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29 March 2024

‘Nautanki Sala’ pays tribute to Amitabh Bachchan”

Published
By Bindu Suresh Rai

Any die-hard fan of the legendary film, ‘Sholay’, would recollect the epic altercation between superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, which has inspired the title of the upcoming ‘Nautanki Sala’.

Some may even call it a fitting tribute, considering the cult classic directed by Ramesh Sippy, motivated another Bollywood production, which has been helmed by none other than his son, Rohan Sippy.

As for a repeat of the chemistry that saw powerhouses Bachchan and Dharamendra epitomise the drunken scene atop the water tower in the 1975 action-drama, one can only hope that Ayushmann Khurrana and Kunal Roy Kapur can aptly justify that ‘Nautanki Sala’ moment with their comic capers.

In Dubai for the world premiere of the film at the Meydan Imax last night, the actors, along with Sippy and the film’s three leading ladies – Pooja Salvi, Evelyn Sharma and Gaelyn Mendonca – positioned the comedy as a tribute to 100 years of cinema.

Sippy said: “‘Nautanki Sala’s’ plot has a theatrical backdrop, with several references to some of the legendary heroes that have graced Bollywood’s silver screen in the era gone by.

“I would call it an apt tribute to 100 years of cinema, celebrating Amitabh Bachchan to Mehmood. It was our way of honouring the legends that have illuminated our lives.

“And what better way to do that than by selecting a title for my film, which pays tribute to a classic that was chosen as the number one movie ever produced in Indian cinema.”

Ironically, the movie’s soundtrack also revives another cult song that shot actress Madhuri Dixit to super stardom with her ‘Dhak Dhak’ moves in the award-winning ‘Beta’.

Quiz the cast and crew and Sippy jumped into say: “Our ‘Dhak Dhak’ actually sees Kunal pay tribute to actor Anil Kapoor in that song, with his cleavage.”

The ever coy Kunal, who has allegedly flashed his posterior in the film, quipped: “Actually, it is my backside that has become more famous than my face or any other parts of my body.

“It seems the producers are demanding to see what was left over of my posterior from my last film, ‘Delhi Belly’.

“I guess, in Bollywood you need to show some skin.”

And while Kapur has flashed some assets, Khurrana has done what he does best, crooned a track for the film after his ‘Paani Da Rang’ from ‘Vicky Donor’ saw him bag awards for his singing prowess.

“I am very serious about my singing; in fact, I trained in classical singing as a kid,” revealed Khurrana. “These days, I train every morning.”

When asked to rate himself, the actor said: “I may not have a trained voice, but it has texture. But between the two career choices, acting is what I want to be known for.”

In the film, which goes on general release across UAE screens today, Khurrana, ironically, essays the role of a theatre actor who decides to take Kapur’s lovelorn character under his wings to win back his woman.

Khuranna, who, along with Kapur, has a background in theatre in real life, added: “The best part of ‘Nautanki Sala’ is that Rohan made us undergo 20 days of intensive workshops that brought a sense of discipline that we are so used to in theatre; we take our craft very seriously.”

So of the two leading men, who was considered the Bachchan and who was the Dharamendra in the equation?

Sippy jumped in to say: “Our producer, Bhushan Kumar, was the biggest drama king of them all.”