Ah, Bollywood! The land where dreams and drama collide in a symphony of glitz and glamour. And today, dear readers, I’m here to spill some piping hot chai about a film that’s achieved cult status over the years. Yes, we’re diving into the world of ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’—but with a twist.
Picture this: It’s 2012, and Anurag Kashyap’s magnum opus ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ hits the screens, forever changing our idea of gangster films. Now, brace yourselves because here’s the kicker—initially, this epic wasn’t even supposed to be directed by Anurag Kashyap! Gasp! 😱
Let’s rewind the reel. It all started when Hansal Mehta, the man behind ‘Scam 1992’ and other critically acclaimed gems, was approached by writer Zeeshan Quadri with the script of what would become ‘Gangs of Wasseypur.’ Hansal, being the passionate filmmaker he is, decided to dive headfirst into the project and even roped in Manoj Bajpayee! Yes, the legendary Manoj, who was apparently chilling with nothing much to do at that time. Hansal said, "Tu karega kya?" And Manoj, being the sport he is, replied, "Haan karte hain, main thoda paisa bhi laga leta hoon." (Translation: "Let’s do it, I’ll even put in some money.") Talk about dedication!
But here’s where things went sideways. Hansal couldn’t find a producer willing to back the project. Dude, Bollywood producers, what were you thinking? 🤦♀️ So, our beloved Hansal had to pass on the project. Enter Anurag Kashyap, stage left. Anurag, being the gentleman he is, even called Hansal to make sure he wasn’t stepping on any toes. "Sir, aap bana rahe ho toh main nahi banata hoon," he said. (Translation: "If you’re making it, I won’t touch it.") But alas, Hansal had no producer, just a dream that seemed impractical at the time. He did make one humble request though: "Please hire Manoj because I’d promised him the role." And thus, the rest is history.
Initially, Manoj Bajpayee was supposed to play Faisal, not Sardar Khan. The movie wasn’t even meant to be a two-parter. But leave it to Anurag to add layers and complexities, turning it into an epic saga. Manoj ended up playing the unforgettable Sardar Khan, while Nawazuddin Siddiqui stepped in as Faisal. And boy, did they nail it! 🎬👌
Oh, and here’s a fun tidbit: Hansal’s son, Jai, assisted Anurag on the film. Hansal described the experience as a "baptism by fire." Anurag told Hansal, "Sir, if you call him back, he will remain a boy; if you let him stay here, he will become a man." Talk about tough love! Poor Jai even tried calling his dad to get out of it, but Hansal just ghosted him. Parenting level: Bollywood.
Of course, ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ featured a stellar cast including Richa Chaddha, Huma Qureshi, and Pankaj Tripathi. They all delivered performances that we still rave about today.
Nisha’s Nutshell:
In the mad, mad world of Bollywood, sometimes you have to let go of your dreams so someone else can make them a reality—and sometimes, that someone else just happens to create a masterpiece. Moral of the story? When life gives you lemons, make sure Anurag Kashyap is around to turn them into cinematic gold. 🍋✨
