Amit Sadh, Jim Sarbh and Manjari Fadnnis are selective when it comes to signing films or shows. Hence, when they back a venture, you can be assured of a quality product. As a result, one can’t help but expect a lot from their film Pune Highway, which releases in cinemas on May 16. Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to them and had a blast. The three of them are a riot together and the banter they had during this conversation was seen to be believed.
EXCLUSIVE: Amit Sadh, Jim Sarbh roast Manjari Fadnnis while talking about Ratatouille, Sabudana Khichdi and delayed shoots – How Manjari’s lunchbox became a plot twist on Pune Highway sets
Jim, you have worked with Rahul DaCunha’s Rage before while Amit and Manjari, you had worked in Bugs Bhargava Krishna’s Barot House (2021). Did the fact that you guys have worked before the makers motivate you further into signing Pune Highway?
Jim Sarbh: I had worked in a play, The Glass Menagerie; though it was a Rage production, Rahul wasn’t involved in it at that time. But I have known them for ages. I have seen Bugs on stage so many times. 90% of the time, he’s my favourite person in the play that I watched! The first time, I was like ‘Who’s that actor’. Then, whenever I would know that Bugs in a play, I would be like ‘Oh, great’ each time. I have also known Rahul for years. We have been trading puns; he’s very pun-ny! When they wanted to narrate the play to me, I was very excited. I knew about the play though I hadn’t seen it. I also knew that one of my favourite actors-directors was in it at one point, Rehaan Engineer. After the narration, they offered me the part of Vishnu. He was my favourite during the narration anyway and hence, I was on.
The film took a while to release. How does it feel that a film, which you know has substance, gets delayed? Did that make you restless?
Amit Sadh: Not really. I am proud of the fact that this team spent a lot of time on post-production. So, it’s not like the film was getting delayed. When you’ll see the film, you’ll realize that a great play has been well-adapted into celluloid. You’ll also focus on the sound, colour correction and foley and you’ll realize that there’s technical finesse. Of course, there are fun moments and good storytelling, acting, direction, etc. Kudos to Bugs and Rahul. When you have so much money riding, you would want to get it out faster. To hold onto the film, to have conviction and to put time, money and effort into a film is rare.
We have genuinely done this film out of sheer commitment to our craft. We just can’t wait for people to go out and sample the film. These days, this term is very much common right, ‘sample the movie’. I hate that word though!
The trailer is so cool and with just one dialogue. Are you happy that the trailer is not giving out much about the film?
Jim Sarbh: Yes. Sometimes, they give out the whole story in the trailer (laughs). In a thriller, you have to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, even in a trailer. There are lot of twists and turns in a film; different people that get investigated and the dynamics within the group.
Amit Sadh: And then Manjari gets caught in the end as the killer!
Manjari, how do you feel about the guys taking your case?
Manjari Fadnnis: I am used to it.
Amit Sadh: She’s used to being the centre of attraction. How modest she is!
Manjari Fadnnis: On a serious note, this has been my favourite team since a very long time. This was my first time working with Jim and it was absolutely fantastic. Bugs, Amit and I had earlier worked in Barot House and the camaraderie we shared was beautiful.
Amit Sadh: Manjari used to also cook food and bring it for us.
Jim Sarbh: Yes
Amit Sadh: The next day, the shooting would get delayed as everyone’s stomach used to ache!
Manjari Fadnnis: (Laughs) No. I am a good cook. I bought the food for myself which I was not planning to share with anybody. They forcefully ate from my plate.
What did you cook?
Manjari Fadnnis: I made Ratatouille. And then I also made Sabundana Khichdi
Jim: (Exclaims loudly) Oh, that was delicious!
Manjari Fadnnis: Thank you, Jim. Amit meanwhile had my Pav Bhaji during Barot House.
It’s also heartening to see the film releasing on the big screens. Does that excite you guys as well that despite not being the Marvel superhero kind of a flick, Pune Highway will get a theatrical release?
Jim Sarbh: I love going to the cinemas and I am going to continue going to the cinemas. I don’t think that it’s going to change. I would love to watch every movie on the big screen. I am very happy that things eventually come to streaming and I am happy that there are original streaming films as well. However, there are times when I wish I had seen a particular film or for that matter, even a web show, in cinemas with my friends. There’s something about that collective experience that can’t be replicated.
Amit Sadh: Also, the Dolby sound.
Jim Sarbh: Yeah. You can’t get that sound unless you wear headphones. Still, you can’t experience it fully.
Amit Sadh: When you buy a ticket for a film, it’s like booking an appointment to watch a film. You are then ready to go to a different realm. In your house, your phone might ring, somebody might be at the door.
Jim Sarbh: The cat might meow! Or you’ll be hungry and you’ll get up something to eat.
Manjari Fadnnis: And then you pause it.
Nowadays, people also watch the film at 1.5x speed…
Amit Sadh: That’s an injustice to a film. In fact, an alarming incident happened. A family went to watch a film in a theatre. The kid took the father’s phone, thinking it was a remote control, and tried to fast-forward the film! That’s how our brain is getting used to the whole thinking, thanks to the Reels culture.
What will you guys do on May 16, the day the film is out in cinemas?
Manjari Fadnnis: I’d like to go to the cinemas to watch the film with the audience. I always do that.
Amit Sadh: She books one whole screen for herself. Every 5 minutes, she changes seats!
Jim Sarbh: She wants to see the film from all possible angles.
Amit Sadh: She is like ‘Main yahaan se kaisi dikh rahi hoon?’, ‘Main wahaan se kaisi dikh rahi hoon?’!
What about you, Jim and Amit?
Jim Sarbh: I like to go out and see the film once, not with the screener or premiere audience, but with regular moviegoers.
Amit Sadh: I have not reached that stage of thought. But I am looking forward to watching it with the whole cast.
Jim Sarbh: I’m looking forward to watching the film in the first place! I am the only one who hasn’t seen it.
Amit Sadh: I’ll show Jim the alternate version, in which Manjari is the murderer!
Amit, it’s great to see your posts on travelling. More than a year ago, you expressed the desire to go on a bike ride to Mongolia. Any update on that front?
Amit Sadh: It’s on the list. I am also planning a trip to South America.
Jim Sarbh: South America will be fun.
Amit Sadh: Jim, you should join. I’ll share the itinerary with you. You’d love it. At least, come for a few days. I want to start from Cuba and then go down South. I have done a semi-recce. There’s also a career and passion called movies, which I also need to balance! So, it’s Pune Highway first and then…
Cuban Highway?
Jim Sarbh: Based on our experience, that can be a sequel to Pune Highway!
Amit Sadh: Maybe, we can do our version of The Motorcycle Diaries (2004). Two people went on a journey and what changed between them and their perspective. Adventure does affect you in long-lasting and meaningful ways.
Manjari: I hope it doesn’t have to be an all-boys trip.
Amit: You’ll be there too with us.
Jim: True. After all, someone has to die!
Also Read: Anurag Kashyap SLAMS CBFC smoking warnings in Sinners, says it ruins the immersive experience
More Pages: Pune Highway Box Office Collection
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