2 is company

Ever since their first big break,the duo have been very focused in exploring various genres,nurturing newer directors,and in the tenth year of their partnership are all geared up about their upcoming venture Karthik Calling Karthik. “It is a thriller but the thrust of the film is the love story between Deepika Padukone and me,” says Akhtar,AGE. “When I started off I was fortunate to have gotten support from the right people. I had met Aamir Khan twice socially,before he agreed to do my movie. Now that we have a goodwill established,we want to give back the same to newer directors. At no point do I want audiences to say that ours is a sub-standard product.”

Akhtar and Sidhwani may top the power list of producers in the industry but their friendship dates back to the days when they were kids. “We have been friends since nursery,but we were in different divisions and houses. I was in a superior house,” laughs Akhtar. “That’s what all of us like to believe,” Sidhwani quips,adding,“Post graduation,we met socially and one day Farhan narrated his script to me.”

For Sidhwani,AGE,films were a completely new game. “Before we started shooting for DCH,we visited Aamir on the sets of Lagaan. That was my first experience of a film shoot,” he says with childlike enthusiasm.

The camaraderie between the two is evident but is there ever a clash of interest? “He has a note on his table that says: Be Sensible. Do it my way,” laughs Akhtar. Akhtar is loquacious; Sidhwani keeps it to the point and this has helped build a formidable partnership.

With Akhtar having his plate full with direction,acting and anchoring,Sidhwani is busy running production errands. “We have spaced ourselves really well. Excel does not believe in churning multiple movies at one time. Now that Farhan is acting in some and directing the other projects,we see that they do not overlap. We have Zoya Akhtar’s film,Abhinay Deo’s Crooked and Farhan’s Don 2 this year. Reema Kagti and Abhishek Kapoor will have to wait till next year.”

Akhtar,however,doesn’t rule out the possibility of working for an outside banner. “If something interesting comes my way,I will. But right now there is nothing on paper,” he confirms. And will Sidhwani turn director soon? “We have five-six directors to manage as of now. So it looks a bit difficult at the moment.”