Chugging along merrily

Noted director Imtiaz Ali found an innovative way to promote “Tamasha” with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone

Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Imtiaz Ali travelling in the train from Mumbai to Delhi Photo PTI.

Travel is an intrinsic part of Imtiaz Ali’s films. Whether it was Jab We Met which captured the beauty of the Himalayas to Highway that gave a glimpse into the rural hinterland, he has a penchant for building his script around the travel. Along with the cast of the film, Imtiaz came to the Capital on a train to talk about his new film Tamasha, which has been picturised mainly on the Mediterranean island of Corsica . But the idea was not his but Deepika Padukone’s.

“Strangely, the idea was Deepika’s. Travelling is entertaining; it gives you a lot of time. It is dramatic. We have given our best shot; hope people like our film,” says Imtiaz, at a press conference at PVR Sangam in R.K. Puram.

Explaining what propelled her to make the request when a flight would have drastically reduced the travelling hours, Deepika says, “Individually, we all have travelled by train but we thought travelling collectively would be great fun. Whenever we got together as friends we used to talk about exploring new destinations, discovering new places to eat and catching up with friends. This film will make you travel and since we had to come to Delhi for the film’s promotion we thought it would be a good time to board the train.”

Interestingly, the Indian Railways did not go that extra yard for them. “I have been travelling in new trains without the company of stars and even then the trains have been spic and span. From Bombay we travelled by Suvidha Express (Coach No. A-4) and it was as good as it always is. Indian railways see to it that its trains are clean.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Deepika, a frequent train traveller while she was the State-level badminton player, says, “The experience was seamless; it felt good to travel by the train as everything was so clean. The loos were clean, service was amazing and moreover the food was so good. You get the best sleep in train. Honestly, I was very impressed with the way the whole thing was organised.”

Since the two actors have acted in Imtiaz Ali’s films, not together though, they were aware of the way the filmmaker weaves his stories. “We did not carry baggage of the past.

Tamasha has a simple story; it has been made to touch film-goer’s hearts,” says Ranbir.

As far as work is concerned, Imtiaz ensures he gets the best from each actor. There can be no compromise on acting or dialogue delivery. Foul mouthing is something which Deepika is not comfortable with but the director insisted that she had to mouth expletives.

“Abusive language is something which I cannot do. But I had to do it in my opening shot and that too on the first day,” says Deepika.

Praising Deepika for getting rid of her shyness, Imtiaz says, “Deepika is unusually sensitive and passionate.

She is a shy person but now the shyness does not come in the way of her performance. Today the nation loves her as she shows her true self.”