Sneha Mahadevan (DNA; June 26, 2015)

Subhash Ghai’s Ram Lakhan is one film that has stood the test of time. Even now, when it is on TV, you will find it difficult to take your eyes off this entertaining masala film. Love, followed by hatred between two brothers, a tug-of-war over maa, the evil uncle and revenge, it has all the ingredients for a Bollywood buff. Ever since Karan Johar announced that he is remaking the film, there has been excitement over the film’s casting. What makes the film bigger is that Rohit Shetty is directing it.

Anil Kapoor, who played Lakhan in the film, cannot understand what the fuss is about. He says, “I never knew this film was so iconic. But I realise that now. Recently, I went on stage at the IIFA and the bloody song started playing, people reacted to me as if Ram Lakhan just released a week ago. Surprisingly, the film is very fresh in people’s minds. One of the reasons that has been, I think, is that the characters just worked; certain characters just connect.”

There is excitement — among actors as well as audiences — over which of the young dudes will play Ram and Lakhan. He says “Sometimes, even the actors and the filmmaker create a certain noise about a film, which is good, but I certainly don’t think the film is iconic. I think people who saw Ram Lakhan as kids are youngsters now. Also, all the actors who are in their twenties now, have not grown up on Deewar and Zanjeer. They’ve grown up on today’s heroes, right?”

While he hesitates to say whether it is a good idea or bad to do a remake, he feels, “Yeh remake karna, is a kind of hype. I think it’s more a business proposition than a creative proposition. It is not an artistic decision.”

So who would be his choice to play Lakhan? “I feel who is best for the film commercially, they should cast him” Push him for a name and he relents, “If I was a producer, I would cast Ranveer as Lakhan. Ram would be Sidharth Malhotra because of the intensity.”

Why not his nephew Arjun Kapoor? He does a brilliant job of it. Also, the bhatija in the chacha’s shoes would make for interesting casting, no? He says, “No. I feel Arjun can, but it will be too close. There will be comparisons. Better someone from outside the family does it. About the mimicking, both of them mimic me very well. Ranveer does my dialogues and dance movement, sab aata hai usko.”