We asked him a lot of questions, including the inside buzz. He admits to almost all the information that we have of on-the-field and off-the-field-moments of the 1983 World Cup. It’s an unmissable interview. Khan is very candid and does not mince words. See the video to believe:
Excerpts from the conversation that transpired:
The story of the World Cup 83 final for me begins when my friend and I went for a walk in disgust after India was skittled out for 183- and I told my friend that we aren’t going back to see the West Indies chase…
Yeh kahaani ke itne alag alag layers hain. Everybody had written the Indian team off, including some commentators saying that if England had been in the final instead of India, at least they would have had a finale to watch. Sabke alag alag memories hain- for some it’s the Kapil Dev knock against Zimbabwe, for some it’s the first league match that we won against the West Indies…
I meant, where were you on June 25 when India beat the West Indies at Lord’s?
I was in school. I reached Hyderabad, the same morning. I really don’t have too many distinct memories. I was only wondering why so many grown-up people are getting tearful. I was wondering why so many people are bursting crackers.
The biggest challenge for me is that: Can I make India feel the same after 39 years?
The bigger question is: Why didn’t any other filmmaker make a film on the 1983 Cricket world Cup till date?
(Laughs) Many filmmakers who are my friends have told me they wanted to make it and would give their right arm to make it. I am privileged for the rest of my life that I got this opportunity, this is my proudest film till date. Stories choose directors, I guess.
Did you get nervous after announcing 83 on whether you had enough BTS material for 2.5 hours? I mean, the part of the matches was alright- but you surely needed more than just cricket-on-the-field…
On the contrary, I had too much material that I had extracted from my research. You know, I started off as a documentary filmmaker. In fact, I wondered how I would fit so many moments in two-and-half hours. I had to let go of some moments. I would say that I had an embarrassment of riches.
Which cricketer’s character was most difficult to cast?
These guys didn’t have to just play cricket, they had to play like legends. Every character’s casting took time- be it Roger Binny, Syed Kirmani, Madan Lal, and of course, Sunil Gavaskar. Imagine I had to tell Tahir Raj Bhasin that he has to behave like the greatest batsman alive. For Syed Kirmani, I just didn’t want someone who is bald and has a moustache. We auditioned 2000 people for the entire team and eventually chose 14.
Buzz was that Arjun Kapoor was supposed to play Kapil Dev. Did you always want Ranveer Singh?
Ye ek gut and instinct hota hai. Ever since I was asked to make the film, I had only Ranveer on my mind. Ranveer is a chameleon. See his last 4 films and you feel there’s a different human being in each of them. I knew Ranveer would be the perfect choice. I told him it’s not a look-alike contest, you need to imbibe Kapil’s persona.
You know, 83 is a big responsibility for me. I knew if I don’t recreate this correctly, the country will not forgive me. Ditto for Ranveer: If he won’t portray Kapil correctly, the audience will not forgive him. And as you see from the trailer, he has done it brilliantly. He worked very hard.
Correct me if I am wrong but as far as I know, the casting of Deepika Padukone was not on your mind initially…
You are absolutely right. I didn’t have Mrs. Kapil Dev on my mind as a character in the story of 83 when I was writing it. But when I met Romi, I realised that Kapil is incomplete without Romi. She has an energy that makes Kapil Dev complete. However, I knew one thing: We couldn’t give Romi’s character much screen time as the story revolves around the cricketers.
Now, Deepika is not just one of the finest actresses and a superstar but I got the energy from her that I saw in Romi that reflects on Kapil Dev.
I am going on record to say that I had quizzed Sanjay Leela Bhansali when he was casting Ranveer and Deepika together for the third time (‘Bajirao Mastani’) and he’d said: “They are madly in love. So why not?”
(Smiles) It is. But mere liye sirf woh nahin tha. For me, if Deepika, who is a performer, agrees to come on board, I would be mad to not cast her. She has the energy I required for Romi’s character. I could have created a marketing campaign that a real-life couple was coming back together on screen after marriage for the first time.
Did Deepika immediately say ‘yes’?
When she heard the story, she asked me if she would be able to make space for herself in a story dominated by boys. But when she heard the full story from me, she happily agreed.
I gave up when Jeff Dujon and Malcolm Marshall got together for that 43-run partnership for the 8th wicket. Am I right that Gavaskar went up to Kapil and told him to bowl Amarnath?
You know, that’s why I call 83 as an ultimate team story- how Amarnath chipped in, how Gavaskar chipped in.
I am not giving any spoilers but there’s a lot of what you are saying in the interview.
But trust me, you don’t need to know the sport to enjoy the film. I believe that you don’t essentially need to know the sport to enjoy a sports film.
Madan Lal asked Kapil for one more over while Kapil was thinking of asking Balwinder Singh Sandhu to come back for a second spell…
You are right. There’s a lot more in the film, including the BTS which I told you I had to leave off some moments. You will enjoy the film and we shall talk after that.
