Espionage thriller Azaan clearly has some powerful people supporting it. Shot in nine countries and 16 cities, the magnum opus, which premieres in Dubai tonight, was unveiled at this year's International Indian Film Academy Awards in Toronto by none other than Shah Rukh Khan. But its actor and producer Sachiin Joshi, 27, draws a line there.
Even though the Mumbai-based business magnate — who also stars in the film — could have requested for cameos from his actor-friends to grab more eyeballs, he says that it would have been the greatest disservice to the script.
"Our story is a strong one. I play a RAW [Research And Analysis Wing] agent who infiltrates enemy lines and finds out that there's a major biological warfare threat which could destroy India," said Joshi prior to his visit to Dubai. He added that his film, billed as Bollywood's first espionage drama, will touch upon sensitive topics such as the Muslim world being considered a hotbed for terrorism and India's neighbour Pakistan portrayed as the bad guy behind terrorist activities.
"It's projected wrongly. Terrorism is about money and power … In Azaan we have not tried to hurt any body's sentiments. It will make people think about who the real enemy is." Barring the film Sarfarosh featuring Aamir Khan, Bollywood films such as Kurbaan have also painted a certain religious community in a bad light, he said. His noble intentions aside, Joshi is also battling objections from political parties in India about the title of his film and the nature of the content shown in it.
"We have researched our title well. Azaan is my name just like how Ghajini was the name of Aamir Khan in his film Ghajini. It's coincidental. I have already explained to them that I am trying to show that the Islamic world is not the culprit." This is not the only battle that he needs to fight. Though the trailers look promising, the lack of known faces, may work against him. His leading lady in the film is South African model Candice Boucher.
"I know everyone in the industry because we all move in the same social circles. But if you try to push any single character, the film rejects it automatically," he said. Before entering films, Joshi was busy in the boardrooms coming up with strategies to expand his business opportunities. He owns several hotels and soft-drink factories in India. So was Bollywood a rich boy's whim?
"No, it's not a whim. I have put in a lot of hard work. And you will see what I am talking about when Azaan releases." Apparently, he was bitten by acting bug when was as young as five.
"When I was growing up in Pune, we shared a common wall with a film institute. I used to mingle with the students from that film college and act in their documentaries. They thought I was good and I knew that I would one day face the cameras again for a big film." Though he was unwilling to reveal the budget of his action thriller shot in countries that included Poland, Germany, Morocco and Thailand, Joshi said that the production values are high.
"It's an expensive film. I have spent as much money as a producer would spend on an Aamir or a Salman [Khan] film," he said. Though the Khan's have proved that they two one of the most bankable stars in Bollywood with immense box-office pull, Joshi is yet to prove his worth.
"It's a huge gamble. But it's also a calculated risk. But once people see Azaan, they will realise it was money well spent. It has action, romance, thrilling moments — everything."
Don't miss it
Azaan premieres in Dubai tonight at the Grand Cineplex at 7.30pm with its actors in attendance.
