The ‘M-word’ was the elephant in the room at the press junket for Azhar.
The principal players, Emraan Hashmi and former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, on whom the film is based, were in Dubai last weekend. And although appropriate, “match-fixing” was spoken with caution, almost trepidation.
Azharuddin was accused of fixing cricket matches in 1999 and banned from playing the game a year later by the country’s cricketing board, but got the ban overturned by contesting it in an Indian high court in Hyderabad in 2012.
However, International Cricket Council did not lift the ban, despite the court order.
A Hindi film chronicling his eventful life between 1984 and 2012 will open in UAE cinemas on Thursday.
While the film’s PR machinery gently requested local media not to ask the cricketer uncomfortable questions relating to the match-fixing scandal (which we naturally did not comply with), even Hashmi beat around the bush.
“That incident”, “the dark episode”, “the bleak phase in his life” were some of the euphemisms used by Hashmi, who plays Azharuddin in the film, to sugarcoat the unsavoury corruption allegations against the former Indian batsman. Seeing them tiptoe around the topic made us wonder if the movie is an attempt at glorifying the fallen hero?
“If there was an attempt to glorify him, then this film wouldn’t work. Azhar is an unbiased account of this man’s life until 2012. It’s the director’s take and his unbiased point of view … We have just presented the facts gathered from the instances in Azhar bhai’s [bhai means brother] life,” said Hashmi, looking at Azharuddin with devotion.
The two seem to have built a sturdy partnership as Hashmi shadowed the sportsman for more than six months and trained under him to learn his body language and cricketing techniques such as using his wrist to knock off balls. Both have now made it their business to promote Azhar along with the leading ladies Prachi Desai and Nargis Fakhri, who play Azharuddin’s first and second wife respectively.
“He had to bear me for nearly six months and he answered all the questions that I had in mind. They may not have been relevant to the film per se, but it helped me come to grips with the character … Did you know that Azhar bhai was fulfilling his grandfather’s prophecy and wish when he became a cricketer?” said Hashmi.
The actor, who was last seen in the abysmal sci-fi film Mr X, in which he played an invisible man, jumped at the Azhar proposal even before reading its script. What’s not to like about playing a sports personality whom he has followed so closely from his childhood days? He’s a self-confessed Azharuddin fan who refrained from “crucifying him after the match-fixing scandal broke”.
“Simple, well-adjusted people don’t make for dramatic cinema. But here’s a person who came from humble beginnings in Hyderabad and made his mark swiftly in the Indian cricket team. Unfortunately, an incident occurred and he faced many struggles after that. He had so many ups and downs in his life, but has emerged stronger,” said Hashmi, adding that Ahzar is a humane depiction of the trials and triumphs of Azharuddin. The actor feels his countrymen and cricket fans have been quick to judge him guilty. The tagline of the film is Love Him, Hate Him, Judge Him.
“The twelve years after match fixing were tough for him. I feel the cricket fans have been harsh from the day since the allegation came up. Even when he was finally acquitted, everybody continued to play the judge, the jury and the executioner. They have already made their decisions in their head about what happened. That is faulty and wrong … We are not swaying those critics here,” said Hashmi.
Azharuddin, who says Hashmi was a star pupil, claims he is in no mood to seek redemption either. The filmmakers had to pursue him for over a year to get his permission to make a film on his life, he adds, in order to underline his stand. While his first reaction was a vehement ‘no’, their repeated requests made him rethink their proposal.
“As long as I know that I have worked hard for my country … Half my career, I was the captain of my team. I cannot expect everyone to like me or say good things about me … But I don’t seek anyone’s approval … I don’t need anyone to redeem my name. I have won the court case and that was the most important point of my career. That 12 years were very tough,” said Azharuddin. He is also aware that a film doesn’t have the power to sway anyone who has already formed a negative image about him.
“Many don’t know how tough it is to be a sportsman, to play and to represent the country ... I have put in a lot of effort, sacrifices. During that period, I was hurt and I had fallen down many times. It was tough, but I enjoyed playing for India and I am proud to have represented my country. I am not here to change people’s minds,” said Azharuddin. He may not be here to alter public opinion, but Hashmi has already got the thumbs-up from the player.
“That was such a huge relief … When you are putting someone’s life out there on celluloid, there is a certain pressure to treat it right,” said Hashmi. However, cinematic liberties have been taken in this “semi-biopic”, says Hashmi. While Azharuddin has never sung a song in his life, the Azhar in the film is adept at romancing the ladies. There are five songs in Azhar, directed by Tony D’Souza. Fakhri plays his second ex-wife, Sangeeta Bijlani, an actress. Desai plays his first wife. While Desai met his first wife in Hyderabad, Fakhri had to rely on her director and Bijlani’s films to get an idea about her character.
“Azhar is going to be a revelation for everyone. Every time Sangeeta’s name is taken there’s a certain word used to define her. The film will give you an insight into the people around him who have largely been silent,” said Desai. Meanwhile, Hashmi believes that the biggest strength of Azhar is how realistic the drama is.
“Azhar presents a neutral point of view. Remember it was a taxing time for him. Lots of things were snatched away from him, but he kept his held high and that’s an endearing part of his personality … you will be inspired, entertained at this humane, humble tale,” said Hashmi.
Even without uttering the M word, Hashmi has shown us whose side he is playing for.