Harman Baweja’s debut film Love Story 2050 may have lost out to Imran Khan’s Jaane Tu … Ya Jaane Na but he has, nonetheless, garnered a positive response from the industry.
Many Bollywood bigwigs have already lined up to sign him for their next films. Here, Harman speaks about the experience of his debut film and future projects.
Are you disappointed with the response to Love Story 2050?
Well, everyone makes a film hoping it will become a success and be appreciated.
And when it doesn’t achieve the expected results, it is disappointing. But, thankfully, I have had my share of Friday fears with my dad’s films — there were some which bombed at the box office.
These experiences have helped me keep my emotions in check during the release of Love Story 2050 and I am happy people in the industry have appreciated my work.
Do you think the media was unfair when they compared you to Hrithik Roshan and pitted you against Imran Khan?
I do think some sections of the media have been very unfair by comparing me the way they did to Hrithik, who is eight years my senior. Again, they unnecessarily pitted me against Imran Khan.
About my looks or dancing skills being compared to Hrithik’s, I think it is normal for any newcomer to be compared to a senior, established actor.
It is, in fact, an honour to be compared to someone like Hrithik. And as far as comparison with Imran goes, there never was any clash between us.
How did you go about doing such amazing parkour sequences in Love Story 2050?
As far as the parkour sequences are concerned, I have been trained by Sebastia, the same team which trained Daniel Craig in Casino Royale — these guys are pros in this field.
There was a sequence in which I had to climb 12ft and jump down 13ft at a stretch, after which there was another live parkour sequence in a traffic-packed street in which I had to jump over four cars.
These were death-defying moments but I thoroughly enjoyed doing them.
Was it easy doing the mortal-combat sequences, acting in front of a green screen with robots?
It was very difficult to do these sequences in front of a green screen. I had to imagine there were these strange things happening around me when actually there was nothing happening.
The special effects scenes in front of the green screen, with robots and the artificial environment, were really difficult to pull off. Now I am confident that acting in an ordinary film is any day easier.
How would you describe your relationship with Priyanka Chopra?
Priyanka is my senior in the industry and her experience was helped me a lot. Priyanka taught me how to reach the “mark” from where the actor must learn to step up.
It may seem like a small thing but for a newcomer like me, it was extremely helpful. Well, I know her very well from much before we did the film together.
This has also gone a long way in helping me develop a comfortable rapport with her, something that has translated into good on-screen chemistry.
How does it feel to have signed on films with directors such as Ashutosh Gowariker, Anees Bazmee and Sanjay Leela Bhansali much before the release of your debut film?
I think I was lucky to get such opportunities, to act in the films of such talented directors so early in my career. I actually had another film, Victory, in my kitty before the promos of Love Story 2050 were out.
It was after this that I got the offer from Boney Kapoor to act in It’s My Life, which is being directed by Anees Bazmee.
This was followed by Ashutosh Gowariker’s What’s Your Raashi and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next film. So I believe I am going to have some exciting days ahead.
If asked to describe yourself, what would you say? I am a typical middle-class boy and have a mind of my own — what people say really doesn’t make a difference to me.
I love spending time with my family and believe that money and fame are only temporary.
— Abdulla Mahmood is a UAE-based freelance journalist
