EXCLUSIVE - Rajkumar Hirani on Sanju: There's not a reason for me to make a film to promote Sanjay Dutt

When you enter the Rajkumar Hirani Films office, it immediately gives you major feels of all his blockbuster hits. You see the famous radio from PK which has been framed on the wall and then the iconic Munnabhai's scooter with pilon. And when you enter the ace filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani's office, you can see a photo of him posing like Charlie Chaplin and also a beautiful caricature of himself. Then there's Rajkumar himself, the director of Sanju, who is sitting on the chair right in front of two of his frames. 

We start off the conversation by talking about how important it is to show a father-child bond in his movies, knowing Sanjay Dutt and his jail term to his 15-year-journey in Bollywood.

Here are the excerpts...

Since the time Sanju has been announced, it was said that the film is about the relationship between Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Dutt, your every movie showcases a father and his child's relationship. Do you always keep this relationship in your mind when you write the script? 

You never do these things consciously, in fact, I didn't even know I was doing this till somebody pointed out. I read it somewhere and I started thinking about it and realised, 'yeah it does actually'. I think whatever your influences of life are you get attracted to those things. So when I heard Sanju's story, I possibly got attracted more towards the father-son story, I have not consciously done it. 

Talking about the trailer, netizens have given mixed reactions as people fear that it may glorify Sanjay Dutt's acts. what do you have to say about their reactions? 

There's not a reason for me to make a film to promote him. I can make any film I want to make. I got attracted to it because it was a great story and that's the only reason I am making this film. Also, because there's a man who is courageous enough to say it that this is my open book, say it the way you want. There's no censorship on his life by him! If there was any censorship, then I wouldn't have made that film. 

How was the atmosphere on the set when you recreated the iconic Jaadu Ki Jhappi moment?

For me, it was deja vu and nostalgia, the same scene I am shooting again after 15 years and the actors are different now. Never in my life, I thought I will do this again after so many years. 

Was there any particular scene which was emotionally draining and took several takes to get the right shot? 

There are a few of these kinds of scenes, especially the death scene of Dutt Saab (Sunil Dutt). You have to watch it in the film, it is very moving. 

Is Ranbir Kapoor a director's actor or did he give any inputs during the shoot?

The whole film is a collaborative journey and Ranbir is a fine actor. He worked extremely hard in getting his looks and mannerisms in place. We used to do a lot of rehearsals. I can't take the credit, it is hugely his efforts.  

How much input did Sanjay have in the biopic? What was a strict no-no to be depicted?

Never ever. He said, "Here's my story, take it!" When I narrated the story, I thought he will say something, but he didn't. He is very brave yaar! He has seen the jail and everything, his story is out, he doesn't care.

Who all did you ask during the research for Sanju?

I met people he knew, who I thought will know his story like his sisters Priya, brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav, his friend called Benny and Paresh, who is from the US. I wanted to meet people who knew Sanju not any distant people. I met cops and lawyers too. 

Was Sanju always supposed to be a 2018 release?

I planned it as an earlier release. What we didn't realise was that his looks will take time. We started with Ranbir as Sanjay's oldest look for which he had to gain weight. Then we have to take gaps for him to lose that weight. He gained 12 kgs to look as the oldest guy and then have to lose a part of it to look leaner. We had to take a lot of gaps in between shoots for a month or two. So that became a bit longer than we thought. I am never worried about the release date. PK also we shot for more six months.

It's been 15 years you have been a part of the industry as a director, so how will you describe your journey?

I take time to write my script, if I have more scripts, I will make more movies.  Nobody comes to me with scripts, if they come, I will definitely make more films. I don't worry about the pace of the film, I want to make it peacefully and nicely. Life has been kind and best. I have great people around me, we all have got together and created some good cinema which we are proud of as we grow older. I am in a happy space right now and feel content and blessed.

One of the only actors who has been a part of all your movies is Boman Irani, so how has your working relationship evolved with him from Munna Bhai to Sanju?

Boman is a dear friend of mine and we became friends while we were doing Munna Bhai MBBS. It was his first film and my first film, we connected and he loves rehearsals so, we used to meet every day and became close friends. After that, we travelled together to many places and shared our darkest secrets to each other. Though he is very busy and I get to see very less of him. We have an unspoken bond where we decided that we will do each film together. I told him, even if the role is small please do it, 'It will be very odd to do a film without you.' He has been very sporting and supportive. He never says no and I completely love him. 

What next?

Munna Bhai, you will see him and Circuit in two years.