Before ‘intense’ Jaane Jaan scenes, Sujoy Ghosh would go over to Vijay Varma and say, ‘Sir, do well, you’ll win Zee Cine Award’

Jaane Jaan actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat revealed director Sujoy Ghosh‘s eccentric working style, which left them all amused and impressed. Sujoy, they said, could be goofing around on set, and then casually insert a very insightful piece of direction that would give them plenty to chew on. In a new interview, Vijay and Jaideep revealed that Sujoy would never sit behind the monitor, and would instead sit down on the floor and gaze at them during shots. Sujoy would also make jokes and sing songs before shooting intense scenes, and on one occasion, put Kareena’s son Taimur to work and got him to call action and cut.

All four of them got together for an interview with Film Companion, where the actors revealed several anecdotes about their experience. Asked if he gives actors the freedom to improvise or if he micro-manages them, Sujoy looked at his cast and asked, “What did I do?” Vijay replied, “He distracted us.” Jaideep added, “There was a very important sequence before the climax, where Vijay and I are sitting across from each other, and Sujoy was in between us on the floor.”

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Narrating another story, Vijay continued, “There’s another thing. Before a very important, intense, dramatic scene, he’ll say, ‘Sir, do well, we’ll get a Zee Cine Award’.” Vijay and Kareena said that he wouldn’t stop at Zee Cine Awards; he’d also ironically mention Lux Awards, Apsara Awards and more. “Once he said Oscar also, that’s his process.”

Sujoy added, “I got scolding by Jaideep on set.” Asked why, he added, “He doesn’t believe there’s a song called ‘Pyaar Koi Halwa Nahi’.” Vijay explained, “He used to sing this song before important scenes.” The filmmaker added, “Bro, it’s a Sunny Deol song. Do not underestimate it. It’s a Rs 500 crore song.” Sujoy said that it is important to have fun on set, otherwise ‘what’s the point’. Vijay said, “He works so beautifully with his crew. Not just the actors; there are more than 100 people on set, and they want to give their life to this man. He’s that charming.”