Exclusive: Tehran’s director suspects his existence in Bollywood
Arun Gopalan’s ‘Tehran’ challenges the typical Bollywood detective films with a sensitive political story. The film sheds light on the Indo-Iran-Israel struggle, focusing on the human attitude beyond politics.
Bollywood seems to be influx of detectives and investigative officers. Salman Khan’s tiger, Shah Rukh Khan’s plateau and Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir have created their universe, in which John Abraham has recently stepped into a special cell officer, who is investigating an Israeli diplomatic bombing in ‘Tehran’.
While fans can be wooed to keep the film with these big-to-life detective thriller, director Arun Gopalan insisted that he never saw it.
In a special conversation with India today, the filmmaker admitted that he has little knowledge of other films because he does not really follow Bollywood cinema.
He said, “I have not seen ‘Tehran’ as a detective film. For me, it was just a story that was interesting, and I had to tell it in a special way. I never compared it to any other film. I know that I could not make a film in that template,” he said with laughter.
Asked how she makes a plan to survive in Bollywood, if she does not even watch most of her films, Arun was in a hurry to accept that she would not think she would do it. “Oh my God, I will not do it. I feel like a misfit on so many levels. I never thought that I will make a feature film, but now it is done, this box is ticking. I am fine if I don’t make someone else (movies). If I do so, I do not think about living in Bollywood?
At the same time, the filmmaker revealed that he is already working on many ideas and enjoying the process of writing. Meeting new and interesting people in the industry, he said, gradually changing his belief of Bollywood. “Things are looking bright, so let’s see, fingers have crossed.”
Talking about attracting her to ‘Tehran’ to direct a feature film, Arun recalled that the pitch hit himself a raga. “This is a film where an official feels that India cannot be a battleground for two warning countries. As as an idea, it seemed right. For me, it was a test to tell this story without pointing to anyone, and still true to the incident.”
He said that he personally considers Iran a Dalit, and his praise increased while working with an Iranian actor of the film, Afshar. “People are so good, gentle people. Hearing Afshar’s stories and attitudes, it was so depth to me in the film and as a person.”
When came to the headlines with the global discourse around Israel and Iran, ‘Tehran’ essentially entered a politically sensitive location. As we thought of navigating that place, Arun was clear that, for him, it was important to keep the story to the right. He said, “I want to stand on the right side of history. This is very clear for me. I am always right.”
After premiered on Zee5, the film released a global release on Netflix over the weekend.
While Arun Gopalan mentioned that he had no hand in the two-platform deal, he admitted that it only helps the film to reach the big audience. He also shared how he avoids reading any review because it gives an ‘unnecessary concern’.
