First-time director Zaid Ali Khan opens up about his upcoming Hindi film “Khwaabb”, a sports-drama, which focuses on two less popular sport of our country – swimming and athletics. He also shares the challenges involved in pulling off a sports film, which rarely finds any producers and why it’s one of the most underrated genres in Indian cinema. Excerpts from the interview.
Q.1.What inspired you to make this film?
A. Khwaabb is a very unique script, I was completely floored by the story. The fact that it had such an honest depiction of the sports scenario in our country. The struggle faced by our sportspersons was the biggest inspiration, I mean a nation of a billion can produce only a handful of medals…this film explored the reasons. My father’s passion for bringing the story to celluloid was again very inspiring.
Q.2. Sports has been one of the most underrated genres in our cinema. Why do you think we don’t make inspiring sports-based films often?
A. Sports films are immensely challenging. I think a lot of the content produced is bound by the conventional ideas of what is likely to succeed commercially. Producers are calculative and careful, and a lot of money is at stake hence pushing the boundaries beyond the regular song, dance, star-driven films is difficult. Sports films are however coming in the limelight now.
We have seen the success of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Chak De, Iqbal, and future prospects of The Mary Kom biopic. Audiences have evolved and they are open for new content based films. Sports provides everything a gripping screenplay needs action, drama, thrill, emotion and excitement.
Q.3. What kind of impact do you feel this film will have on encouraging sportspersons of our country?
A. The sad truth about sports in India is that we only know about a sportsperson once she/he has won a big medal. That’s when they come in the limelight, get prize money, accolades and awards. Where as the encouragement has to begin as soon as their sporting journey starts. Khwaabb is a step in that direction. It is for all the youngsters in schools, colleges who dream, of sports, of success and sometimes find too many hurdles in their path. I believe, it will inspire them to canter on and face the challenges, the film is all about overcoming the odds and realizing your dreams. It was due to it’s social message and inspirational quality that the film got Tax Exemption prior to release.
Q.4. Why special focus on swimming and athletics in the film? Do you feel these are the most underrated sports in our country?
A. Well we wanted to explore the less popular sports. It was a screenplay devise to take 2 different sports and develop character skills. Also a film based on swimming has never been attempted before in India. Both these sports worked well for the script and plot, also they were visually good for the film and hence the decision was taken. Having said that, I feel the presentation is such that people inclined towards other sports would also be able to relate to the story, the sports may be unique but the struggle of the athletes is universal.
Q.5. What was your biggest challenge in making this sports-based film?
A. Every film is challenging, being my debut film it was probably the most excruciating,exciting and enriching experience of my life. Khwaabb had a lot of difficult sequences, it’s not easy to shoot underwater for hours. Besides to film all the sports action we had to travel across 7-8 different locations from Delhi till Dubai. Filming sports action can be difficult. A regular film can be shot in nice comfortable sets, we had to shoot in real locations and work tirelessly to execute this film.
Q.6. You managed to find a sportsman to produce your project? Were you turned down by regular producers?
A. Actually the sportsman found me to direct the movie. Khwaabb was his brainchild and he wrote the story. In fact he had trouble with several directors for this film, either the thinking didn’t match or they wanted to over commercialize the subject. I feel, I brought a very real, raw and relatable quality to the presentation of the subject.
Q.7.Did your actors get trained in the respective sport they will be seen in the film?
A. Both actors worked incredibly hard, they trained with the top coaches and were working out with the best instructors. Playing an athlete requires a lot of physical work. Navdip really took on the challenge, he got into incredible shape. I needed a him to have a lean frame and speed.I think he reduced some 8 inches on his waistline to be ‘Sanjay’ the runner. Simer trained with coaches, worked on her swimming, she swam in the rivers, pools and did everything to bring ‘Kiran’ the swimmer to life on screen.
Produced under the banner of Bullseye Productions, the movie is produced by Arjuna Awardee and ace shooter Moraad Ali Khan with newcomers Simar Motiani and Navdip Singh in the main lead, while character artists Bajranbali Singh and Nafisa Ali will also be seen in important roles.
“Khwaabb” releases in cinemas May 9.