Junaid Khan would have been a better choice than dad Aamir Khan in Laal Singh Chaddha, says Mansoor: ‘Kya bakwaas hai ki opening nahi milegi’

Visiting a film festival like this and watching the audience engage with your work 37 years later, does that make you come back and direct another one?

No. I’m a storyteller. I like telling stories. I hate direction. It’s too tedious and stressful. Aamir gave the audience here the wrong impression that I was a cinema lover. I was not, yaar. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t seen 99.99% of films ever made. But I have a flair for writing stories, and I also think I’m pretty good at it. The medium is not important. Whether it’s documentaries, stage, or lectures, it’s the content which I’m into.

Do you remember exactly when you decided to quit movies?

No, that decision was made a long ago. I was just waiting for the right time to exit.

Was it easy?

It was supereasy. It was a relief, yaar.

So, what have you been upto after that?

I’ve written two books. My first one (The Third Curve) was non-fiction, but a very important book. You must make an attempt to read that. Both my books are not about morality, they’re about reality. My second book (ONE: The Story of the Ultimate Myth) is very dear to me. It took me 20 years to write. Not because I didn’t know what to write, but how to put such a complex thought took time. I’m also writing a third book. But I want to convert my second into a film. But the final proof is in the pudding, which is the screenplay. So if the screenplay comes out worthy enough, then only I’ll do it. Aamir loves the book. He wants to make the film, probably more than me. And he will act in it.

Are you willing to go back to direction then? You just said it was tedious and stressful.

Only for this. I also tried to think if I should be only a supervising director on this while somebody else can direct it. But then I realised that the feeling, depth, nuances and thought of this book, I don’t think anybody else can convey as a director. And I’m not trying to say they’re any lesser. But it’s 20 years of soaking in.

A few years ago, Aamir also contemplated quitting films, only to revoke that later. Did you have a conversation with him then?

Ya. I didn’t have a conversation, he had a whole meeting where he announced. That’s what I was feeling then. But I find it hard to believe Aamir doing it even for six months. He just loves cinema, every aspect of it.

Do you think it was his passion driving the movies you guys did together, more than yours?

He might have had his own passion as an actor. But as a writer and director, I had my own. I can’t do anything without passion or belief. People tell me, “You made good films. Make one more.” I can’t do it just for that. Sadly, I’m not interested in lovers, vendetta, action, political drama, murder mystery etc anymore. I don’t want to tell any normal human story.

I’ve noticed a generational pattern in your family, of walking away from films even after being born in a film family, whether it’s you, Aamir (temporarily), or Imran Khan. Why do you think that’s the case?

Not at all. Aamir, Imran, and my dad (late filmmaker Nasir Hussain) are the cinema guys. I’m the black sheep. I watch very few films. I did it for a particular reason at that point of time. But now, I’ll do it for other reasons because I have something to say. Many people tell me, “How many will read a book today?” But a book has its own strength. They think cinema is the most powerful medium. It’s a visual medium so it’s powerful for certain genres — love, hate, vendetta, murder, titillation. But it’s not the ultimate medium. No medium is ultimate. Something you can do on stage, you can’t achieve on film. So it’ll be a challenge (to adapt his book into a film). So only if I can convert the screenplay well, and if Aamir and I are convinced, only then I’ll do it.

Aamir has also produced some non-fiction titles, like Satyamev Jayate and Rubari Roshni. Were you not inclined towards those?

No. That’s the thing. Before I left for Coonoor, I was going through a hell lot of depression. I wrote three scripts which were socially oriented. Aamir loved all three. He said, “If you make these three, I won’t do any other film. I’ll do these.” So I kept quiet. Then my thinking shifted. So what I’m trying to tell you is what this book is about, all those are sub-topics. This is the root cause. So I don’t want to go into sub-topics. Aap log karo jisko karna hai (whoever wants to do, should do).

Did moving to Coonoor liberate you?

I was always like that. I had a house in Mandwa (island in Maharashtra). I was into sailing. I was already planning to live there. So it wasn’t a new idea. The idea had popped in my mind in 1978. You weren’t even born then (laughs)!

Do you believe that the problem with films today is that they don’t look outward like you do? That they’re not rooted?

At any point of given time, there were some sensible films being made and some fun films, over-the-top, and some rubbish films. Maybe the balance has shifted a little here and there. But this will be true in any day and age, whether it’s Hollywood or Bollywood. Some films being made are very slick technically, in fact too slick. I’d like to quote Farhan (Akhtar). He’s a cinema lover, but he pointed out something as a creator. Nowadays, we’ve become so exact in our scheduling of movie magic that it takes away the spontaneity. Like on the set of QSQT, I asked everyone to sit down during the climax shoot. I was writing, sitting on a rock. There was a point in the climax when I thought it’s getting rushed, and it should be stretched. You should have that liberty. You can’t have your first AD to do the shot breakdown and that’s it. The plasticity comes from the films being too structured. That simplicity and innocence have been lost somewhere, even in the good films.

Aamir and Juhi also stood out in QSQT because of their innocence. Your daughter, Zayn Marie, is also starting out in films now. Do you see any difference between the newcomers then and now?

It’s stressful now. She says, “All I am doing is… what’s it called… auditions!” Now, there are films, OTT, and television. Can you imagine the actors… I really pity them. And my daughter is going through hell.

You don’t encourage her to follow in your footsteps?
No, that’s her call.

Also Read: Aamir Khan is a foul-mouthed, chest-scratching cop in failed audition for Laapataa Ladies. Watch

Which film is closer to you, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak or Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar?

Definitely, Jo Jeeta. In fact, I can’t watch QSQT. I thought I was coming in 10 minutes before the climax today. Unfortunately, I came in at the interval point. There were so many things that were irking me, this should’ve been like that, that should’ve been like this. There are so many people I meet, one lot love QSQT more, the other love Jo Jeeta more. For me, also because Jo Jeeta represented the feeling I was having for being a dropout from two colleges, wasting all my father’s money, saying I want to freak out and not do anything in life. That’s how stupid I was! What can you say?

PVR recently organized an Aamir Khan Film Festival to celebrate his 60th birthday. When you worked with him in the 1980s and ’90s, did you feel he’d have this longevity?

He’s stayed relevant because he’s done different types of films. Like Taare Zameen Par, Dangal, and Secret Superstar. I’m not talking about my films because they were about interpersonal relationships, and didn’t address issues like dyslexia and girl empowerment. So Aamir has been redefining himself. He believes the script is king. He’ll do anything to render his character well. Like he made his body for Ghajini. He slimmed down for 3 Idiots. Then he put on weight for Dangal. I’m just concerned that he should not put his love for his character above the judgement of the script.

Have you noticed with any of his recent films?

No, but he was leaning towards that. And I told him as much, since he asked me.

Does he make you watch all his movies for feedback?

Arey yaar, I’m tied by a chain! I don’t mind. I love stories. As I told you, I hate direction. Whenever he needs a second opinion, which is quite often, he asks me.

Did you, like him, feel like he pitched the younger version of his character in Laal Singh Chaddha too high?

I’d say he pitched the elder performance totally wrong (laughs). Usne younger bola? Matlab ab tak nahi samjha (Did he say younger? Means he hasn’t gotten it yet). Arre I saw the first trial and I told Aamir, “What are you doing!” Aamir has this format that he’ll call close people for a screening and then will ask what we think. Unfortunately, he always picks me first. I said, “You’ve overdone the mannerisms. You don’t need it. Unfortunately, it’s close to his mannerisms in PK.” Aamir has recognised that. People usually have success parties after the release. Aamir had a failure party. He also admitted that he was solely responsible. I really feel that the screenplay was very well adapted (from Forrest Gump). I’m being honest with you, whether it hurts somebody or not. I asked him who suggested you the mannerisms. Was it Advait (Chandan, director). Because if I were the director, I would have never let you do it. He said, “No, it wasn’t his idea.” That’s the single thing that took away the flavour of the film. Every scene felt different.

They were considering his son Junaid Khan for that role at one point. Do you think he would’ve been a better choice?

Aamir had asked me why don’t I come and see Junaid’s screen test. I thought Junaid did a brilliant job. You might say he’s only 28 years old. There was a certain innocence that even the best actors can’t craft. If my heart goes out to you, then it doesn’t matter how great of an actor you are. When they asked me, I said Junaid should be in the film. So, the Sony folks (producers) were taken aback, for obvious reasons. Even the director. And I’d not take Kareena (Kapoor) then. What is this fear of market mein opening nahi lagegi? Kya bakwas hai (no opening in market? What rubbish!).