Had they not been my friends, they would have all walked out of this film a long time back," was director Aditya Datt's modest way of explaining why his stars were impeccably behaved on the sets of Will You Marry Me?.
Despite shooting for more than four hours in the sweltering heat with temperatures soaring above 36 degrees Celsius at the Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, actors including Mugdha Godse, Shreyas Talpade and Rajiv Khandelwal were in a jolly mood.
The scene to be shot on Saturday was a merry brunch scene by the beach and it was evident that they were intent on keeping their cool despite the harsh weather. To tabloid!'s surprise (and slight disappointment), there was not a single star tantrum on display.
Gallery: See pictures from the shoot
Armed with a sunny-yellow electric hand-fan, Godse had just one gripe.
"I wish I was in a bikini like these tourists behind me. I love the heat and I am a complete beach girl. But this make-up and this dress is a spoiler. I have to be very careful that I don't crease it," says Godse sliding onto a bar-stool in between her shots with utmost care.
Video: Bollywood backstage
A relative newcomer, Godse made her debut in 2008 with the hit Fashion.
"I love being in films and shooting in hard conditions comes as a part of the territory. We are all getting used to it. Also, I hope these guys come up with a hand-held electric fan which is bigger and more powerful. This yellow thingie is just God-sent."
Meanwhile, Shreyas Talpade who has acted in several hits including Om Shanti Om and Welcome To Sajjanpur is happy that the scene does not require him to be air-borne or at sea.
"The heat is bad but the other day I had to shoot some montage scenes in the choppy waters. The sea was very rough because of the cyclone Phet and it was pretty scary. Today, we need to just get our dialogues right and brave the heat," says Talpade. He plays an abrasive character who thinks the best way to woo a girl is to act like a loud-mouthed Casanova.
Generous mood
Though the stars were far more accommodating, the extras (more than 30 of them) were not in such a generous mood. Subhana Mohammad, 23, got inadvertently pulled into a Bollywood shooting sequence.
"I was here on a picnic and saw this shoot happening. At first, I thought being one of the brunch guests would be fun, but it's too hot and humid to have any fun. I have always loved Bollywood films but now I realise it's not as much fun making it," says Mohammad, who is being paid Dh100 for a day's work.
Meanwhile, Celina Jaitley who forms an integral part of the ensemble cast was taking the morning off. She was trying her best to keep her cool by indulging in a heavenly spa massage. "I feel like a cooked lobster. Look I have been so heavily sun-burnt that it's not funny. And the worst part is I had to shoot for a wedding dance sequence the other day with all the heavy jewellery rubbing against my skin. Believe me, it wasn't easy," says Jaitley.
But like the rest of the cast, she too agrees that it's all in a day's work for actors.
Will You Marry Me? is expected to hit the theatres early next year.
Director’s cut: Aditya Datt
Why did you choose Fujairah as your shooting location?
Will You Marry Me? is a very young film and the scenes we are shooting here is a beach wedding. These days, Indian weddings are venturing outdoors so this resort seemed like a perfect spot. Though I though of Pattaya or Bangkok at first, I realised that those location have already been explored in many Bollywood films. Fujairah had a definite edge.
What's the toughest part about shooting here?
The heat. The actors often turn to me and say: ‘Dude, when is the heat going to let up?'. I empathise with them. But we directors operate on dates and the availability of the stars. This is my first experience too because I have earlier shot in London and Mumbai.
Will You Marry Me? has a talented ensemble cast? But, do you miss having a big star around?
Times have changed and having a big star in your film does not make it a hit. I prefer to give the benefit of the doubt to some talented actors who have the hunger to finish a film. And let's face it, when you have a big star it's difficult to keep the budget in check and all this affects your box-office ratings.
Shreyas Talpade
Tell us more about Will You Marry Me?
It's a complete entertainer and this is what I call an ideal masala picture with songs, dance and drama. Adi's films are all 70mm with some good-looking actors.
What was the most memorable shooting scene in the UAE?
The skydiving scene shot in Dubai was phenomenal. What made it even more challenging was the fact that I had to mouth a few dialogues before making the plunge. I was petrified and my only question to our diving instructor was: 'What if the parachute doesn't open on time?'. But fortunately, everything worked out well. I felt like a bird.
How do you think this film will change your career?
I want every film of mine to be a revelation for every viewer, director, and production houses. I want them to see facets of my acting that they have never seen before.
Celina Jaitley
How's the experience of shooting in Fujairah?
It's a lovely location to shoot. Believe me, I have been to some dreadful locations. The heat is not as tough as being in New Zealand in freezing cold in the middle of the night. And the spa massages have really helped me keep my cool.
What was the most challenging scene to shoot?
Dancing in heavy bridal skirts and even heavier metallic jewellery. Believe me, shooting a wedding sequence is no fun. I even had a rash wherever the jewellery was and I had scratches all over my body. It was not a pretty sight.
What's your mantra to keep your cool in this heat?
Go off your BlackBerry, switch off the internet, Twitter and stare at the sea. It's very therapeutic.
What next?
I will be off to Mumbai today to shoot for a song for Subhash Ghai and then will be back in Dubai to launch a sari collection for Jashn.
Hair and there
Say hello to hairstylist Sharda Singh who is given the task to keep the hair in check especially when humidity plays spoilsport."I am using gels and styling creams like never before. For Shreyas, I have to keep in mind that he is wearing a wig and that it needs to look natural while for Rajiv he needs to keep his hair wavy without being all over the place."
Her go-to products: Schwarzkoff Hair products and L'Oreal styling gel.
