Vivek Sharma
Director of the Amitabh-SRK starrer Boothnath tells exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from the sets
Getting Big B and SRK for Bhootnath
Diary
Day: 2
Raviji (Ravi Chopra) out of the blue said let's cast Amitji for the film Bhootnath. I was taken aback and I asked him curiously, ''Amitji who?'' He laughed and said Amitabh Bachchan! Then, he messaged Amitji for the time of narration.
Raviji's son Abhay Chopra and me went to Jalsa for the narration and for 30 minutes Amitji just kept on cracking jokes. I'm sure he got to know that I was a little nervous, and who would not, standing in front of the man of that stature. Anyway, the narration went on for two hours 30 minutes and there was no reaction from Amitji at all. The only thing he said was it was a novel idea.
Four days had gone by after narrating the script to Amitji and I was going through mental turmoil on what would be his opinion and reaction on the script. I could not handle it any more, so I made a call to Raviji for a meeting.
In the meeting, Raviji gave me the good news that Amitji had approved of the script and he was doing the film Bhootnath. It came as surprise to me that he'd taken the decision to do Bhootnath the same day he had heard the script. Amazing, and there I was, dealing with insecurities for four consecutive days.
The same day, I suggested to Raviji that we rope in SRK for the other role and Raviji just smiled and told me not to be over ambitious in life. I guess he was not aware of my relationship with SRK.
I went to SRK's bungalow Mannat and he approved of being a part of Bhootnath. I tried reaching Raviji on his cell phone but when he did not respond, I finally messaged him that I was with SRK. That is when he immediately returned my call and that is how SRK was roped in for the first time in BR Films.
IN PICS: On the sets of Bhootnath
FIRST LOOK: Amitabh Bachchan in Bhootnath
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This Mangeshkar is a yawn!
Abhishek Mande | { 2 } Comments -
REVEALED: B'wood's best spies
Bitchy Bee | { 3 } Comments -
Please don't do television shows, Shah Rukh
Abhishek Mande | { 5 } Comments -
The Queen has space issues
Bitchy Bee | { 6 } Comments -
Bipasha-Dhoni's romantic weekend
Bitchy Bee | { 5 } Comments
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I'll cast Abhishek in Bhoothnath 2
Vivek Sharma | { 3 } Comments -
First day with Amitabh Bachchan
Vivek Sharma -
Juhi to SRK: First learn how to act!
Vivek Sharma | { 5 } Comments -
Making of Bhoothnath
Vivek Sharma | { 6 } Comments
URBANEYE
comments
Hi vivek,
congratulations on your first movie as director.
i hope you remember me from our own town jabalpur and the
great old days we (rajesh, bhaskar, you & me) we spent
together.
i have been alwasy excited to see your names in all the
movie credits, and really happy to see that you have come
long ways. Good luck for your future. I an certain (and wish
that) you would achieve all the success you deserve as a
hard working person.
drop me an email, when you get a chance.
rakesh mehta
Hi bhaskar, i am glad to see your message to vivek as well.
Hope u return to this blog.
vivek, saw b nath, splendid movie. Signs are clear for the
things to come !! My 8 year old daughter was simply thrilled
after watching. I had reserved 37 tickets for the first show
and went to watch with many family freinds here. All were
very happy and satisfied. Many were not ready to digest the
fact that it is your first directional movie.....:).
how long we must wait to see another block buster ???
Hi vivek i am very much glad to see u sitting between juhi
and amit in chote ustad. Actually i was waiting for this
episode but forgot and later my younger brother nageshwar
called me from kolkatta and told abt u..Then rajesh gulati
from jabalpur called me and asked abt u. Then i rang mahesh
iyyer and also my parents at jabalpur so all seen u. I have
a very much proud that we aroked togather at our college
days i had those photographs i will defenitely send u
those.Still keeping those memories live. Ur movie bhootnath
done a lot. I was tried a lot and now today got ur blog. Pl
reply me in my email. I had read ur forthcoming films so
busy with that..So keep on blgging i will be in touch. Very
glad to see rakesh khandelwal and anupam on this blog.
do write again.
bhaskar rao still in nic at bhopal collectorate office.
Hi vivek,
watching you sitting in-between big-b and juhi at amul
chotte ustad (telecasted live in singapore) was a treat. You
are now undesputedly most famous man in our entire batch!!
i can hardly wait till 9 may. I hope it releases here on
9th itself.
Remember the anna chammach the baics.
no doubt about the next "bhatt saheb" for next
30 years.
keep going and make us on top. It was only your skills,
dedication and your abiliity to maintain relations to show
the world badshaas together. Already a next
"sholay" for u mithun
Great vivek.... Now that you have srk in your film, there's
no doubt about it not sailing through the box office. In
fact, it might become a hit though srk has only a small role
to play....
Bobby..... Keep it up buddy, you are going strong....Our
best wishes are with you....
btw... When are you planning to introduce mr gappu? .....
"woh hero ka dost...." anyway he is damn desperate
so pls.... Do consider..... :-)
Dada, keep going.... We all are with you... You also may
want to picturise "blm series" someday with you as
narrator.....
Vivek, my hearts swelled with pride when i accidentally
stumbled into this blog. From a humble family at sleepy town
of jabalpur, you sure have come a very-very long way to
direct likes of big-b and srk. This is tremendous
achievement, and as a friend i am very very proud. Over the
years, though we were not in touch but i was following your
progress closely. I would stay back after the end of the
movies to show your name in credits to my wife with pride.
We were thrilled to see you on star plus documentary on srk.
I watch that episode few times to get a glimpse of you.
though i am sure that bhootnath would be smashing hit, i
still wish you all the luck.