Manish Chaudhari is all smiles. His big Republic Day release Sky Force was well-received and two weeks later, his 2016 film Sanam Teri Kasam was re-released and created history. Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to him a week after Sky Force’s release and asked him about one more film from his huge body of work which, like Sanam Teri Kasam, didn’t do that well and deserves to be back in cinemas – Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year (2009). Starring Ranbir Kapoor, it was a one-of-its-kind film in cinemas. There was no film of this kind before Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year or even after it came out more than 15 years ago.
EXCLUSIVE: After Sanam Teri Kasam, Manish Chaudhari now bats for re-release of Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year: “Its recall value has grown 50,000 times, thanks to OTT; I know some people who see it every month”
When asked about it, Manish Chaudhari said, “Rocket Singh is a great mix of cinema release and OTT. In theatres, it didn’t really work beyond a week. But its recall value has grown 50,000 times if not more, thanks to OTT. People watch it repeatedly. In fact, the repeat value of Rocket Singh has astounded me over the years. It came more than 15 years ago but people talk to me about it as we just shot it last year. I have come across so many people who have seen the film 5-6 times. Some have even told me, ‘Main har mahine woh picture dekhta hoon’!”
Manish continued, “Moreover, in the last 15 years, the sales business in the country has grown manifold. Those working in the sales department find the film very intriguing. Some have told me, ‘You remind us of our boss’ or ‘We are glad that our boss is not like you’ (laughs). Rocket Singh became the pillar on which my career then started getting built. “
When asked if he would like the film to re-release, Manish Chaudhari replied, “100%. I think most people haven’t seen the film in cinemas. Hence, it would be outstanding if the film can re-release as some other films have been.”
Manish worked with Ranbir Kapoor again in Bombay Velvet (2015). He stated, “We had a fantastic time working together in Rocket Singh. Then it took 4-5 years for us to work again in Bombay Velvet. We bonded immediately as if no time had passed in the middle. We met as if we had last met 2 days before. Hence, the bond with him has been very strong.”
How the actor nailed the role in Sanam Teri Kasam
Manish Chaudhari also opened up about Sanam Teri Kasam saying, “It is surprising how many people talk to me about that film as well. That is also a film that didn’t do too well. But it has a phenomenal recall value. After Rocket Singh, it is Sanam Teri Kasam that has the maximum recall value, in terms of the work that I have done, though I played the part of a horrible person (laughs)!”
Though he played to the gallery, he made sure he didn’t cross the line and hence, his performance worked. Manish explained, “That script was so emotionally charged and playing to the gallery was the heart of that film. We might call it ‘playing to the gallery’ but it’s what people took home.” He even spoke highly of the lead actors. He said, “Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane were spot on!”
He also opened up on how he prepped for the part saying, “I was very afraid to play a Telugu-speaking character as I know nothing about them. One of my South Indian friends from Andhra asked me to attend an Andhra wedding. I was wondering where to find such a wedding. I soon realized that such marriage must be happening in the Matunga area of Mumbai.”
So, did he gatecrash an Andhra wedding? Manish Chaudhari clarified, “I didn’t but I talked to the production team. I asked them to find a middle-class wedding in some community or marriage hall. I also told the team to approach the marriage party and ask them if I could make a visit. They agreed and I became part of the festivities. They also recognized me. I also noticed how they fed the guests and how the family members get together. I was a part of all three ceremonies of the wedding, from morning to evening. That became the cornerstone of my prep for Sanam Teri Kasam. There were 350 guests at the wedding and the number of things I could imbibe from them was astounding. To date, I am quite amazed at how I pulled it off. This marriage was one of the big reasons why I succeeded!”
Upcoming films
When asked about his next projects, Manish Chaudhari answered, “I have a Telugu film coming up which will release soon, starring Vijay Deverakonda and directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. We have almost finished filming and will start dubbing soon. It’ll be released simultaneously in Hindi and other languages. I have done an independent film, directed by Arnab Chatterjee. I am also a part of Aryan Khan’s series (The Ba***ds Of Bollywood) on Netflix.”
He signed off by talking about his love for theatre saying, “My wife Shruti Mishra and I run a company called ‘The Yellow Door Theatre’. She writes and she and I act in them. We also ask other actors to join us. With my shooting schedules, it does become a challenge but we try and push on as much as we can.”
Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor and Vijay Deverakonda join forces for VD 12; Animal actor lends his voice for teaser
More Pages: Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year Box Office Collection , Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year Movie Review
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