Though Force 2 happens to be their maiden venture together, director Abhinay Deo and filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah got along like a house on fire. No creative combat for these men, who worked seamlessly to bring alive their vision for the muchanticipated John Abraham Sonakshi Sinha-starrer. Here are excerpts from an interview with Vipul and Abhinay before the release of the high-octane, action packed sequel to Force, which opens in cinemas this Friday.

The car-lifting sequence has become the talking point of your film...
VIPUL: Ever since John lifted the bike in Force, the sequence has become synonymous with the franchise. Everyone expects him to do something spectacular and big. I remember people thought the bike-lifting sequence was a cheat shot. So, John lifted the bike at an event to prove it and it became a talking point. We had to push the envelope in our quest to take the legacy ahead. We made him lift a car this time. We knew it would work, but the film is not just about lifting heavy weights. It has a bigger concept - it's about spies and what happens to them and their families when the country disowns them..
ABHINAY: It's a big moment in the trailer, but the film is bigger and more intense than a particular scene. Having said that, the sequence defines an important aspect of the protagonist - that he is not only righteous, but also physically solid.

Vipul, what made you cast Sonakshi, considering there is no apparent love track between her and John in the film?
VS: Abhinay didn't want to explore a typical love story. It's high time we started taking the relationship between a boy and a girl beyond the romantic angle. It is a modern and interesting take. We could have easily made it a two-hero film as there is no apparent love story, but girls are at par with boys in every aspect, so we wrote a female character. It was an unanimous decision to cast Sonakshi, because she has the personality to pull off the role of a RAW agent convincingly. Besides, everybody knows that she can do action really well.

Given the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, do you think the relevance of the subject will attract moviegoers?
VS: It's a bad way to make a film with the idea of capitalising on the political situation of a country. Had that been the case, we would have added a few sequences bashing the other country. Some subjects are too real to be judged through their commercial viability. And any situation which deals with the Army or spies shouldn't be seen through the prism of commercial success/failure. If Force 2 can improve the situation for even a handful of spies and their families, it will be a bigger reward than its box-office collection. The subject should reach a wider audience, as this country needs to wake up to the reality of spies and their families being ignored.

But do you think demonetization might hamper its box-office collection?
VS: A big decision like demonetization might affect a film, but it would be a small sacrifice on our part in the larger interest of the country - which is to clean up black money and corruption. I have faith that we have made a good film and even if we lose out on the first day, we will be back in business eventually. We are proud of the film and demonetization won't affect its business.

Abhinay, while working with Vipul as a producer, was there any creative interference as he is also a director?
AD: Such thoughts do crop up, but Vipul has trusted my creative vision and I trusted him with the production aspect. That's the bond we have developed over time. At times, we have worn each other's hat as well. Sometimes, the budget and the vision don't come together, which was the case with this film - the vision was bigger than the budget. If my producer came half way and did not worry about the money, on my part, I too sacrificed my fee. It's important to share the same vision, and ours was to make a mindblowing film. There was no scope for discord.
VS: Force 2 belongs to Abhinay as much as it belongs to me. No one has charged a single penny in these 18 months. Abhinay has stood by me at all times.

Abhinay, Nishikant Kamat, who directed Force, said he is done and dusted with the film. What pushed you to take it on?
AD: That's his opinion and I can only speak for myself. Nishikant is a friend and he did a swell job in the first film. Sometimes, you need a fresh perspective to take a film to the next level and that's exactly what I have tried to do.I have taken it from where he left and steered it into a different direction. We never get tired of a genre and there is no limiting it. A subject can be explored in multiple ways.

John is known for his tough physique and action skills. Do you think his action-hero image overshadows his acting talent?
AD: Every person has his strengths and weaknesses. As a director, I needed to play up John's strengths. We extracted the best out of each other during the course of the film. Each actor has a distinct way of emoting. Our films tend to overdramatize everything, but that is not my style. OTT (over the top) as a concept doesn't exist for me. It might be in a situation, but never in the performance. John is subtle and sticks close to reality. He suits my wavelength as I like realistic filmmaking.

Abhinay, do you aspire to enter the Rs 300-crore club like other directors? After all, even superstars chase them...
AD: I want to be a director who is sought after by actors for the right reason, which is good cinema. It shouldn't be based on the business my last film did. If that's the case, I would question their judgement. I would like my films to make Rs 300 crore, but these clubs don't make sense to me. I define a film's success with people gaining something from the storytelling. That's more gratifying to me, even if it's pure and simple entertainment. What mark it crosses isn't my lookout. If it makes money in the process, I would be happy for the producer and myself. I wouldn't stop myself from making a Rs 10-crore film just because another film of mine did a Rs 300-crore business. The business doesn't govern my talent of storytelling.

Vipul, how was it to co-produce the film with John, who is also the face of the film? Did that give him an advantage?
VS: I want my actors to work on a film with a sense of ownership. I am happy that John and I are working as co-producers because it makes the experience personal for him as well. I haven't looked at the financial aspect yet. Maybe I would do that when the numbers start rolling in. When we make films, we build relationships. You can choose to be a producer who deals with situations either clinically or with empathy. If you can maintain a good relationship with the team, success and fame will follow. But if you burn bridges with people, you will be alone on the day of the premiere.

Abhinay, Delhi Belly is a cult film and one expected a sequel. Why didn't you cash in on its success?
AD: It's a film waiting to be made into a second part and I would love to do it. But I am neither driven by money and fame nor is filmmaking time bound. I take time to discover a big idea. Akshat Verma (the writer of the film) took nine years to write the first script. We have a nine-year plan, so we have another four more years to go for the sequel (laughs).

Vipul, the failure of Action Replayy (2010) must have been a major setback. Do you plan to get back to direction?
VS: That was my first genuine failure as a director and it taught me a great deal. I decided to take a long break from direction to reinvent myself. I am returning to direction soon, and I know it will feel like my first film, as I will be approaching it with a fresh perspective. I am in discussion with Akshay (Kumar) for a project. I am writing the script, and will narrate to him soon.