The last few months haven’t been easy for Sajid Nadiadwala. His directorial debut Kick released yesterday. Today, he talks about his journey and why the success of the film is so crucial:
I had not thought about becoming a director. One day Salman told me that I should direct and it wasn’t a question but an affirmative. Before I could say yes he tweeted ‘Grandson has become a director!’ My wife Wardha came to know before me on Twitter that I was directing Kick. Initially, I was not really anxious as I didn’t know what I was getting into. Pata hi nahi tha. I am a producer so it felt like I was working on another film, getting the star cast and crew on board. The big change was when I had to go on a shoot. As a producer I would stroll in on my sets at noon. Here as a director I had to be dot on time at 7 am for a 9 am shoot.
It was very tough in the beginning. While shooting in Poland a couple of months ago I suddenly suffered a back spasm. I was on my bed at the shoot for 10 days. It was a whole action sequence that was being shot and the irony was that I was in bed shooting an action scene. The scene was of Salman jumping from the 28th floor. The requirements given were a camera, monitor and bed! (laughs)
The first day of shoot was at the ND Studio in Karjat. It was Salman’s introduction. As soon as it was canned, I shouted ‘Fantastic!’ Salman and I looked at each other and started laughing. I was so nervous that once I started shooting I couldn’t shout ‘action’ or ‘cut’, but would mime with my hands. I have been a shy person always and now I was shy behind the camera too. Then my first AD would shout the commands.
I had one of the best team of technicians. My other directors like Imtiaz Ali, Sabbir Khan and for 2 States my co-producer Karan Johar took over the other films as if they were their own productions. They left me alone. From the first day till the last day I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing? What have I got myself into?’ I was so unwell. Each one of those 140 days I have thought of giving up! (laughs) During the first 15 days mere chehre pe nervousness dikhta tha. That’s why people would help me. They must have taken pity on me thinking I would faint. Salman, Randeep Hooda, Nawazzuddin Siddiqui as well as my techincians were protective towards me. My doctor Dr Agrawal travelled with me. They all took care of me.
All I knew was that I had to complete the film before Eid. I had no time to re-shoot. The only advice I will give to debutant directors is that start from your second film, don’t direct the fist one. (laughs) Filmmaking is never a one-man show. I could manage to complete the film only because I had a fantastic team.
Now I will direct one film in maybe five years. I am not a regular director though by now I have understood my weaknesses and strengths. Now my only desire is ki main Salman ki izzat rakhoon. He heard the script and and said yes. Though I can’t repay Salman for what he’s done for me I just want him to feel that I have done a good job. Woh khush toh Ranga khush!
