In a recent interview, Sujoy Ghosh dished on many little-known facts about his past projects. While talking about 'Jaane Jaan', he revealed the false ideas sceptics had given him about Kareena Kapoor.
Sujoy Ghosh’s Jaane Jaan was showered with critical acclaim upon its release on Netflix. Not only did the mystery-thriller become one of the platform’s most watched releases of 2023, but it also captured international attention. It wasn’t just the film’s fantastic storytelling that was lauded. Kareena Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Vijay Verma, the cast members who led the film were also hailed for their stellar performances. However, if director, Sujoy had listened to others, Kareena may never have been in the film at all.
The film’s narrative of suspense and mystery called for a remote, small-town location with quiet streets. Kalimpong, Darjeeling fit the bill perfectly. However, in a recent interview with Mashable India, Sujoy Ghosh revealed how sceptics had responded to his desire to cast Kareena Kapoor for the role of ‘Maya D’Souza’.
Surprisingly, those sceptics weren’t basing their theories on Kareena not liking the role or the film. Instead, they thought the shooting location was going to be the biggest hurdle in convincing her. Sujoy told Mashable that many insisted:
“Kareena Kapoor would never agree to shoot there.”
Sujoy Ghosh took the opportunity to stand up for Kareena and clear the misconceptions surrounding her in his interview with Mashable. According to the director, there couldn’t be a bigger difference between the renowned actress’s public perception and her commitment to her work. He told Mashable:
“When you see someone publicly, it’s easy to form an opinion about them. Many told me Kareena would never shoot in Darjeeling, but that wasn’t the case. She committed fully to the project. Her dedication to work is commendable.”
Sujoy further elaborated on his motivations behind picking Kareena for the role. Talking about his thought process while writing a character, Sujoy said:
“When writing a character, I always create a face in my mind. When I was writing the role of a mother who works round the clock to support her child, with no time to prioritise herself, but still looks pretty, I see Kareena. Thankfully, when she agreed to take on the role, half my work was done. From that point on, it was up to her to drive the film forward.”
For the unversed, Jaane Jaan hit the OTT platform, Netflix on September 21, 2023. However, the idea to make the film in the first was born years prior in 2015. Sujoy’s Jaane Jaan is based on the Japanese thriller, Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino. And the director had initially wanted to cast Saif Ali Khan and Aishwarya Rai in the lead roles, but the project remained on the drawing board.
What do you think of Sujoy Ghosh’s revelations about Kareena Kapoor’s public perception and her work ethic? Let us know.
Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh Spots Hania Aamir In Crowd, Insists Her To Come Up On Stage And Sings 'Lover' For Her