Actor has pushed the release of his upcoming comedy to facilitate a solo run for his pal Nikkhil Advani’s Sidharth Malhotra, Riteish Deshmukh-starrer which now opens on Nov 8
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 6, 2019)

It is often said that there are no permanent friends and foes in B-town. Consequently, there are few real friendships that have survived a film and four seasons. Actor-producer John Abraham and director-producer Nikkhil Advani worked together for the first time 12 years ago, in Salaam-e-Ishq, which the latter directed, but it was only during the making of their vigilante thriller Satyameva Jayate (SMJ) last year, that the two grew closer.

“John was going through a terrible time with his film Parmanu which was in a legal tangle, and along with his close circle of friends, he needed someone with an outsider’s perspective to talk to, someone who could advise and support him,” points out Nikkhil who as one of the producers of the Milap Zaveri-directed SMJ was always on the set.

He was a rock for John then and now, Mirror has learnt that the actor has reciprocated by moving the release date of his upcoming comedy, Pagalpanti, so Nikkhil’s next, Marjaavaan, which features Sidharth Malhotra and a three-foot antagonist in Riteish Deshmukh, can get a solo release. Another Milap directorial, the film is jointly produced by Nikkhil with Bhushan Kumar and Divya Khosla Kumar, along with his partners, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani. It was moved from its original date of October 2, despite having a strong track relating to Dussehra and the burning of Raavan’s effigy, to avoid a clash with Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff’s action-thriller. But on November 22, there would have been a face-off with Ayushmann Khurrana’s next, Bala. Now, with Pagalpanti vacating its November 8 release date, Marjaavaan has a clear two-week window.

Milap informs that he had nervously screened the trailer of his next for John and was delighted with his response. “He found it powerful and commercial, and when I casually told him I wished my film could have a solo release, he conferred with his producers, Bhushan and Kumar Mangat, and they graciously shifted Pagalpanti,” he informs.

John reasons that his Anees Bazmee-directed star-studded comedy is a juggernaut which will steamroll its way through no matter when it arrives. “But Marjaavaan will benefit from a solo window and Bhushan agreed with me,” he points out. “Milap is a grounded boy and a wonderful writer while Nikkhil is a good, solid man for whom friendship is non-negotiable. I have worked with directors who have moved on, but Nikkhil understands loyalty and will work with you irrespective of how a film fares. It’s important for all of us that Marjaavaan works.”

Quiz him on how much Nikkhil has changed since Salaam-e-Ishq and John remembers a director who was always anxious then, but less so during Satyameva Jayate and was completely in control during Batla House. “I think, with time, he is realising that he has to keep his anxiety level in check to make a good film,” John laughs.

Batla House was the first of their six collaborations. The duo has discovered that they like and want to make films that are rooted in reality but within the mainstream and treated with a lot of heroism. “John often calls me asking if I can spare three hours to listen to a script he has liked,” says the filmmaker, adding that they are so much in-sync that sometimes they finish each other’s sentences.

Nikkhil goes on to recount how the “Saki Saki” song in Batla House had been shot with both the actor and Nora Fatehi but just before they launched the trailer, he felt that John didn’t fit into the song but didn’t know how to convey this. “Finally, when I was leaving for London and John for Ireland, I called him on the way to the airport and awkwardly told him I wanted to suggest something. Before I could say another word, he said, ‘I know what you are feeling, edit me out of the song,’” Nikkhil shares, adding that he was surprised when Bhushan who heads a music company and is known to be a commercial filmmaker, agreed with them on this, reiterating that John should not feature in the song. “Bhushan brings his experience, wisdom and expertise to the table and adds value to our team,” he smiles.

The trio will collaborate next on the Satyameva Jayate sequel which will feature Divya opposite John and will be directed by Milap. Nikkhil informs that the film will go on the floors in January and while the earlier film tackled corruption in the police force, in Part 2 the common man will take on the theme on a wider scale, touching on topical issues. “It will be bigger and better, massy and relevant, and since we are targeting an Independence Day release for SMJ2, it will be patriotic without being jingoistic. You can love your country and criticise its shortcomings at the same time, that’s patriotism,” John concludes.