Himesh: Desi Michael Jackson

It's not very clearly known at what point Satish Kaushik decided to pay a homage to one of his favourite colleagues and associates Subhash Ghai. But when Himesh invited Satosh to hear his tunes for the neo-Karz, Satish was won over.

But homage it was,when Satish decided to remake Ghai's Karz.

"But in a totally modern idiom. The story will be transposed from Oooty to a foreign location. We're looking at various possibilities in Europe," says Satish excitedly. "Karz is a dream come true. Himesh Reshammiya is like the Michael Jackson of India.

So we've four brand equities coming together for the Karz re-make—Subhash Ghai, Himesh, Bhooshan Kumar's T Series,and me and Anupam Kher's Karol Bagh Films who will be the online producers on behalf of T Series."

What changes will Satish bring into the new Karz? "The locations, of course. This will be a 25-30 crore budgeted film. And Himesh's tracks have to be heard to be believed! When I heard them I was stunned.

Himesh and I go back a long way. He has done the music for four of my films including Tere Naam which was a turning point in Himesh's career."

Speaking about Himesh The Actor, Satish says, "I'm capable of extracting performances from my actors. Tusshar Kapoor is yet to equal his success in my Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai. Himesh has already proved himself a success as an actor. Now we've to build on that."

The crucial question on the Karz casting. Who will play the other key role played by Simi Garewal in the original?

"It has to be lady with a great grace, poise, mystique and seductive quality living alone in this secluded mansion. I've to find someone who fits the bill fast."

Satish discounts the rumour that the roles of the two protagonists before and after the reincarnation will be turned into a double role for Reshammiya.

"No. we'll have another actor for the first role, while Himesh will play the character reborn as a rock star. I'll try to stick to the spirit of Subhash Ghai's film as much as possible. What a film that was! Will I be able to do justice to it?"

What qualified him for the job? "I think it was the way I filmed those lavish songs and dances in Roop Ki Rani Choron Ki Raja. Karz requires a lot of on-stage direction."

Himesh in 'Karz' remake

The suspense is over! Himesh Reshammiya's second release as an actor, after AAP KAA SURROOR, will be produced by T-Series' head honcho Bhushan Kumar. Now here's something vital on the project: It'll be a remake of Subhash Ghai's smash hit KARZ. Incidentally, Himesh had crooned a number from the film, 'Dar-e-dil dard-e-jigar', in AAP KA SURROOR.

Himesh will be playing the part that Rishi Kapoor had enacted in the original. The other characters -- Tina Munim, Simi Grewal, Raj Kiran, Durga Khote and Pran -- are in the process of finalization. To be made on an extravagant scale, the remake of KARZ will have fresh tunes composed by Himesh. In fact, Himesh has decided on a makeover for this film.

Meanwhile, Ghai has decided against remaking films produced by Mukta Arts himself. A text message to this writer says it all: “How can I remake my own scripts, when I am looking ahead at newer ideas? But, I am sure, the remake of KARZ will be welcomed by the present-day generation and I wish luck to Bhushan and Himesh.”

Hats off to the man with the cap

His is truly the most surprising success stories in the history of Indian cinema… his nasal twang and aspiring acting careers was the butt of many jokes… but he combated all that criticism and emerged victorious when his film opened to an unprecedented response… love him or hate him... you can not deny his brand value… hats off to the man with the cap… Himesh Reshammiya is the next guest on 'Koffee with Karan'.

Excerpts from the interview:

Karan: Welcome to Koffee with Karan Himesh… how does it feel to be on the show?
Himesh: Superb!

Karan: Firstly, congratulations on the super success of your film… I know a large section of the industry was surprised… but were you expecting this kind of success?
Himesh: I think… I just believed in God, destiny and somewhere I think everyone just prayed for me and that is something that worked for me

Karan: By everyone, you mean who, large sections of the industry were not praying for you…
Himesh: No, no… only that 1 %… people just felt that this can not happen, a singer not a very good looking guy…
Karan: As in, not conventional looking… not hero material?
Himesh: I think you are being nice to me… but, it was something that was unprecedented… when the film started, people did say, “paagal ho gaya hai”. I understand. But, when actually the film was declared a hit… then, people realized.

Karan: There were particular people, who were somehow targeting you… is there any one kind of person that you felt resentment towards?
Himesh: No… I really did not feel resentment towards anyone… because when you try something which is unprecedented… then people are going to… till you prove it… and when this film was releasing… and it was declared that is a hit… so many people called me and said, “very good”… congratulated me… and they said, that they felt it wouldn't work… so, its just that I was doing something new… something different… and it takes a little time to accept something that is unconventional…

Karan: Have you heard that behind your back there might be other singers who might be making fun of you?
Himesh: Yes… of course why not… but, you know, when they meet me… kitne composers ke saath milne ka mauka milta hain… pehli baar… phir woh opinion badal jati dete hain…

Karan: But one thing is… you keep very quite about your wife… you don't talk about her?
Himesh: Because she is a very simple girl…

Karan: It's not that you feel that your image gets affected
Himesh: No, the first time that I was asked whether I was married… I said Yes

Karan: And you have a son?
Himesh: Ya… I have a son

Karan: What's his name?
Himesh: His name is Swayam

Karan: What made you think that you can be a lead actor?
Himesh: When we used to travel for our shows… we really got a very good response from the audience… it was not a very conventional film… it was about this character who goes to Germany… it was a thriller… it was a very different kind of film… we just felt that we will definitely get an audience to watch and the music and the performances in the videos was really liked by a lot of people and Prashant, the Director, he really believed that…yes…
Karan: you were capable of it…
Himesh: Yes

Karan: But Himesh Reshamiya ko gussa kyun aata hain?
Himesh: Gussa tab aata tha Karan: Maine aapko stage pe dekha tha… once on an award ceremony… you were very angry… when you went to receive the award… you were upset with people… what was making you so angry?
Himesh: Ahhh… Honestly, in the first year… all my songs were becoming huge hits… but somewhere woh criticism bina wajeh aa raha tha… yeh mujhe us waqt lagta tha… ab jab main … when I look back… I feel that they had a point… this film also has got so much of criticism from the critics… but, it has done well at the box office… so that 1 %, I really want to win them over

Karan: You want to win them over?
Himesh: Ya…

Karan: I am happy to know that your attitude is like… who cares what they say?
Himesh: No, who cares, kaise ho sakta hain… then it will be wrong

Karan: But you are aware that there are sections who might want to watch the film… only to laugh at you..,
Himesh: Ya… of course

Karan: You are aware of that?
Himesh: For the first time… when the film was launched… I did tell a lot of press guys also… that they will say, “ Himesh Reshamiya paagal ho gaya hai”… I know that…

Karan: So, you are not living in an island of your own
Himesh: I can't… because if I do that … then I am jacked

Karan: Would at all say that… you wanted to win the class audience… in terms of the class film makers… because you worked with a lot mainstream people… but, the bigger banners eluded you?
Himesh: Bigger banners… maine try kiya Karan… unko phone bhi kiye… maine apko kitne phone kiye… Please aap mujhe ek baar chance di jiye aapke film mein kaam karne ka… but, main yeh samajh raha tha.. main us waqt 30-35 films kar raha tha… toh woh jo teen chaar bahut hi top ke banners hain… jo bahut exclusive stuff karte hain… unke liye bahut odd tha mujhe lena… main ye samajh tha ta.. par phir bhi main apni taraf se koshish kar raha tha… jab waha pe mujhe nahi mauka mil tha tha… aur yaha par yeh log mujhe kaam de rahe the… to main unko kaise bhool sakta tha

Karan: You stood by those people
Himesh: Yes… 100% aur rahoonga… kyuni, woh log mujhe kaam de rahein hain… aur mujhe apna talent dikhane ka mauka inhi logo ne diya…
Karan: Correct
Himesh: Chote se chote makeron ka main bahut aabhari hoon… us waqt unhone meri believe ki… main jo kuch bhi aaj hoon…
Karan: It is because of them
Himesh: Yes…

Karan: But, do you feel that you want to get that class
Himesh: Always… that 1%
Karan: That 1% that you are not getting
Himesh: Yes… I want to and I will… aur mujhe pata nahi… aise lagta hain ki bhagwan sun lega aur woh 1% bhi mere saath aa jayega

Karan: Aap yahan aakar kafi smile kar rahe hain… but projection kyun hain ki… Himesh Reshamiya doesn't smile… yeh apka khud ka projection hain ki… you made sure you are projected like this…
Himesh: Nahi… aise nahi hain… teen chaar cheezein main clear karna chahoonga… aisa nahi hain ki main hasta hi nahi hoon… ab main intensity wala aadmi hoon… to woh theek hain… main bahut zyaada nahi hasta hoon… par aisa nahi hain ki main hasta hi nahi hoon… aur kuch rumours mere saath jude huye hain… Jhalak Dikh Laja ke saath bhoot aaja na.. yeh kitni weird baat hain…

"I don't think there is any role I cannot play" - Himesh

In the concluding Part II of an exclusive conversation with Joginder Tuteja, Himesh identifies areas of improvements for him. He also talks about how superstardom hasn't changed him as a human being who is still simple and modest as always.

Successful composer. Successful singer. And now a successful actor. How did it all fit in?

I sincerely believe in the power of divine force. There is nothing possible without it. Being talented is one thing, being aided by a divine force is different. If only talent worked in this industry, what would explain the number of flops where far more talented people have come together to create a product? Once you work on making a film, you realize that it is not just talent or hard work which makes you deliver goods. There is an element of spirituality which makes you start working 18 hours a day. You start working like a genius and things start falling in place by themselves.

There is an element of spirituality which makes you start working 18 hours a day

It was also heartening to see industry coming in your support.

I will be always indebted to them. I had never imagined such encouraging words from them both before and after the release of the film. They all stood up for me and prayed together to make this film a success. There have been good suggestions on how I can further improve in my upcoming films and I accept them wholeheartedly.

I need to be more expressive in light hearted scenes

What are the areas of improvements you have identified for yourself?
I need to be more expressive in light hearted scenes. In Aap Kaa Surroor I was quite poker faced and had to say most of my comic dialogues with a straight face. I have to improve that aspect of mine.

How about dancing?

Certainly, I have to work on that. In my next film if I am required to dance, I will make sure that I practice hard for months and months on that. No half baked effort from me.

In my next film if I am required to dance, I will make sure that I practice hard for months and months on that

But then you did dance to Mithun da's 'Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jaana'?

[Laughs] Oh, that was impromptu. Prashant just asked me to dance like a man who is drunk. Now the trouble was that I don't drink so it was difficult for me to get into that mould. Prashant just explained the scene to me and asked me to enact like a man who is a little high about life and wants to enjoy the moment he was living. I got the gist of it and there I was dancing to Mithun da's tune.

While talking to you, you still come across as the same old Himesh as you were a decade back when 'Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya' released, albeit a lot more confident. What makes you still so modest in spite of being a global rockstar?
Dekhiye insaan ko ghamand nahi aana chahiye! Usse modest hi rehna chahiye aur ye dhyaan rakhna chahiye ki woh ek achcha insaan ho. Today I may be called as a rock-star but who knows about tomorrow? It is nature's law that what goes up has to come down. What would I do then? If I try to throw tantrums and have certain airs around me, how would I survive tomorrow if I don't enjoy the kind of success as I do today?

Today I may be called as a rock-star but who knows about tomorrow?

Anyways, success seems to be following you for sure. One hears you have at least 3 more big projects up your sleeves.
Yes, talks are going on and we should have an announcement soon. What I can assure is that these projects would be much bigger in scale and treatment than Aap Kaa Surroor. People associated with these projects are the best in the business and you would realize that for yourself when the films are announced. In addition, I would also be seen in the sequel of Aap Kaa Surroor.

But would you continue to be play Himesh Reshammiya in each of your films?
[Says quickly] No ways. Even in Aap Kaa Surroor, the only element from my life was that about my brother; otherwise it was all fictional. Apart from the film's sequel where I play HR again, the other films would see me play different characters. Also, it won't be necessary that I always play a composer or a singer. I don't think that there is any role I cannot play. It is just a matter of applying yourself, fine tune your edges and continue to improve with every film.

I don't think that there is any role I cannot play

Some may call this as a big statement to make.
I would be happy if they do that. Yet again, no complains whatsoever. After all it is right of anyone to challenge an individual's statement. And till the time you are not challenged, how can you improve on your art? For proving that you have it in you to deliver, you need someone to say that 'no, you cannot'. If everyone said that 'Himesh, you are best in what you do and no one is better than you', what motivation would I have to reply back with better performance? I always believe that insaan mein josh aur himmat honi chahiye. If you have that, there is nothing which is not achievable.

Your look continues to be the flavor of the season.
And I can promise you that you would see a much improved Himesh Reshammiya in my next film. I am working on creating a superior look and a much better physique. By the time I am ready to face the camera again, we should have the results for everyone to see.