Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 11, 2019)

Canadian filmmaker, Ken Scott’s 2011 comedy, Starbuck, inspired Shoojit Sircar’s Vicky Donor and was later remade for Hollywood as Delivery Man. Excerpts from an interview with Ken who’s promoting his next, a Hollywood film, The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir...

What did you think of Vicky Donor?
I haven’t met Shoojit Sircar nor have I seen his film, but I am aware a film called Vicky Donor speaks about sperm donation. My Starbuck which came out in Canada in French in 2011 was on the same subject and so successful that I came out with an English remake a year later. We shot in New York with Vince Vaughn. As a storyteller, I want to communicate my story to as many people as possible.

What made you set The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir in India?
The book revolves around an Indian character who grows up in a small neighbourhood in India. After his mother’s death, he travels through Europe on a journey of self-discovery. So, it was a given.

Why Dhanush?
It was organic to have an Indian actor and he was on board before me. I got a call from the makers in Canada and after I signed on, I flew to Chennai to meet Dhanush who was shooting there. We discussed the story and I knew instantly that he had the right energy for the film. I do a lot of comedies and like actors who excel in it. He has great charisma which works for a movie like this.

How was it shooting in Mumbai?
The first schedule commenced on the busy streets of Mumbai. We shot for around 11 days; I’d wanted to shoot at Jodhpur, even done a recce but felt Mumbai was better. We shot in a small locality in Worli before moving to Europe.

The reactions at various film fests have been very positive…
It’s a feel-good film, it talks about immigration but in a lighter vein. It doesn’t make a political statement but asks us to look at immigrants as another version of ourselves. (Smiles) At the world premiere in France, we got a standing ovation, and it is difficult to please the French.