Sunday, May 11, 2003		In The Spotlight

Janasheen is close to my heart: Feroze Khan
Gautam Grover

FEROZE Khan makes a comeback on the screen after nearly a decade with Janasheen, which stars son Fardeen and himself in pivotal roles and introduces beauty queen Celina Jaitley.

Feroze Khan. Two words that stand for stylised cinema, glamour, sophistication and complete entertainment.

The most charismatic Khan of the Indian screen, Feroze, injected oomph, western music and style into Hindi cinema that was largely confined to desi-isms. The yuppie cowboy hat and boots became a trademark of the Feroze Khan persona. If he gave class and suaveness to the Hindi hero, he also gave glamour to the heroine. The leading ladies of his films, from Hema Malini to Zeenat Aman have never looked as beautiful as they did in Khan’s films Dharmatma and Qurbani.

If the special number Har kisiko nahin milta`85 in Jaanbaaz changed the way the industry viewed Sridevi, the picturisation of Aap jaisa koi (Qurbani) changed the way songs were shot.

If Feroze Khan’s Apradh introduced the Hindi film audiences to car racing, his Janasheen, which is racing towards completion, has shot the World Mobike Championship on the Indian screen for the first time. Presenting a t`EAte-`E0-t`EAte with the ‘king of all Khans’, Feroze Khan.

Janasheen is a romantic thriller. It is a story of love, desire and pain. It is the story of a young man (Fardeen Khan) whose ambition is to become the world’s mobike racing champion. He is estranged from his father and lives in Australia. His past and present catch up with him when he gets back to India. How he survives the entire emotional drama is part of the story.

It is also the story of an older man from Afghanistan (played by Feroze Khan himself), who has lost his family in the Russian invasion of the ‘80s. He is a powerful person and becomes a foster father to the young man, little knowing that his interests clash with that of the boy’s father.
It is also the story of a girl (Celina Jaitley) who loves this boy from childhood, but gets separated from him. The relationship between them is also part of the drama.

t is very difficult to say. I am personally involved in every film that I make. Every film at the given time is very-very special for me. I have loved and lived and died in agony and ecstasy during each film. I have had my ups and downs, but each film has left an indelible impression in my heart.
Janasheen is special because I am working along with my son (Fardeen) for the first time. In Prem Aggan, I just made a guest appearance. I have not been performing for close to 10 years. I decided to be part of the cast in Janasheen because I felt the role of the Afghan tycoon was cut out for my personality. So, Janasheen, as the word suggests, is close to my heart.

It is the first time that I am working with Fardeen. It is the first time I am working in 10 years. It is the first time that the World Mobike Racing Championship has been picturised in an Indian film. Besides these, this is the first film for former Miss Universe Celina Jaitley. And, for the first time ever, I have worked with four music directors.

I didn’t want to be restricted to one composer. I selected the best tunes that were sent to me by different composers. The choice of songs have been decided by the situations in the film. I would say it is the best music in the string of films in my life.

More difficult! Of course we are friends, discuss everything under the sun and are easy going. But despite all this it doesn’t become any easy because the relationship can’t be ruled out. It is difficult to perform in front of each other and act out emotions.

Well, I am a lover of beauty, and believe in presenting it well. I have worked with some of the best heroines of our times, from Mumtaz, Hema Malini, Rekha, Zeenat Aman, Sridevi, Manisha Koirala to Madhuri Dixit. Now, I am working with Celina Jaitley.

As you mentioned, I have presented my heroines in glamourous roles. But, that is because the roles demanded it. I have presented Madhuri in a village background in Dayavan. What can I say, I am a man amongst men, but probably better among women.

Mumtaz! But, I have had a lovely rapport with whomever I have worked with, whether it’s Zeenat, Hema or Sridevi. I can’t work with anybody I don’t like no matter how good or big they are. That is the reason I have refused many big films in my career.

You have been known as a director technically much ahead of the times. Where does your inspiration come from?
In my early career I used to work with Wadia brothers. They were in those times way ahead in technique and action. Since I knew that I wanted to be a director, I tried to imbibe the best and the most from them. LMN