs.

Aziz Mirza does have an eye to spot talented youngsters. He spotted Shah Rukh Khan in Fauji and cast him in the TV serial Circus and then signed him for Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman.

“At that time, people thought I had made a wrong decision. ‘The boy doesn’t look good and look at his hair! He is not hero material’ they said,” Mirza looks back. Much later, the director started the production house Dreamz Unlimited with Shah Rukh and Juhi Chawla.

Kismat Konnection marks his return after the five-year exile after Chalte Chalte. “I lost my wife a few days after the release of Chalte Chalte. It was a traumatic period for me. I stayed away from films for some time. Then my daughter had this idea and wanted me to develop it into a story. Kismat Konnection happened. Shahid’s kismat changes once Vidya Balan enters his life. Personally, I believe that youngsters should believe in hard work than luck.”

The meticulous director doesn’t think Shahid Kapoor and Vidya Balan make an unusual pair. “Since Vidya debuted with a mature role in Parineeta, people think she cannot play a younger role. Both she and Shahid are fine actors and look good together on screen. My films have simple stories and would fall flat without the right actors,” he explains.

Aziz Mirza’s son Haroon arrives as the co-director. Do we see another director in the making? “I think he will plan his film soon. He helped me a lot with Chalte Chalte when I was at the hospital looking after my wife. He should have been credited the co-director even for that film.”

He’s made just five films since 1992 and says, “I write my own scripts and that takes time. Plus, I am laidback and not ambitious. My films have made money and I’ve never been in the rat race. In the five years after Chalte Chalte, a lot has changed. For example, Kismat… has only five songs. But the album cover will tell you there are 10 songs; those are a remixed, pre-mixed or whatever versions. More than the films I made, my TV serials like Nukkad and Circus are closer to my heart,” he signs off.

SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO

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