Satish Kaushik on-board third Baaghi film, as Riteish Deshmukh’s boss, in Tiger Shroff-starrer
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 2, 2019)

Besides Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor, who are reuniting for producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s Baaghi 3 after working together in the first instalment of the franchise in 2016, another reunion happened on the film’s Mumbai set. Mirror has learnt that director Ahmed Khan has roped in Satish Kaushik to play a pivotal role in the film, which went on floors on September 12. The choreographer-turned-filmmaker had worked with Satish as a child artiste in Shekhar Kapur’s 1987 film, Mr India.

While Ahmed has choreographed for Satish’s directorials, like Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, Badhaai Ho Badhaai and Milenge Milenge, this is the first time he is directing the latter. “Our first day on the set was nostalgic. Satish uncle admitted that he couldn’t believe that the mischievous child who used to jump on his stomach and make him run around for a shot, is now calling the shots. It’s a fun, light-hearted character of Riteish’s (Deshmukh) boss. He has a couple of scenes with Tiger too,” informs the director, adding that Kaushik received loud applause from the team after canning his first shot for the action-drama.

Ahmed goes on to add that there are few men who he refers to as ‘uncle’ and Satish is one of them. “While shooting for Mr India, Shekhar Kapur (director) and Boney Kapoor (producer) never stopped us from doing anything though we were always looking for an excuse to not shoot. The only man we were petrified of was Satish uncle, as besides playing Calendar he was also an associate director on the film and quite a task master,” he reminisces.

Satish breaks into peals of laughter when you bring up the memory. “Boney had created the set of the house in Versova where we had a carrom room, volleyball court and a study room for the kids to unwind in-between breaks. But once they started playing, it was impossible to get them all together. I’d run behind them for the shot. Sometimes, during lunch break, they would chant, ‘Calendar khana do, Calendar khana do’,” he shares, saying it’s a proud moment to have one of the kids direct him. Incidentally, Ahmed has also choreographed a song for Satish’s next directorial, Kaagaz, which features Pankaj Tripathi.