Actor Aamir Khan has revealed the team of "Sarfarosh" had concerns about the film getting cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to its references to Pakistan and the ISI.
Khan and his 바카라Sarfarosh바카라 colleagues on Friday night celebrated the 25th anniversary of the cult classic movie, which dealt with cross-border terrorism, with a special screening.
The John Matthew Matthan-directed movie was released in theatres on April 30, 1999, at the time of the Kargil conflict when tensions between India and Pakistan were high.
바카라In those days, there was a rule that you cannot name the country. We would say 바카라neighbouring country바카라 or 바카라friendly country바카라. So we were taking a risk, and (we didn바카라t know) whether the Censor board would pass the film or not because we had taken the name of Pakistan and the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). It had never happened before.
"There was some back and forth happening but our point was that if (LK) Advani ji can say (the name) in the parliament, then why can바카라t we say it in cinema halls. Fortunately, the film passed with no changes,바카라 Khan said before the screening of the film.
"Sarfarosh" revolved around an honest police officer Ajay Singh Rathod (Khan), who meets and befriends a famous Pakistani ghazal singer, Gulfam Hassan (Naseeruddin Shah). Rathod's life takes a turn when he uncovers a huge conspiracy while investigating arms smuggling in Rajasthan.
Upon its release, the film received wide critical acclaim and commercial success. It also won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Veteran actor Shah recalled the adulation that he received from the audience, especially from people of Pakistan, for playing the role of ghazal singer Hassan.
"I get notifications on Facebook saying, 바카라I바카라m the original Gulfam Hassan바카라. This film was liked more in Pakistan. I haven바카라t been there in the last few years but whenever I went there, people always talked about 바카라Sarfarosh바카라. They liked my work, even though I thought they would beat me up (mujhe laga jhoote maaroge),바카라 Shah said.
The veteran said he was gripped by the script "Sarfarosh" after reading it.
바카라I felt this is going to be an important film. It is an intelligent thriller. I loved the revelation of the character and the fact that I바카라ll get to enjoy singing in Jagjit bhai바카라s (Singh, ghazal singer) voice. I felt the film would succeed,바카라 he added.
Shah, 73, also talked about one of the scenes where his character chops off the ear of a young goat in 바카라Sarfarosh바카라.
바카라I had no problem doing that but the censor had a problem. They were like, 'do action but don바카라t show it.' I don바카라t understand this hypocrisy. So they actually cut out the shot where I bit the goat. It was a fake one (though). They said keep it out of frame. It was still very effective in terms of story because as a person we think he is refined, aesthetic, but he can do a thing like this. It was a monstrous touch.바카라
Matthew Matthan said he had kept the India-Pakistan terrorism angle of the film a secret from everyone, except for Khan and Shah.
바카라Nobody had made a film about India and Pakistan, like what the real problem is. I wanted to keep that secret for survival and we managed. Only Aamir and Naseer were about it. Sonali had understood a bit but nobody else knew it,바카라 the director said.
Sonali Bendre, who played Khan바카라s love interest in the movie, said she is grateful to the director for offering a role that had more depth and seemed real.
바카라At that time, I was getting glamorous roles and it was all about body and looks. I바카라ll always be thankful to John as he saw me in a way which I was in real-life somewhere. Nobody was giving me this kind of role. So, for me to get this role was exciting. It was so me, the realness of it (I liked it),바카라 Bendre added.
Actor Mukesh Rishi, who played the role of Inspector Saleem Ahmed, said it was Khan who offered him the key character in 바카라Sarfarosh바카라, while they were filming for the 1995 film 바카라Baazi바카라.
바카라Aamir had told me about this story during the climax shoot of 바카라Baazi바카라. That time I was playing the role of a villain. After he told the story, he asked, 바카라Will you do it?바카라 I said, 바카라I바카라ve no reason to say no to the film바카라.
"Ashutosh Gowariker (director of 바카라Baazi바카라) said, 바카라You바카라ll have to give test바카라. I was okay with it. John sir had given me a few lines and I did the test and they liked it. 바카라Sarfarosh바카라 is a beautiful part of my career,바카라 Rishi said.
