Saurabh Varma's upcoming film is an investigative thriller inspired by real events, featuring a bunch of 'underestimated actors'
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 15, 2016) 

Mickey Virus filmmaker Saurabh Varma's next, an investigative thriller titled 7 Hours To Go, featuring Shiv Pandit, Sandeepa Dhar, Natasa Stankovic and Varun Badola, sandwiched between two biggies, Abhishek Chaubey's Udta Punjab (June 17), and Salman Khan's Eid release, is gearing up for a June 24 release. And the filmmaker frankly admits that he doesn't have a star like John Abraham who was backing the off-beat Vicky Donor or even a successful writer-director-producer Aanand L Rai who took Nil Battey Sannata into the theatres. "You can't underestimate the power of a star but Bollywood A-listers only work with a limited set of filmmakers. Directors like me have to prove ourselves to get access to the stars," he reasons.

The writer-director who wrote 50 drafts for his follow-up film, is quick to add that his story and characters should not be taken lightly. "We're a bunch of hungry underdogs and underestimated actors who've come together for this film," he laughs.

Shot over 40 days in Mumbai, 7 Hours To Go is inspired by real events and revolves around a hostage crisis. Seven people are being held at ransom and the investigative officer has seven hours to save them. Point out that the plot sounds a lot like the TV series, 24, where events unfold in real time, and Saurabh quips that he is happy for his film to be compared to the Hollywood show, whose Hindi remake is presently on air in India. "I love the original show. Yes, the concept of the clock ticking is the same, but I'm exploring the genre of Teesri Manzil and Jewel Thief, the kind of stories Vijay Anand told; the ones the audience hasn't heard recently. I've drawn from real life, from people I have seen in local trains and those waiting for autos," Saurabh explains, adding that the last time a film addressed a hostage situation like it should be, was Ram Madhvani's Neerja.

In a first in Bollywood, Saurabh's film employs over 650 VFX shots, executed over six months, and a drone. "There is a camera capturing the drone and a lot of special techniques have been used in the action. I'd tell you what they are, but then I'd have to kill you," he guffaws.

The filmmaker is already putting together his next film, an ambitious sci-fi thriller. Work is in progress on the graphics with a VFX team. "I can take this script to the biggest star in the country but he needs to be hungry to do something different, something better. That's what will make all the difference," he signs off.