Director Kabir Sadanand will never forget a remark that came his way after the trailer launch of Fugly, releasing in the UAE this weekend.
“Someone said: ‘Fugly takes off from where Rang De Basanti ended’,” said Sadanand. The acclaimed 2006 Aamir Khan-starrer chronicled the life of a bunch of 20-somethings who were disillusioned by their country and detached from politics. It took a foreign documentary filmmaker to stoke their patriotism. It was a Delhi-set film that blended romance, history and drama well. While many may consider the comparisons of Fugly with RDB hyperbolic, Sadanand claims that he’s out to make a film that will propel the youngsters in India to take charge.
“It’s a journey about four regular city kids from different pockets of Delhi. They have easy money and are removed from what’s going on around them. But certain circumstances force them to change their attitude. We are not trying to be preachy, but the message is loud and clear,” said Sadanand.
Produced by Akshay Kumar’s production company Grazing Goat Pictures, Fugly doesn’t boast popular actors such as Khan, In Fugly, Bollywood’s talented-but-underrated actor Jimmy Shergill is the only known face. Is that a drawback?
“My script demanded newcomers as I wanted to bring out the point that young people are very strong. Established actors won’t work here. Our casting process was tedious and we gave a lot of thought into who played those parts,” said Sadanand.
Of late, movie fans have readily accepted films devoid of stars such as the recent Filmistaan and Hawaa Hawaai, which could bolster Sadanand’s case.
tabloid! introduces you to the new four faces that make up Fugly. While they all agree that their debut film is a tale of their fight against anything or anyone ugly, each of them have a different story to tell...
Meet... Vijender Singh
“I am the muscleman-turned-actor. I am a boxer from Haryana with no formal degree in acting. But Bollywood invariably attracts you on some level. While sporting is my passion, I am convinced that you can sometimes enjoy the best of both worlds. I have grown up watching Bollywood films and admire Amitabh Bachchan sir, Aishwarya Rai and Akshay [Kumar, co-producer of Fugly] sir.”
Q: How would you describe Fugly in three words?
A: Fight, fun, friends. The title stands for your fight against anything or anyone that represents ugly.
Q: How did your get your first acting role?
A: I got the role because of Akki paaji [elder brother]. I met Akshay [Kumar] in 2008 during a social fight organised by Make A Wish Foundation and we have been close since. I am his fan since he is an actor and an athlete. It all began after Akshay sir invited me for Singh Is King premiere and we spoke briefly. One day, he called me on my phone while I was in my village: ‘Hi, I am Akshay Kumar.’ At first, I didn’t believe him, but he said: ‘No, it’s really me’. We got talking and stayed in touch. He suggested that I try my hand at films. I told him to alert me if anything suitable cropped up. The next thing I know, I was asked to come and audition for Fugly.
Q: If you could bring about a change in India, what would it be and why?
A: Bring on some stringent and tougher laws for all those who abuse their position of power. Whether it’s a politician, lawyer or a doctor, there has to be accountability for misuse of power.
Q: Which established Bollywood star would you compare yourself to at this point in time?
A: Salman Khan, because we both have brawn and brains.
Q: Fugly is said to be today’s answer to Rang De Basanti. What’s your take on it?
A: Rang De Basanti was a big hit, so I’m very honoured that Fugly is being spoken of in the same breath. If Fugly is as successful as Rang De Basanti, we will be elated.
Meet... Kiara Advani
“I grew up in South Mumbai. It may sound cliched but I have always dreamt of becoming an actor. I have grown up watching Yash Chopra and Karan Johar movies and knew that I would somehow end up as an actor. So, when the script of Fugly reached me, there were six pages of character sketch about Devi, the role I eventually played. It made me realise the extent to which director Kabir Sadanand was invested in his characters. I knew I had to prepare well for my auditions. Devi is based in Delhi, while I was an out-and-out Mumbai girl. I gave it some thought and landed up for auditions dressed exactly how I imagined a girl from Delhi would carry herself. When I was convinced I was Devi, the producers and directors got convinced too.”
Q: Why should we watch Fugly and what is the story behind it?
A: Fugly stands for fight the ugly and is a clarion call for everyone to speak out on issues that affect us. It’s a film that’s guaranteed to strike a chord in everyone, age no bar. It’s not just a story of four close friends, but it shows you how certain circumstances derail their lives and how they unite to tackle their dysfunctional society. There’s friendship, there’s rebellion, there’s masala, there’s a social message and some great songs.
Q: Did you always want to be an actor? Which Bollywood film and actor left a lasting impression on you and why?
A: I am the eldest among all children in my family and I was always in charge of putting together dance performances for our family get-togethers. Plus, I would be annoyed if my mother didn’t focus the camera on my face. So, I can safely say that I have always wanted to be an actor. While growing up, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor were my idols. Their elegance, beauty and grace — almost ethereal — fascinated me. They are divas, in the true sense of the word.
Q: How did you get the offer for Fugly?
A: The script bowled me over. I knew instantly that this was the kind of film that I wanted to debut in. From then on, it was Fugly on my mind. There was a lull between my audition and the call from the production house. For a long time, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get the role. But when that call finally came, I was crying and laughing at the same time. I will never forget the euphoria I felt when I knew I got my dream role.
Q: Can you share a few anecdotes that were memorable during the filming of Fugly?
A: There were pranks, fights and forging bonds among the four of us. Arfi and I were crowned the pranksters of Fugly because I was always goading him to do some mischief or the other between our takes. At one time, we were caught impersonating our director Kabir. Somebody from the sets caught it on camera and showed it to him. That was a scary-yet-funny moment in our lives. My favourite part of filming was our scenes shot in Leh in Ladakh. I rode a bike on that beautiful, rugged terrain and we were brave enough to enter the freezing Pangong lake for the song Banjarey. These are moments that will forever remain in my heart.
Q: Describe director Kabir Sadanand and producer Akshay Kumar’s working style?
A: Kabir is an absolute taskmaster. For every scene, he created an atmosphere on the sets that would bring out the emotions we were supposed to portray. Our workshops were gruelling and Kabir ensured we could relate completely to our characters. One day, he asked me to look him in the eye and abuse him. It was unnerving because he’s my guru and abusing him felt wrong. Akshay [Kumar] is a superstar in every sense of the word. His discipline is admirable. He would always arrive five minutes before his call time and he wrapped up a rap sequence in the title track within minutes of reaching there.
Q: Keeping in mind the theme of Fugly, if you could bring about a change in India, what would it be and why?
A: A better, faster and transparent judicial system. Today, there are too many atrocities against women. A woman’s body is treated as a play thing. And if we can’t feel safe in our homes, then where are we supposed to go? It’s getting ugly for women out here and something needs to be done.
Q: Fugly is said to be today’s answer to Rang De Basanti. What’s your take on it?
A: Fugly is a film about four friends who challenge a dysfunctional society and its judicial system. Our aim is to reach out and connect to as many people as possible. Rang De Basanti is a timeless film and has become a cult classic. I hope Fugly achieves that same connect.
Meet... Mohit Marwah
“I was born in Delhi but moved to Mumbai to pursue acting, a dream since childhood. I met many casting directors and put my portfolio out there. It was during one of those meetings that I got a call for Fugly auditions. I was asked to audition for the role of Dev. They liked me but were not too sure at first. So they made me go through six rounds of auditions and made me play out different scenes till they were convinced that I could do justice to Dev.”
Q: What’s your biggest fear as an actor who’s gearing up for his Bollywood debut?
A: Gaining acceptance as an actor. Sometimes, you may have everything going for you but the audiences may not accept you. If they let you in, then you have made it in Bollywood.
Q: Keeping in mind the theme of Fugly, if you could bring about a change in India, what would it be and why?
A: Fugly will provoke you into thinking. It will tell people to take responsibility and to be the change.
Q: What was the most challenging bit about Fugly?
A: Dev and I are two different personalities. I am an extrovert and love talking. For Dev, his silence speaks volumes and he is a keen observer of life. So, I had to unlearn what I knew and prepare for my role.
Q: Which co-star evoked admiration, jealousy or both?
A: I admire Vijender. He’s been an Olympic winner and I drew a lot from his focus and dedication. I admire Kiara for her hard work, while Arfi is a method actor who prepares well before every scene.
Meet... Arfi Lamba
Q: How did you get your first acting role?
A: I knew director Kabir [Sadanand] much before Fugly. We were friends and I knew he was auditioning for actors for his film but he never asked me to try it out. Strangely, I felt left out because he would often discuss the story and characters at length with me. One day, we were at an airport waiting to board a flight and we were discussing Aditya, the role that I eventually played. I cracked a joke about owning a toilet store and measuring people’s a****. He was laughing so hard and asked me to audition immediately. We even included that joke in the film.
Q: Did you always want to be an actor?
A: I have grown up on Dilip saab’s [Kumar] and Dharamji’s [Dharmendra] films as my father has been a huge fan of them. Stars such as Akshay Kumar inspire me because they have made it on their own steam. I came to Mumbai thinking a top producer such as the late Yashji [Chopra] would spot me and make me an overnight star. Now thinking about it, I would have been lucky if I could bag the role of a tree in his film. So, acting has always been on my to-do list.
Q: Tell us about your role?
A: I play Aditya, who’s a virgin by choice. He’s that friend in a group who’s sometimes mocked at. During crisis, his friends make him a fattu [a butt of all jokes]. He’s got middle class values and is cute. It was not easy bringing all those elements in.
