Hotel Mumbai director discusses showcasing vulnerabilities of gunmen in the film on 2008 Mumbai attacks
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 2, 2019)

When recreating for cinema such incidents of violence and terrorism that fittingly evoke no sympathy, choosing to humanise characters of terrorists can be a risky deal to pull  off. However, in the Friday release, Hotel Mumbai — based on the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks — director Anthony Maras navigates this path, nonetheless.

A case in point being a scene where an injured gunman makes a phone call to his parents in Pakistan, inquiring if they had received the money for the mission he's currently on. Oblivious about the mission, the parents hope he succeeds, but inform him that they haven't received the money. In that moment, the young gunman wails in pain, knowing that despite his inevitable death, the deeds he'd committed amounted to nothing.

In a bid to back his decision, Maras tells mid-day, "We wanted to tell stories from multiple perspectives. When we started understanding the stories of the gunmen, we realised their backgrounds were similar. They belonged to impoverished families, lacked education and had tough lives. They were ideal prays for strategic fundamentalist brainwashing. We found out about indoctrination, and that was important to focus on. A large part of the discussion included how terrorists were created. They are regular human beings." He makes a case for himself when stating, "In one scene, a Muslim woman was able to ward off a gunman by praying. That's inspired from a real life incident."

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 29, 2019)

Australian director Anthony Maras, whose film Hotel Mumbai is based on the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, tells BT why he thinks it was a story worth retelling. Excerpts from a chat...

Hotel Mumbai was always bound to be a difficult watch, as it reopens old wounds. Why would people, especially those in Mumbai, want to revisit a tragedy they have struggled to overcome? Did this thought cross your mind while making the film?
The survivors and martyrs of 26/11 showed extraordinary courage and selflessness in the darkest of times. You had regular everyday people from all walks of life, from all parts of the world and from all races, religions and social classes risking their own lives to save one another. I feel theirs is a story worth telling, especially since in many parts of the world, it remains unknown or forgotten.

Why did you choose Dev Patel in particular to play Arjun? He is predominantly a British actor. Did you at least initially think of casting a local Indian actor instead?
Words cannot describe what a fulfilling creative experience it was to work with Dev Patel, and to watch him breathe life into the character. From our first meeting, I felt that he had all the qualities needed for this most delicate role. I am extremely proud of his work and of all the cast we have bought together for Hotel Mumbai — including the many local Indian actors, including Anupam Kher, the four actors who played the terrorists, Adithi Kalkunte, who played Arjun’s wife, and Nagesh Bhosle and Vitthal Kale, who played the heroic police officers who mounted a rescue attempt.

As an Australian filmmaker, how difficult was it for you to get the facts and nuances right of a film, which is based on the events that occurred in Mumbai? What were the prep and research like?
We did extensive research over a year-long period, to try and understand the many and varied complexities and perspectives of this attack. Together with my team, I interviewed dozens of survivors in India and across the world, including hotel guests, staff members, security force personnel and police. We pored over thousands of pages of evidence from Ajmal Kasab’s (terrorist) trial, including witness statements, confessions and transcripts of satellite communications between the terrorists and their handlers. We also interviewed Kasab’s lawyer for further insight. We stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel for over a month, interviewing staff members and walking the same corridors, kitchens and hallways where the tragic events took place. We nurtured a strong collaboration over four years with our Indian production partners, to do all we could to ensure authenticity on all fronts. We did this out of respect to the story, and out of a sense of immense responsibilities to all those affected.

The film very briefly shows a different side of the terrorists, their realisation of being used as pawns. Was that an attempt to empathise with them and was it necessary to include this in the film?
The terrorists who carried out 26/11 did not show up out of nowhere. They were recruited from hundreds of initial prospects and underwent systematic training and brainwashing. To understand what drove these young men is essential to understanding a key reality of the attacks, and in no way justifies their actions.

Has any portion of the film been actually shot at the Taj hotel?
Wherever possible, we shot on location — such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, behind St. Xavier’s College where Hemant Karkare (the late chief of Mumbai’s Anti-Terrorism Squad) and his men were ambushed, and the Colaba Fishing Village, where the gunmen first arrived. Shooting in the interiors of the Taj was never a possibility given that it is a functional hotel. However, we shot in the exterior of the hotel and its surrounding streets.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 27, 2019)

Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai pays an ode to the unwavering courage and spirit of those who risked their lives to help others survive the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. The film is based on the spinechilling events that unfolded at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, in the city on November 26, 2008. Anupam Kher plays Taj’s former grand executive chef Hemant Oberoi in the film, who survived the attack. One of the biggest names in the culinary world from India, the soft-spoken chef, recalled the horrors of the events to us as he sat for a joint interview with his reel self — Kher. Talking to BT, both gave an insight into what went into the making of a film on an event that shook the nation. Excerpts...

Hemant, what was it like to see Anupam Kher portray you on the big screen?
Hemant: When I saw the first glimpse of Anupam playing my character, it reminded me of my Zodiac (a restaurant at the Taj) days. I used to check the shoes and nails of the staff those days (a scene you can see in the film as well) and they have shown that aptly in the film. Anthony spent some time with me in the beginning as he wanted to know my side of the story. I told him that it was not just me, there were other people, and my team members along with me, on that night. I wasn’t the hero, nor did I do any herogiri.

We believe that our ‘guest is God’ and it was our duty to protect them. We evacuated people and took them to the Chambers. That saved their lives.
Anupam: After the film’s first screening, Oberoi came backstage and hugged me. That meant a lot to me and it was my biggest applause. I was very nervous when he was watching the film. I wasn’t worried that he’d judge my performance, my fear was whether I will be able to convey the compassion that he exuded. To recreate that emotion and revisit a situation that you don’t want to, was difficult. Thus, the shoot was extremely tiring psychologically.

Anupam, did you spend time with Hemant before the shoot to ensure you got his mannerisms and body language right?
No, I didn’t. I have met him at the Taj before, but not for the role. My director had a point when he said that when actors meet the people who they portray on screen, they try to emulate every gesture. He didn’t want that. He wanted the essence of the character to come out. The film is about emotions rather than how a particular person walked or talked, so I didn’t go in that direction of mimicking someone. I wanted to capture the nobility in Oberoi on screen. He did his job in a horrific situation and yet, he was calm about it. Aisa nahi ke goli chal rahi ho aur aapko darr nahi lagta. To discover your courage at a time like this and to have the presence of mind, to make sandwiches and tea for people, that for me was difficult to capture. Before every shot, I would imagine that a close friend or family member is about to be killed by a terrorist and what would be my reaction to that.

Hemant, what crossed your mind when you were informed that Taj was under a terrorist attack?
When I was told about the shooting, I initially thought that a film shooting was going on at the Gateway of India, but then I heard gunshots on the phone. My first reaction was ‘close the doors and shut the lights’. There were 100-odd people in our restaurants at the time, just one hint of their presence and they would have all been dead. We were trying to locate people who were injured. One of the young boys (a staff member) was struggling for life for seven days in the hospital after this horrific incident. I am so proud of my team. When I told one of the elderly staffers who was undergoing dialysis every week to leave, he refused. They stayed in the hotel to rescue the guests. My own secretary who had worked with me for 18 years, did not leave my office.
Anupam: They (the hotel staff) did not look at it as a tragedy, but dealt with it like it was a warlike situation. The priority was to help the people who survived.

Hemant, we read about how you were making sandwiches and tea to feed people and comfort them while the massacre was underway. You need nerves of steel to do that. How did you stay composed through all of it?
Every time I went to Chambers (where the staff was hiding the guests), some 300 people sitting there would ask me about the NSG commandos. I had no answer. Every half an hour, I would tell the staff to give them whatever they wanted — food and drinks. We made them sandwiches, cookies and tea. When a few youngsters got to know that I am doing this on my own, they came upstairs to help me out and some of them lost their lives in the process.

Anupam, what was the prep like for a subject as difficult and real as this?
Anthony didn’t want actors to use their craft, he wanted us to go through the trauma. When we landed in Adelaide (Australia), he made us go through a workshop for five-six days, where he wanted us to understand what goes on in people’s minds when they are trapped and aware that they could get killed at any moment. He had recorded real bomb explosions and gunshots, which he’d play in the middle of the shot. That was traumatic and it evoked the reaction from us that he’d expected. When I saw the film at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), it got us a standing ovation. The film salutes ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage. It is a tribute to the people of Taj and the unsung heroes. They were not screen heroes like Bruce Willis or Arnold Schwarzenegger, who the world knows will survive against all odds. They were not trained to deal with a situation like this and they treated their guests like God.

Hemant, when you see death from such close quarters, does it change you as a person?
It does change you. I am a strong believer of destiny and karma after what happened. Somewhere, we must have done something right to have survived something like this.

Hemant, you were among the first celebrity chefs that we knew of. We have heard stories of how starry you were as a celebrity chef and were unapologetic about it.
Hemant: I have never shouted at anyone in my life. Once in a while, I would get angry. If you don’t understand my silence, you’ll never understand my words. My one look was enough for my team to understand their mistakes.
Anupam: I am also aware of how good I am at my job (smiles!). Also, when you are good at something, it only humbles you. Jo ped sabse zyaada phal deta hai, woh sabse zyaada jhuka hua hota hai. There are certain roles that you do with complete humility and submission and this, for me, was one of them. It’s one of the most important films of my career. Aur mujhe bhi pehle laga ke Hemant bohot khatarnak kism ke honge, but hai nahi (laughs!).

Anupam, many will question whether a film like this will reopen old wounds, especially for those who survived, those who lost their loved ones, and all those who were left deeply scarred by the tragedy. Your thoughts.
Once the film is made, it’s open to various interpretations. Other than the fact that it’s on 26/11, it’s also about the triumph and test of the human spirit. It has a universal appeal. The film recalls the event and talks about the courage of those trapped inside. Jo bahar chale gaye the, woh bhi wapas aaye help karne. It’s unreal what compassion can make you do. We are always told to be wary of strangers, but during 26/11, it’s the strangers who helped people save lives.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 25, 2019)

The British-Indian actor Dev Patel’s next outing is in Hotel Mumbai, a realistic movie based on the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. The film is a rendition of the series of events from the terror attacks, focusing on the extraordinary courage that people showed that day while trying to stand up for each other. The films depicts stories about the staff members of a luxury hotel, who saved many lives due to their swift action and presence of mind at the time of the brutal terrorist attacks. Dev, who plays a Sikh in the film, is modelled on a few staff members from the hotel.

Interestingly, the actor convinced his director, Anthony Maras to make his character a Sikh in the film. A source says, “Dev’s insistence stemmed from the fact that post 9/11, Sikhs were often misunderstood. So, with the film, he wanted to bring forth a licit representation of the community on screen. Growing up as an Indian in a post 9/11 world, Dev is aware of the glares that South Asians receive, which stems from lack of knowledge about their cultures. The film attempts to change that. There’s a striking scene where Dev reiterates the importance of wearing a turban for their community. Dev was insistent that the story be retained as it adds nuances.”

Dev explains, “I wasn’t on for the film initially, and I was just meeting Anthony to know more about my role. When I met him, it turned into a seven-hour long session. We spoke in detail about the film, the incident, and that’s when I told him to make my part Sikh. Having seen how the world treated turbaned men with beard after 9/11, I needed to help eradicate these prejudices. That’s why it felt important to make this part Sikh.”

Kavita Awaasthi (HNDUSTAN TIMES; November 21, 2019)

Actor Anupam Kher is ecstatic that the 501st movie of his career is Hotel Mumbai — a film that celebrates real-life heroes of the 26/11 terror attacks in the city. “In today’s tech-driven world, we are losing out on human emotions. This film taught me to have compassion for unknown people. We are on an online pursuit constantly, losing out on humanity. We are apprehensive about strangers, we don’t trust people. The film taught me that one should be courageous. It’s important to be compassionate,” opines the 64-year-old.

Initially, Kher was sceptical about doing the film, as earlier offerings on this subject, were “bad”, according to the actor. Director Anthony Maras is a “sensible, compassionate man, who has research for the film”, feels Kher, saying, “While he was telling a tale of terrorism, he was talking about the courage of ordinary people. That aspect hooked me and I wanted to be a part of this film. We did workshops where he wanted us to feel what people must have gone through while they’re trapped in the hotel. To evoke emotions, he showed us real footage of the shoot, and would play sounds of gun shots without warning. Shooting for the film was mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting.”

Kher enjoyed working with Hollywood actors Dev Patel and Armie Hammer. He says, “Dev is a wonderful boy. After shooting, we would chat and became each other’s emotional support. We became a family.”

Anupam Kher flashbacks to the 26/11 terror attacks which is also the subject of his upcoming film
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 14, 2019)

This year, November 26, marks the 11th anniversary of the terror attack on Mumbai. In 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan held the city hostage for about four days. For Anupam Kher, the date coincides with his film, Hotel Mumbai, inspired by the documentary Surviving Mumbai, which releases on Nov 29.

“I was shooting in Bandra when we first heard that a gang war had broken out in SoBo. Then we learnt about the siege on CSMT station, it was horrifying!” the actor shudders, as he rewinds to that Black Wednesday. “It was like when we watched the second plane crashing into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in the 9/11 attacks back in 2001. The same frustration and helplessness because we couldn’t reach those known to us.”

When he was offered the film, he waited to hear a narration because “a very bad version of the attack had been made earlier by Indian filmmakers” and he was disappointed it was handled so insensitively. “Anthony Maras (director) is a foreigner and this is his first film, and that made me unsure. But our half-hour meeting went on for three-and-half hours as the film is not just about the attack but is also a tribute to its unsung heroes. It’s about the extraordinary courage of ordinary people,” Anupam avers, adding that Anthony wanted the audience to feel like they were actually trapped in the hotel.

The actor, however, didn’t meet Chef Hemant Oberoi, whom he plays in the movie, till he finished shooting. “Sometimes performances are about just the physicality—the look, body language and mannerisms. But we wanted to capture the inner trauma and the strength of these survivors. Anthony didn’t want any external prep,” he points out.

Hotel Mumbai also features Dev Patel and Anupam is all praise for him, describing him as a wonderful actor and a fabulous person. “I feel proud to see Indian actors doing such amazing work. In the last shot, both Dev and I actually had tears in our eyes,” he reveals.

With the Golden Globes and Oscars coming up, how do our films make the cut? Asserting that any award is a triumph, like a gold medal at the Asian Games or the Olympics, Anupam says, “We need to make films about today’s India and come up with unusual stories rooted in our soil. I’m happy that Gully Boy is India’s official entry for the Academy Awards this year. It’s a wonderful story about the aspirations of modern Indian youth. With so many foreign language films, we have high standards to meet.”

Will he direct a film again? One hasn’t heard about him planning another movie after Om Jai Jagadish in 2002. “I’ve been working on a subject for the last few years. Now, I’ve given it to a script doctor in the US. Hopefully, it will make for an interesting film. Let’s see,” he signs off.

The braveheart who saved several lives during the 26/11 attack, and Anupam Kher, who plays him in a film, got together at TIFF recently
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 10, 2018) 

On Friday, Anupam Kher, who plays Chef Hemant Oberoi in Hotel Mumbai, met his real-life inspiration at its Toronto International Film Festival premiere. The film, which is fronted by Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi, depicts the 26/11 terrorist attacks of 2008 in Mumbai.

A source says, “Anupam has been in the US for a while for his TV series New Amsterdam. He flew to Canada for the TIFF premiere and returned to the sets on Sunday. He and Oberoi spent at least an hour together.”

Anupam reveals that he had not met Oberoi before the film kicked off. “My director’s instructions were not to meet the people involved before as actors tend to pick up and incorporate the exact mannerisms. So, we met after the world premiere. The director (Anthony Maras) introduced the Chef who had saved so many lives during the attack. He got an extended standing ovation, while I cried as I had lost some friends to the attack,” the actor said, adding, “He said only I could have played him and that’s the biggest compliment for me.”

Deepali Singh (DNA; August 4, 2018)

Anupam Kher is currently in the Big Apple to shoot for New Amsterdam, an upcoming American medical drama TV show, in which he plays Dr Vijay Kapoor, a neurosurgeon. When we speak to him over the phone, he is looking down from the 39th floor of a building, philosophising about where life has taken him, proving that ‘kuchh bhi ho sakta hai’. “I’m here in New York, talking to you in India, about my work. It’s an achievement for a forest department clerk’s son from a lower-middle class family. Isse zyada khushi ki baat kya ho sakti hai?” he asks.

Over three decades of being a part of showbiz, numerous films and shows — both Indian and international — running an acting school, being the chairman of The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)... how does he manage to juggle all these balls and keep them from falling on the ground? “One needs to have balls to not let the balls fall!” he laughs.

However, on a serious note, the veteran actor recalls his grandfather’s words. “He used to say, ‘a busy man has time for everything’. I’m passionate about whatever I do. Happiness is something that you have to rehearse and then you get used to it. We’re constantly unhappy because we want to be somebody else. I’m happy to be myself. I don’t carry the burden of being Anupam Kher on my shoulders. It’s too tiring to do that,” says the 63-year-old.With the premiere of his American-Australian thriller, Hotel Mumbai slated to take place at the Toronto International Film Festival next month, the Padma Bhushan recipient tells us about his criteria for choosing international projects and more. Excerpts...

How was the experience of shooting Hotel Mumbai?
I think it’s one of the most beautiful films made about the human spirit. The whole world is a victim of terrorism, so it’s not a movie about the actual event (the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai). I think writer-director Anthony Maras wanted to show the compassionate side of the people of Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the metropolis through this tragic incident. Apart from that, it has a great cast and screenplay. It’s an important film for our times.

Tell us about New Amsterdam...
We had done a pilot of the show and it got picked up by NBC. It premieres next month. It’s fantastic to play an Indian doctor in an international show. It talks of the passion and compassion of six doctors who have their own personal lives, how they come together and work in this hospital called New Amsterdam. The medical drama is hopefully going to be quite big in terms of its reach and theme. I’m working with an amazing cast.

You recently posted a picture of yourself with some of the cast members, captioning it ‘friends that become a family’...
I’m with them from 7.30 am till night, so it’s like being with family. Also, I’m away from my own family. I’m not a reserved person. I like to be with people. Even when I had to find an apartment here, the estate agents showed me some secluded locations, but I told them I like to live in crowded places. I thank God the show is set in New York. I love this city’s energy and spirit.

You have acted in a number of international projects, both movies and shows. Are there lots of friends who are like family now?
That is so true because when you meet people abroad, the bonding has no interpretations. When I did Silver Linings Playbook (2012), I got Mr Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper and director David O Russell as friends. I’m happy and fortunate I got like-minded people to bond with. I can easily say that these films have given me a new dimension to relationships.

Is the criteria to green light an international project different as compared to a show or movie back in Mumbai?
I think I’ve been fortunate to get roles in films that were not only critically acclaimed but also did well commercially. You can’t do that by choice. There is no artiste in the world who has only done great work. I feel life is 10 per cent excitement and 90 per cent monotony. You have to find work and keep doing it. You can’t sit at home and say, ‘Main achhe kaam ka wait kar raha hoon’. Zindagi nikal jayegi aur accha kaam nahin aayega. But I have been lucky that projects like Bend It Like Beckham, Silver Linings Playbook, The Big Sick and Hotel Mumbai came to me. In India, working for me is not just acting in the studio. It’s also about going to my acting school and taking a class. It’s about travelling to other cities for my motivational talks or plays. When I’m in India, I want to work every single day.

You’re going to be in NY for quite a while. Apart from the show, what else do you plan to do while you’re there?
I’m thinking of doing a shorter version of my play Kuchh Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. I’m also planning to learn to play the piano, something I have wanted to do all my life. I can’t play any instrument. I met one or two teachers here and they asked me about my past experiences when it came to learning music and I said, ‘Disaster’! (laughs)

Anupam Kher (left) with co-star, Armie Hammer
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 19, 2016)

For almost a month, Anupam Kher has been quietly shooting in Australia for a Hollywood project, 'Hotel Mumbai', based on the 26/11 terror attacks. Anupam Kher essays the character of celebrity chef Hemant Oberoi, who, as the corporate chef of the under-attack Taj Mahal Hotel, kept the kitchen running to serve guests amidst the mayhem.

Speaking to hitlist from Adelaide, Anupam Kher says, "The hotel has been recreated at Adelaide Studios. We are shooting the indoor scenes here."

Due to contractual obligations, the actor does not reveal more about his character. He, however, says, "It is not an autobiographical work. It is about what unfolded in those 68 hours at the hotel. It is a story of courage of the people who were working there."

Anupam Kher's co-stars include Jason Isaacs, Armie Hammer, Dev Patel and Tilda Boniadi. Directed by Anthony Maras, the film is inspired by docu filmmaker Andrew Ogilvie's 'Surviving Mumbai'. Ogilvie is also one of the co-producers and has written the screenplay with John Collee ('Master and Commander', 'Happy Feet').

The project is a co-production with Hollywood producers Basil Iwanyk ('Gods of Egypt', 'Sicario'), Gary Hamilton and Mike Gabrawy ('Jungle', 'Nest' and 'Resident Evil'), Jomon Thomas ('The Man Who Knew Infinity', 'Damascus Cover'), Julie Ryan ('Red Dog', 'Ten Canoes') and documentary filmmaker Andrew Ogilvie ('Surviving Mumbai', 'The War That Changed US').

Adds Anupam Kher, "'Hotel Mumbai' is my 501st film. I am treating it as my first film post the interval of my career. I have no Bollywood projects in hand at the moment. I hope to be back with a bang after a break."

'Hotel Mumbai' came his way recently. He says, "They contacted my representatives in London and Los Angeles, and soon, I found myself flying to Adelaide for the shoot."

Why Australia? "It is an Australian co-production, so parts will be shot here and later, we move to Mumbai," he explains.

Anupam Kher's earlier Hollywood films include 'Bend It Like Beckham' (2002), 'Lust, Caution' (2007) and 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012).

Other films on 26/11
Ten Pakistani terrorists turned Mumbai into a war zone, holding major landmarks such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel under siege for three days, starting November 28, 2008. It inspired a few films:
>> Ram Gopal Varma's 2013 docu-drama, 'The Attacks of 26/11', was inspired by the terror attacks, which claimed 160-odd lives and left hundreds injured.
>> Frenchman Nicolas Saada's 'Taj Mahal' tells the story of the attack through a woman (Stacy Martin) stuck in one of the hotel rooms. The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in the US last year, and later travelled to the Venice International Film Festival.
>> Justin Kurzel has announced a film on the 26/11 attacks, which will be an adaptation of Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark's book, 'The Siege: 68 Hours Inside The Taj Hotel'. 


Taj star chef Hemant Oberoi

The 62-year-old, started his cooking career with Taj four decades ago and gradually rose to become the hospitality chain's chief chef. Among other dishes, Oberoi introduced naza (naan pizza) and gulab jamun creme brulee. He also witnessed the hotel’s worst tragedy — the 26/11 terror attacks. He retired in May 2015, but continued his association with the hotel for a year as a consultant.