Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 4, 2025)
Filmmaker Anurag Basu’s battle with blood cancer started in 2004, when he was told he only has a few weeks left to live.
On World Cancer Day today, the 54-year-old shares how he gave himself ‘targets’ to achieve on his way to recovery: “It started with me wanting to see my unborn daughter’s face when my wife Tani was pregnant. Then it was to walk and touch a stool in the room.”
Anurag emphasizes that awareness is of utmost importance. “Even today, when someone in the family is diagnosed with it, we try to hide it, and not tell others. Jab tak aware nahin karenge, tab tak early diagnosis bhi nahin hoga,” he says, adding, “Life doesn’t get over if you are diagnosed with cancer. You should treat it like common cold… Isiliye main apne cancer ke baare mein khulke bolta hoon.”
’THERE WERE DATE ISSUES WITH TRIPTII’
Anurag Basu’s next starring Kartik Aaryan found itself in the middle of drama recently as rumours suggested that Triptii Dimri was removed from the film. There were reports that this was because ‘her image’ didn’t suit the role, after a string of bold roles.
Anurag clarifies to us, “Image was not the reason. I’m the last person to judge an actor on the basis of characters they play onscreen. Aashiqui was not even the story anymore… I don’t know the source of these stories.”
He cited dates as being the issue. “Triptii is shooting for a film with Vishal Bhardwaj, and my film goes on floors this month, too. Triptii is still my best friend,” he says, adding, “I don’t know what the film is called right now, the shoot starts this month. We haven’t finalized the female lead, it’ll be announced in a week.”
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Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 4, 2025)
Dance, drama and stories — filmmaker Anurag Basu enthralled his audience at the Kathakar International Storytellers Festival. From the story behind his cult hit Murder (2004)to the fate of Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Jagga Jasoos (2017), Anurag didn’t shy away from answering any questions.
‘I didn’t think it was the right story’
Murder, starring Emraan Hashmi and Mallika Sherawat, was a raging success. When asked about how he came on board to direct this film, the 54-year-old shared, “Mahesh Bhatt (director) sahab met me at the Delhi airport once, and I told him how I had left my first film as a director because of a fight. So, he gave me a chance to direct this film. Then I met Mukesh Bhatt (film producer and actor) sahab, and got to know about the plot. In response, I remember I said, ‘I don’t think it’s the right story’.”
He continued, “But Mukesh ji asked me, ‘Unfaithful (2002) film dekhi hai? [That is the idea]. Aur uss zamane mein yeh poocha jata tha ki ‘Kaunsi DVD bana rahe ho?’ So, I asked him, ‘Can I write the story myself, based on what I have heard and without necessarily watching Unfaithful?’ Now, I hope humari film alag bani.”
‘RANBIR WAS THE FIRST CHOICE FOR BARFI!’
Anurag’s collaboration, the 2012 film Barfi!, starring Ranbir Kapoor, received both critical acclaim and box office numbers. But fate wasn’t as kind to their next, Jagga Jasoos, as it didn’t notch up the desired box office collections.
But Anurag revealed that he was prepared for things to go south. “Hum banate banate darr rahe the. Ranbir even asked me, ‘Dadu, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) aur Jagga ke beech mein pehle kaunsi release karein?’ So, I told him, ‘Ae Dil… is a sure-shot hit. But I don’t know about Jagga’.”
He continued, “I am from the small town Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) and I know what people like watching. However, that doesn’t mean we’d stop making different content. Bahut pange the Jagga mein. Though the way you all applauded after hearing the film’s name now, it means a re-release could also be a good idea.”