From ‘Delhi Belly’ to ‘Bambaiya Belly’, so it seems for writer-turned-director Akshat Verma. The outspoken suave Saif Ali Khan was in his elements, as he spoke about his latest maverick movie ‘Kaalakaandi’ directed by debutant Akshat Verma, (the writer of ‘Delhi Belly’).
Shrugs Saif, “You may call it the crazy candid dark humour genre, but relatable ‘Kaalakaandi’ is definitely not one of those clichéd potboilers. Director Akshat has dared to be different and I enjoyed playing the role because it has exposed some unexplored nuances of my acting calibre.”
But what was special about his grotesque-looking yet intriguing character, as is visible on attention-grabbing posters and the popular teaser-trailers. Enthuses the ‘chhote nawaab’, “I play this lead character who after finding out that he has ‘stomach cancer’, takes some ‘drug’ and has the awesome time of his life. By the end, his character undergoes a change. As an actor, it was interesting to have these hi-tech cameras shoot on live locations like Bandra and other parts of the city, and that also at night. For me, it was a refreshing respite to shoot on outdoor locations including the suburban ‘belly’ of Mumbai (chuckles), instead of the usual studio-floors.''
The movie ‘Kaalakandi’ has an international feel, but has its massy-desi connect. Interestingly, the title itself was inspired by the use of the term ‘kaala kaandi’ during a conversation that Akshat had with an estate broker,” reveals the charismatic Khan whose year-old chubby son, Taimur is the darling of the nation. “It’s amazing that Taimur has emerged a superstar baby,” reacts ‘dad’ Saif with a blush of pride on his face. Unlike today’s gen-now, Saif is “wary of digital social media'' and feels that gradually “people are gradually losing the art of verbal conversation.''