
Things are looking up for this debutante director of Roadside Romeo
When the news of Yash Raj Films collaborating with Walt Disney for a one-of-its-kind animation film started flashing a year back, there was one thing that intrigued us the most 8211; the director of Roadside Romeo: Jugal Hansraj. The little green-eyed boyed in Masoom, the sweet boy next door in Papa Kehte Hai and the best pal Jignesh in Salaam Namaste, that8217;s all our mini wiki recalled, till it appeared there in black and white, this bow-wow detail of the 8216;Talented Mr Hansraj8217;.
Roadside Romeo is the story of how Romeo, a pet dog in an affluent household, becomes a stray overnight when the family decides to shift out. Pampered all his life, Romeo feels helpless on the streets till he falls for Laila, a canine beauty, and then fights the local don, Anna Charlie. The voices to the characters have been lent by Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Javed Jaffery respectively.
8220;I just knew Saif would fit best as Romeo is street-smart and has style. Laila is a diva, and who else would8217;ve portrayed her better than Kareena?8221; says the actor, who was last seen as Sanjeev Mehta in Aaja Nachle. Jaffery was a natural choice for 8220;he is a versatile actor, you give him one option and he8217;ll come up with ten variations! He8217;s perfect for animation.8221; An out-and-out commercial flick, full of dance, song Saif and Javed sing a hip hop number for it too! and drama 8211; this is where Jugal8217;s inspiration from Don, Amar Akbar Anthony and the likes comes 8211; he explains how an animation movie differs that from of a regular one. 8220;An animation film is made backwards. The dubbing happens first. Months were spent in getting the expression in each frame right. A retake means seeing the change two days later8230;it8217;s all paper work, imagination and patience.8221;
Roadside Romeo has kept the director busy and his acting plans, for now, are on hold 8220;till something interesting comes up8221;. And does he have any pets? 8220;Well, now I do.8221; Toucheacute;.