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The stage is set for this year’s explosive black comedy-drama, as five vigilantes take justice into their own hands in the dark and witty urban tale ‘Ungli’ (Finger), which releases on 28th November 2014 through Reliance Entertainment internationally.
Produced by Dharma Productions, the film company helmed by supremo director and producer Karan Johar, the edgy film, with a noir comic twist, is set in a sprawling metropolis, where corruption, intimidation and violence are a way of life. A city that never sleeps, the underworld is at full force, led by a sinister mob that demands obedience and respect. Enter five rebels, who decide that they have had enough of the corruption that has blighted their city, and so decide to unite and expose the corrupt through whatever means necessary. The only thing that stands in their path is a tenacious police officer named ‘Kale’, portrayed by veteran actor Sanjay Dutt. Check out what director Rensil D’Silva had to say about this new flick!
Q. How would you describe ‘Ungli’?
D’Silva: It is a story about friendship and is a very character-driven film. It’s about what happens when a gang of friends decide to take justice into their own hands. The film itself has a lot of really humorous moments, which adds to the already good storyline.
Q. How did you cope with the delays?
D’Silva: The delays frustrated the hell out of me. I think the worst thing that can happen to a director is for his lead actor to go to jail and for him to face the possibility of an incomplete film. It is something that I have no control over; the only option I could think of was to reshoot it. That is a lot of money and time and the mental stress it puts you under is unparalleled.
Q. Were there any positives that came from the delays?
D’Silva: The music! Had I released Ungli last year, I wouldn’t have gotten these songs. Music is becoming extremely crucial for the success of a film and I think the album is fantastic.
Q. How did you deal with Sanjay Dutt’s legal issues during the filming of ‘Ungli’?
D’Silva : I changed the venue of the shoot from Byculla to Carter Road. The media was chasing him everywhere; they had positioned themselves outside his apartment complex. I felt Carter Road would be easier for him as it is closer to his Pali Hill residence. In some particular scenes I cut out some of his lines, it was the least I could do as a director. I felt that I shouldn’t give him too many lines to remember during that traumatic period.
Q. Did you have any plans if Sanjay Dutt couldn’t have come back to filming?
D’Silva : I didn’t have any back up plan at all. Whether I would reshoot or not would have been Karan’s [Johar] decision because it involves lots of money. However, if I had to reshoot, I would go to Anil Kapoor, with whom I have worked with on ‘24’ and would have told him to please do the film as it is safe to say, I was in deep trouble.
Q. What was it like filming with Sanjay Dutt when he knew he was facing incarceration?
D’Silva: The mood was very sober on the sets when Sanjay was around. The last scene he filmed was a very dramatic scene, at the end of it he got very emotional. We hugged him but Sanjay didn’t say anything. He went aside to do a brief photo-shoot and then didn’t return, he just drove off. Imagine what he must have undergone that day! I was asking so much from a man who was going through hell.
The film features an ensemble cast of Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, Randeep Hooda, Neil Bhoopalam, Angad Bedi, Neha Dupia and Arunoday Singh. Stunning actress Shraddha Kapoor makes a special appearance in an item number not to be missed. Ungli releases on 28th November 2014 through Reliance Entertainment internationally.
