Johnday

Randeep gets clean chit from producers of John Day

By Joginder Tuteja, Aug 30, 2013 - 11:37 IST

Yet again just around the release of a film, rumours around its lead actor being difficult have started resurfacing. In the times when it has pretty much become a statement of sorts and almost a marketing and promotional plug, John Day producer Anjum Rizvi feels that it is totally unwarranted to slot his actors into the same zone as well.

"I had heard stories around Randeep being difficult but then I didn't want to believe them. I wanted an actor for the film and Randeep was just the right fit. There was no way that I could have let rumours and speculations come in the way of making correct casting decisions," says Anjum who had earlier put his money on Naseeruddin Shah-Anupam Kher combo in A Wednesday, Irrfan Khan in Charas and Abhay Deol in Aahista Aahista.

"Right from the time that Randeep came on board, he pleasantly surprised me at every juncture. He was so involved and wanted to give his best. It is such a difficult role for him to play but he did it all. Moreover, what worked for all involved was the fact that he developed a very good comfort level and rapport with our first time director Ahishor Solomon. At the start of every day of the film's shoot, he used to be fully prepared," says Rizvi who has co-produced the film with K. Asif and Aatef A Khan.

While the promos give an impression of Randeep playing a hardcore antagonist and Naseeruddin Shah enacting the part of a victim, Anjum suggests that there is a lot more to John Day than what meets one's eye.

"Without getting too much into the plot, I would just say that characters which you see in John Day are as contrasting as saint and devil. However, and this is where one needs to apply caution, there is a line between good and evil. When it turns blurred, there is hardly any difference between them and you never know when you have crossed over. Whether evil turns good or not, vice versa is always possible. The film deals with that emotion."

Meanwhile as a producer, Anjum's endeavour is to be remembered as not just the man who backed A Wednesday but boast of an enhanced repertoire as well.

"I always look for content in the script. I have never been in a mode ki chalo ek bada star mil jaaye toh picture bana dete hain. I want to be remembered for my films which are good, and not the ones which are expensive," smiles Rizvi before signing off.