SRK In Shashi Kapoor’s Song For ‘Zero’ a Coincidence: Aanand Rai

We aren’t trying to impress the audience with our VFX skills, says ‘Zero’ filmmaker Aanand Rai.

Shah Rukh Khan in Zero (L) and Shashi Kapoor in Jab Jab Phool Khile (R).

(Photos courtesy: YouTube screenshot)

When the  first teaser for Aanand L Rai’s Zero  was released many of us presumed the song Humko Tumpe Pyar Aaya... originally featured in the 1960s’ musical blockbuster film Jab Jab Phool Khile,  was being used on Shah Rukh Khan as a homage toShashi Kapoor who died last  month.

But Aanand who loves  vintage music, Mohd Rafi, Shashi Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan, not necessarily in that order, says the song was selected long before the tragic demise  of Shashi.

“It wasn’t as if after his death we decided to use this song just to get audiences mushy and tear-eyed. We&nbsp; chose the song long ago, almost a year back to manifest Khan Sahib’s (Shah Rukh’s) ebullience exuberance and…how do you say it in French…joie de vivre. I’d say, that song from <i>Jab Jab</i><i> Phool </i>Khile chose itself&nbsp; for our film. We&nbsp; didn’t have to give it too much thought. It just crept in to coincide with the character.”

Aanand L Rai, Director, <i>Zero</i>

Aanand  confesses a fondness for  Mohammed Rafi’s song. “There is  something about  that song Humko Tumpe Pyar Aaya... which  has captured my attention from when I was young.  It represents the youthful aspirations  of generations that  were young and raring to go in the 1960s and 70s. Rafi Saab’s mischievous playful childlike joy and vitality  in the song is just what we needed for Khan Sahib’s character.”

It is  interesting that Shah Rukh Khan is seen reacting to the Mohd Rafi song’s beats in Zero just weeks after Shashi Kapoor’s death.

“That’s just a poignant  coincidence. We didn’t plan it,” says Aanand.

Many  who have seen the teaser trailer of Zero are most impressed by the special effects that have  gone into making Shah Rukh look vertically challenged.

Aanand chooses not to be  overly impressed by the technical virtuosity displayed  in the teaser. “I’d like to believe Zero will have a lot more to offer than just technical expertise when  it releases in December this year. We haven’t made this film to impress the audience with our VFX skills nor to exhibit Khan Sahib’s versatility. This is not film made to tell the world, ‘Look at what Shah  Rukh Khan can do and look at how we’ve made him two feet shorter than he  actually is’. There is a reason why Shah Rukh  Khan is  in this film and why it has been made in  the  first place. All of this will be revealed when  people see the film in December.”

But why the teaser a full year in  advance?

Explains Aanand, “We were aware there was a full year ahead. But we believed the time was right to introduce our film to  the audience. There is a reassuring level of curiosity and interest in Zero. We wanted to share our excitement with the audience.”

Aanand who has earlier directed the spectacularly successful Tanu Weds Manu films, feels the audiences’ excitement. “I feel we’re on to something special this time. I can feel it. The audience can feel it too.”