'I'm very fond of Karena and Saif'

Kurbaan has received an ‘A' certificate from the censor board. Your comments.

It's an acceptable decision and we were expecting it because an ‘A' certificate without any cuts in the film is pretty fair. I'm happy to retain the entire film. The ‘A' certification may be because of the intimate scenes, violence and the sensitivity of the subject.

Kareena Kapoor trusted you completely while shooting the intimate scenes. Did you do anything special?

I'd love to say I did something but I didn't. I guess I'm very fond of her and have great respect for her. She's a sweet girl and one of the best actors of our generation. Actually I'm very fond of both Saif [Ali Khan] and Kareena; they make a lovely couple. As for the intimate scenes, I saw to it that the set was completely cleared out when she shot them. Besides, she knows we are not a unit that will exploit her in any way. She is very close to [producer] Karan [Johar]; she shot the scenes with her beau Saif. She's a good friend of mine. She was at complete ease on the sets.

What kind of obstacles did you face while shooting Kurbaan?

Kurbaan was a gruelling shoot. A lot of people dissuaded me from the project even though they are my well-wishers. We were supposed to shoot the film in London, but since the location was sensitive to the topic, we had to shift to Philadelphia. We shot in seven subway stations, in extreme conditions with temperatures as bad as -18° Celsius.

It was like shooting in a blizzard — terribly tough. One night, during an intense action scene, winds moving at 50 miles an hour literally lifted our cranes and equipment. Luckily no one fell sick. A year ago we were in the middle of recession and it was Karan's faith in me that let me do this enormous project. I will always remember this.

Why did you sign on Vivek Oberoi and why isn't he given importance in the promotions?

I think he's a very good actor and I've been a big fan of his work in Company and Saathiya. I always thought he was good for the role and Karan agreed too when we cast him. After seeing his work in the film we are convinced about our decision. As for the promotions, he has a full-fledged role, but if I put too much of his footage in the promos, it may reveal the plot.

What was Karan Johar's initial reaction when you narrated the script?

It's the other way around. One night he narrated the story to me and asked me if I wanted to write the screenplay. I was pleasantly surprised because he had this story for six years. I always knew Karan as the good romantic-drama writer and director. He certainly took me by surprise. I don't think anyone has seen a film like this, filled with romance, drama and a political note. It's got a lot of twists and turns. BM