Taj 2 director thinks Naseeruddin was impressed by personal father to play Akbar | Net Sequence

In an interview with Hindustan Instances, Vibhu Puri opened up about engaged on the second season of Taj and likewise shared his expertise of working with lead actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Aashim Gulati. He additionally shared his response to the now lacking chapter of Mughal historical past in class textbooks in India. Excerpts:

Can we credit score the present’s success to the artistic liberties which were taken within the present?

We do not actually know that as a result of historical past is rarely impartial. No matter historical past we’ve got learn, is from somebody’s standpoint or the opposite. We do not actually know what precisely occurred. We spoke to a variety of historians after which got here to conclusions. This seems believable, may need occurred, let’s do that. For instance, Anarkali was by no means an individual – it was a title, like a navratan. Daniyal’s mom was a concubine and a concubine was once a king’s favorite, she would have been an Anarkali then. Salim cherished an Anarkali. We simply put issues collectively to make it extra viewers pleasant. Our intention was to inform in regards to the Mughal empire however in a fashion that the commonest denominator would be capable of get pleasure from it and perceive it. Within the course of, you make the viewers conscious of that point, these folks, their likes and dislikes.

Why has there been a shift in directorial roles? First season was directed by Ronald Scalpello.

Producers can reply this higher. Really, we shot each the seasons collectively. For anyone to have the ability to articulate and shoot for 200 odd days may be very taxing. So Ronald did season 1 and I did season 2. We shared one another’s burden and will focus extra. There was additionally a brand new perspective as season 2 is extra emotional, how Salim comes again to Agra. There are fully completely different journeys of characters within the new season. Contemplating Ronald just isn’t from India and has not learn the historical past, he went on to do a superb job. I hope I’ve been capable of take the present ahead. We met solely 4-5 instances and I had not seen something a lot of season 1 as a result of we have been capturing concurrently. I’m glad they (two seasons) look comparable and the credit score goes to the textual content we’ve got. It’s written by William Borthwick and Simon Fantauzzo who wrote the 2 seasons collectively. They have been commissioned by producer Abhimanyu Singh, who has executed historicals all his life. I do not know what I might have executed had I been given to direct a present on German historical past. However these guys haven’t even grown up right here and executed it so properly regardless.

Naseeruddin Shah was seen as a weak king, he nearly grew to become Akbar together with his efficiency. What’s his working fashion?

We now have grown beneath the affect of how Mughals have been, how Akbar was, due to Mughal-e-Azam during which Prithviraj Kapoor performed a really stern, outdated, patriarchal Akbar. After which we had Hrithik Roshan in Jodha Akbar, who once more was a really straight-jacketed and referred to as spade a spade. However Naseeruddin Shah has made it so endearing, so actual, particularly within the second season. He’s a father who’s making an attempt to amend his errors, he goes out to even apologise to his queen for killing Behram Khan, he’s very progressive and a feminist. He has acquired the bones of an actual outdated man. He wished to play very, very actual. He by no means stated this to me but when I’m not mistaken, he has primarily based his efficiency on his personal father, his abba and the way he would have reacted to such a state of affairs.

In actuality, Naseer saab are three brothers and he has been a insurgent whereas the others are extra standard and orthodox in life. He was the one who did theatre, went to movies. He was the least educational amongst his brothers. He would equate himself to Salim and Akbar to his father. They have been his actual life instincts and that is what makes it very actual. He has executed it extremely properly.

Aashim Gulati advised HT that he did not get any time to maneuver from his enjoyable loving character within the first season to play a insurgent within the second. How did you assist him out?

The great factor is I by no means noticed something from season 1. There have been even days when Ronald was capturing his bits and I used to be capturing my bits, possibly with completely different actors. The credit score goes to the whole crew, particularly Aashim who did it with a lot ease. I interpreted characters the best way I may. Aashim is a beautiful actor with nice potential. He’s so educated and so skilled, I actually love him lots. The best way he reworked his voice, his gaze, his physique language is unimaginable. He has been capable of mix it so properly.

Had been there any difficult scenes throughout the filming?

I like Akbar’s demise, it acquired a variety of drama as a result of it was all about what would occur subsequent. I like Manbai’s demise and the scene earlier than she died by suicide when she breaks down, Daniyal and Salim’s final face off to Dharmendra and Naseeruddin’s final assembly; there are such a lot of emotionally-charged scenes. The scene when Khurram meets grandmother Jodha when she is praying to the moon and asks her if his father was at all times a insurgent. Additionally when Akbar apologises to Salima for Behram Khan’s demise. I had beautiful actors who did all of it with such ease.

Taj launched at a time when Mughal historical past was faraway from textbooks. It will have a really completely different impression on youngsters. Your response.

I might say this was extra politically motivated than anything. Rulers change and have their very own algorithm and likes and dislikes. This has been true with historical past. Bhagat Singh is our martyr however was any person else’s terrorist. That is the great thing about historical past that you should reinvent it and preserve relooking at it with completely different views. On the finish of the day, it is essential for youths to learn it. I do not suppose Mughals have been plunderers. They got here with an intention to rule and so they did. They made this a part of the world their house. They weren’t just like the British who got here, looted us and one superb day went again once more, dividing the nation.

Akbar was very secular, he by no means requested Jodha Bai to vary her faith and based a faith referred to as Din-e-Ilahi which was for everybody. He opposed his kingsmen who stated he ought to tax the Hindus. His important man Man Singh was his confidant, his military common. His chief advisor Birbal was Hindu. We now have very subtly tried to place all this in our present.

Historical past teaches you tips on how to be harmonious. It teaches tips on how to keep away from battles and be extra tolerant about one another’s faiths and practices.

Do not you suppose historical past will now be the way it’s proven in movies and exhibits?

Historical past may be very open. If I name a star a star, 20 years later, somebody could name it a meteorite and another person could name it a planet. Historical past and science are at all times evolving, they aren’t hardcore truths we have to consider in. We have to preserve questioning, redefining issues and preserve taking it in our stride. One should study goodness from it.

Is there an replace on season 3?

I’m positive as a result of we’ve got planted so many issues, the anticipation is so excessive. Expectations are excessive, we’re working in the direction of it. If we’re capable of write it properly, we can be wanting to be again.