Bollywood actor and singer Farhan Akhtar has put himself out there in Rock On 2.
He has sung for the Rock On!! sequel, out in the UAE this Thursday, and the reviews have been mixed.
While some have cheered his raspy crooning, a few were quick to brand him as a glorified bathroom singer. So what does the actor think of all his haters and fans?
“I have never claimed to be a professional playback singer,” said Akhtar.
“But for this film, it was important that the character expresses himself in the way he can. Some people around me understood why it needs to be done. But some purists don’t like it, I can’t do much about that.”
Actor Arjun Rampal, who plays the guitarist in this sequel, was also quick to endorse Akhtar’s vocal prowess and claimed that 60,000 fans turned up for his concert.
“Farhan is being really modest here. One of the reasons why the sequel was made was because Farhan is a musician at heart. He loves what he does and he brings an amazing energy to Rock On 2 … He kept the music alive through his band, Farhan Live,” said Rampal. Just like the film, the two are thick friends in real life.
Eight years ago, the original film chronicled the life of an unhappy financial analyst, Aditya Shroff (Akhtar), who rediscovers his love for music and embarks on a mission to bring together his fractured college band, Magik. The sequel retains original actors Rampal, Prachi Desai and Purab Kohli, and adds Shraddha Kapoor and Shashank Arora to the mix. While there was sufficient closure to Rock On, the actors believe the sequel has enough material to keep you hooked.
“The first film was about friendship, but more importantly, it was about how a person can truly be at peace with themselves if they follow their dreams and live up to their passions … But Rock On 2 is a little bit broader and wider, and talks about how music goes beyond personal problems,” said Akhtar. The film will also make you believe in the healing powers of music.
“Rock On 2 is a movie that talks about how music unites us, and no matter which generation or what language you speak, the fact is that music is a common language that can be used to unite people for a larger cause,” said Akhtar. So it’s apt that the film was shot in Shillong in the North East, a region that’s often ignored and caricatured by mainstream Bollywood films. Rock On 2 director Shujaat Saudagar brands it the rock capital of India.
“The intent was to show the throbbing music scene in the North East in the mainstream Indian cinema. It has never been done before. We have featured a few Khasi songs in the film. We also have a very famous local band, Summersalt, who are featured in the film,” said Saudagar.
For Kapoor, who plays the troubled Jiah Sharma, it was a dream come true to be a part of the Rock On!! gang.
“It’s a filmy/dramatic story. When I first saw the original in the cinemas with my parents and friends, I remember swearing to my father that if ever there was a sequel made, I would be a part of it … and here I am,” said Kapoor. Her story became an inside joke, with Rampal claiming that she even sent a few script ideas to Akhtar to make the sequel happen.
“But without giving the story away, I play someone who hold[s] back playing music because there’s something holding her back.”
Surprisingly, this film doesn’t explore the grim side of being a rock star, which is often laced with excess and debauchery.
“It’s a misconception that rockstars are debauched. Some of them are the most disciplined people I have met. I remember seeing Bono backstage and all they [U2] care [about] is to give their fans a transformative moment. This is not a story of a rock band on the road, but about a few musicians and their life,” said Rampal.
Don’t miss it!
Rock On 2 is out in the UAE in the cinemas this Thursday.
