Asghar Wajahat’s play, Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya O Jamyai Nai, has long fascinated Rajkumar Santoshi. Finally, the director is gearing up to make its screen adaptation, titled Lahore 1947. It’s not surprising that Santoshi has roped in his frequent collaborator Sunny Deol for the historical drama. While the two had a falling-out before the making of The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002), they resolved their differences soon after.

“I can only be upset with someone I have an equation with. The mutual admiration and respect has always remained,” says the director.

Wajahat’s famed play revolves around a family that moves to Lahore after the Partition. While Santoshi had taken the subject to Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt in the past, he is glad that it is eventually materializing with his first choice. That’s not all — Sunny’s actor-son Karan Deol will also star in the period drama.

“Karan plays Sunny’s son, and represents the next generation [in the narrative]. His character takes the story forward. When I went to narrate the film to Sunny, Karan was also there. He liked the subject and [his role].” 

The director, who has collaborated with Sunny on three films and helmed Bobby Deol’s debut film Barsaat (1995), is only too happy to work with the family’s next generation. Neither Karan’s debut film Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019), nor his second offering Velle (2021) made waves at the box office. But Santoshi has faith in the youngster.

“You can’t judge an actor on the basis [of his films’ performance]. Karan has potential; he fits the role and is sincere.”

The filmmaker plans to take the movie on floors in early March.

Hindi novelist-playwright Asghar Wajahat has served as the writer on Rajkumar Santoshi’s Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh. The historical drama, based on Wajahat’s play Godse@Gandhi.com, explores the alternate reality where Mahatma Gandhi meets Nathuram Godse in prison after surviving the assassination attempt. 

“This virtual history helps us understand our past, wherein we let characters grow in their natural direction. Both had their strengths and weaknesses, which are being [studied] in the film,” says the writer.

Even as he awaits the film’s release, Wajahat is working on another counter-factual historical narrative. This, too, will have Gandhi at its centre. “It will be about Gandhi visiting Pakistan to meet Muhammad Ali Jinnah, after the Partition. Gandhi had expressed his wish to Jinnah, who had agreed on two conditions. One, that Gandhi wouldn’t speak against the Two-Nation Theory, and secondly, Pakistan government would take full responsibility for his security.”

The writer shares that Pakistan’s first governor-general was keen on Gandhi’s visit, as he felt it would strengthen the liberal forces. Wajahat adds, “It was also a question of Jinnah’s own political relevance. However, the Muslim League was against [his visit]. We’ll explore these aspects [in the script].”

In an industry where you’re only as good as your last film, a near 10-year hiatus can be construed as damaging. Director-screenwriter Rajkumar Santoshi who has given Bollywood fans delicious fodder to last a lifetime, thanks to cult films like Ghayal, Andaz Apna Apna and The Legend of Bhagat Singh, is well aware of this. His last film, the Shahid Kapoor-starrer Phata Poster Nikhla Hero, released in 2013, “but this break wasn’t a conscious decision. It was forced upon me,” clarifies Santoshi in an interview to mid-day.

“I have been working all this while…writing and researching for Battle of Saragarhi, which had Randeep Hooda in the lead [the film was shelved after Dharma Productions announced Akshay Kumar’s Kesari, which followed the events of the same battle]. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out the way I would have liked,” he says, adding, “Most production houses that I reached out to, only had one question—‘Star kaun hain?’ For me, content is king. The only time I made an exception was for Amit ji [Amitabh Bachchan]. And that’s because I am a great admirer of his work. Khakee was made keeping him in mind.”

Santoshi stuck to his guns. His new film, Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh, which releases on Republic Day, and is already in the thick of a controversy, stars non-filmy theatre talent, Deepak Antani and Chinmay Mandlekar, in the lead.

“A couple of years ago, my writer friend Asghar Wajahat saab gave me a script of his play to read for feedback. It imagined a conversation between Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse [his assassin]. He wasn’t even thinking about making a film. But I was so moved by it, I knew it deserved a larger life. I started working on the screenplay, while Asghar saab and I wrote the dialogues.”

He didn’t sign on stars because he wanted theatre actors with some resemblance with the lead characters. “It was also a conscious decision to have a Gujarati actor [Deepak] to play Gandhi and a Marathi hero as Godse.”

The subject is historical fiction, which imagines a situation where the Mahatma survives the attack on him and later meets Godse in prison. Their conversation leads to a fiery debate. Santoshi says that while the story is fictional, it’s based on facts and rigorous research. “My strong belief is that a lot of allegations were made against Gandhiji. Similarly, Godse was labelled a terrorist. I empathize with both. Gandhiji was shot and never got a platform to explain or respond to his naysayers, while Godse’s voice was suppressed… the arguments he made in his defence were not made public until recently. I think injustice was meted out to both of them. This film gives them a platform to talk,” he says.

The film, the shoot for which began just a little before the pandemic, has braved lockdowns, restrictions and repeated delays. When the trailer was released earlier this month, it triggered fresh controversy, with many, including the Mahatma’s great grandson claiming that it “glorified a murderer”. In the prevailing environment, where jingoism is at its peak, and choosing sides either make you a nationalist or anti, Santoshi says he’d rather stick to objective storytelling.

“Gandhiji was a fearless man, the only weapon he carried was ‘truth’. Godse was equally fearless—he knew the consequences of his actions. So, when I am attempting a film like this, I can’t afford to be worried about what someone says. My conscience is clear. I want to be fair to both the characters,” he insists, adding that the Censor Board gave him a Universal certificate, after two screenings.

“After clearing it once, the board decided to send it for revision, because of the names involved. They all had only good things to say. I didn’t get a single complaint. Isn’t this proof enough that the film is non-controversial?”

As for those who are objecting to the film, he requests that they see the film, before coming to conclusions. “You can’t judge a film based on the trailer. Everybody is so restless… they are looking for an opportunity to create noise and news. The trailer is meant to make people inquisitive, not agitated,” he urges.

Incidentally, Gandhi was the inspiration behind two of his previous films, Damini (1993) and Ghatak (1996). “In fact, in Damini there’s a quote of Gandhi as well. He has inspired both Indian and world leaders. Who am I to criticize Gandhiji?”

How would the course of history change if Mahatma Gandhi had survived the assassination attempt? With Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh, filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi explores this alternate reality. The period drama imagines the Mahatma meeting Nathuram Godse in prison after his failed assassination attempt, thus exploring the conflicting ideologies of the two men.

Tell him that such a subject demands a balanced approach, and Santoshi says, “I sympathize with both Gandhi and Godse. As much credit as Gandhi got, he also faced allegations. To date, people ask why he couldn’t be more assertive about saving Bhagat Singh from the death sentence. Similarly, during his trial after killing Gandhi, Godse gave a statement in court, which was curbed for decades. Until recently, no one knew what he had said. I feel that was unjust to him. People should know what he had to say in his defense. The idea behind this film is to give a platform to Godse to express his viewpoint, and also to Gandhi to respond to the allegations. We are presenting both sides without being partial to anyone.”

Does he worry about irking certain sections of the population with the movie? “When people saw that I had Asghar Wajahat writing for me, they accused me of being a Leftist. I’m not siding with any ideology. I have made this film with honesty.”

The drama sees him return to direction almost a decade after Phata Poster Nikhla Hero (2013). Rumours were rife that Rajkummar Rao was initially considered for the film, which has been fronted by Chinmay Mandlekar and Deepak Antani. The director, however, clarifies, “I have always worked with stars. But I was clear that I didn’t want stars for this film. For Godse, I wanted a Maharashtrian actor who could speak Marathi lines organically. I opted for a Gujarati actor to play Gandhi.”

The January 26 release will lock horns with Pathaan, but Santoshi is unperturbed about the clash. “Our initial plan was to release it on October 2, but the film wasn’t ready then. January 30 marks Gandhi ji’s death anniversary, so we chose [the closest window].”

Tanisha is Janhvi Kapoor’s childhood friend

Another industry kid is set to make her big-screen debut. Rajkumar Santoshi will launch daughter Tanisha in his directorial venture, Gandhi vs Godse, a period drama based on noted writer Asghar Wajahat’s play, Godse@Gandhi.com.

Wajahat’s play delves upon cultural assimilation, communal issues, democracy and development. Set in a fictional world where Mahatma Gandhi survives the January 30, 1948 attack by Nathuram Godse, the play sees him in conversation with Godse, who is held in prison. Bapu is keen to hear his opinion. The play establishes that through dialogue, a lot can be achieved.

Santoshi, who is keeping the project under wraps, shot for it in Bhopal and Mumbai. He has appointed a bunch of theatre-actors to play various crucial roles related to the freedom movement. Cast-members include newcomer Anuj Saini, who is cast opposite Tanisha. She plays a youngster who meets Gandhi.

Santoshi tells mid-day, “I am travelling, and am currently in Chennai. I do not want to talk about the project right now. The film is in post-production and I plan to unveil it next month.”

The filmmaker confirmed that Tanisha is part of the project and has an “interesting role in a film whose subject is equally interesting. I will spell out more details after October 1.” It is learnt that he is keen to announce the film on Gandhi Jayanti. A R Rahman is set to score the music.

Santoshi’s last directorial venture was the Shahid Kapoor and lleana D’Cruz-starrer Phata Poster Nikhla Hero (2013). He has also directed the upcoming film Bad Boy, which marks the debut of Mithun Chakraborty’s son, Namashi, alongside newcomer Amrin Qureshi.