Ranbir goes on the hunt in Jagga Jasoos

By Asjad Nazir

THE last time Ranbir Kapoor teamed up with director Anurag Basu was for the multi-award winning film Barfi.

The actor and director have teamed up again for the quirky action comedy Jagga Jasoos, which also stars Katrina Kaif. After a number of delays, the colourful story about a young detective looking for his father is finally released this week. I caught up with Ranbir Kapoor to find out more.

You must be glad Jagga Jasoos is finally being released.

The concept of the film is relatively new. It is an adventurous musical where the characters go through lots of emotions. For me this has been an exhilarating experience and I am really glad that it is coming out on July 14.

Were you afraid it wouldn’t get completed?

I won’t say I was afraid. It took me three and half years to bring out the character. With Anurag Basu as a director it is more about perfection.

What was the biggest challenge you faced as actors?

To be honest, it wasn’t that much of an intense or a hard part, once I got an understanding of it. I think it just takes patience to surrender to another person’s vision. The time that is taken in a pursuit to make a good film is the biggest challenge.

What did you like about Jagga Jasoos?

There are three things I like about the film. The fact that I play a detective, it’s a musical and the kind of adventure that peeks through.

The film looks very different from what we are used to in Indian cinema. Are Bollywood audiences ready for it?

So far there is no reference to this film, so I myself am looking forward to watching it and audience reactions. I don’t know which audience it’s going to appeal to, but I am pretty excited because it jumps boundaries of genres, songs, lyrics and overall content. I guess that’s the exciting part about movies. It should be something new. You should push the boundaries. At the same time keep the audience interested, so they can’t forget.

The film looks like it was physically demanding. Was it?

Just to maintain a certain look through the film was demanding. It took three and half years and I play a very young boy, so just to maintain a continuity of the character was demanding.

Did you learn anything new as actors doing such a unique film?

To be honest, any actor who works with Anurag Basu always learns so much. He is somebody who is there for rehearsals, somebody who likes spontaneity and loves improvising. I think that’s something that really helps you adjust the scale of an actor; it prepares you for almost anything. I am always far more nourished as an actor when I work with Anurag Basu.

What is your favourite moment in the film?

There is a sequence where both mine and Katrina’s character have to fly a two-seater plane. It’s set in a song, so there was something very interesting and something very new for me about it. I was so excited to do that.

How good a detective are you in real life?

I am not too good, but yes if I am curious, I like information I think and knowing about things. But I don’t have that brilliant a mind like Jagga Jasoos. He’s a character with a brilliant mind and a good heart. I like that.

Why should we watch Jagga Jasoos?

I just want to reach out to all of you with true stories and real entertainment. Britain is such a big market for films. The film is about a shy young boy and his quasi-detective nature who sets out on a mission to find his father. The film has stunning visuals and an interesting plot and I hope the audience receives it well.

Jagga Jasoos is in cinemas now