23 Years Of Sarfarosh EXCLUSIVE: “The film took 3 years to be made as Aamir Khan had signed 3 films. His dates kept getting pushed. Because of one filmmaker, a couple of his films suffered” - John Matthew Matthan

Superstar Aamir Khan has given several memorable films in his illustrious career and Sarfarosh surely gets a mention in this coveted list. It was released 23 years ago, on April 30, 1999, and emerged as a huge hit. The film is remembered today for its relatable topic, performances, intense action and drama, chartbuster music and last but not least, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s memorable cameo! On the film’s 23rd anniversary, Bollywood Hungama decided to talk to John Matthew Matthan, the director, writer and producer of Sarfarosh about the film and a lot more.

Is it true that it took you nearly 7 years to make the film?
I used to make ad films. I have made over 400 ads. I used to travel a lot to various cities to meet clients and to shoot. Once, when I was in Delhi in 1991, I experienced something which I had no idea about. I took the evening flight at 5:00 pm from Mumbai. I reached there at 6:30-7:00 pm and realized that the roads were deserted. The army men were guarding the streets with sandbags and machine guns. Our car was stopped and my bags were checked thoroughly. All these measures were in place, as the Khalistani threat loomed large. I realized that these things were not reported in Bombay in the real sense and that there was a need to make a film around this subject.

I travelled a lot and completed my research and script in 3-4 months about the terrorism and the proxy war that Pakistan was waging against India. I then met Aamir Khan in 1992 and narrated the script to him. He liked it but he had some commitments. So, the film took a while to go on the floors. The shoot began only in 1996 and was completed in 1999.

Why did the film take so long to be made? 3 years is a long time!
Yeah, it is a long time and this is because Aamir had signed three films. His dates kept getting pushed. One overindulgent filmmaker would shoot 40-50 days, then he’d edit and would ask for a reshoot. Hence, because of one filmmaker, a couple of films suffered. This was one of the chief reasons why Aamir Khan decided to not work in multiple films at a time. Normally, actors would adopt this strategy because they don’t have any other film! That was not the case with Aamir. So you see, I faced a lot of hardships. Every time I’d be geared up to shoot, the schedule would get pushed.

The scene featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui has turned out to be a memorable one…
Yes, although I was accused of copying it. The truth is that I showed the film to the then Deputy Commissioner of Police of Mumbai, Satya Pal Singh. He suggested that the policing scenes need to be increased. He narrated a real incident of a filmmaker, who was threatened to cough up the money. The filmmaker refused to pay and two men were sent to finish him off. However, the police arrested the assassins before they could harm the filmmaker. Satya Pal Singh told the police to kill them if they don’t give out information. The accused were taken to the mangroves in Versova and the cops pretended that they’ll kill them. This is when one of them broke down and confessed the truth.

I decided to incorporate this scene. Nawazuddin Siddiqui was one of the many junior artists there. I asked him to enact the scene. I loved how he performed and hence, I chose him.

You just mentioned that it was alleged that the said scene was copied…
One of the journalists accused me of lifting it from some film. However, that was not the case at all. Why would I lift one scene? I’d rather copy the whole film!

May I know which film was it that you were accused of copying from?
I don’t want to name it as people would start comparisons. It’s not worth it.

How was it working with Aamir Khan? It’s reported on the internet that both you and he had issues working together…

Not at all. Me and Aamir Khan never had any problems. I’d give credit to Aamir for believing in me. He stood by me for every decision I took, including during the Censor row (the CBFC had asked for insane number of cuts, including removing the words ‘Pakistan’ and ‘ISI’). If Aamir Khan was against me, I would have had trouble.

However, the audiences liked the film, considering it trended so well…
The audience reacted very positively. I went to the cinemas to gauge the reaction and I enjoyed myself. I visited Chandan cinema in Juhu for the film’s first day, first show. The show was housefull. I entered just before the interval. Some 5-6 people started walking out in the scene when Aamir is in the hospital, thinking that was the interval point. Seeing this, one guy from behind, ‘Aye gadhe log, baith jao’. This is when they realized that the intermission is yet to come and hence, they quietly returned to their seats. Then came the interval point where Gulfam Hasan’s (Naseeruddin Shah) true face is unveiled. Those 5-6 viewers quickly rushed to the washroom and returned as they were excited to see what will happen next. At that point, I knew that the film was successful and that viewers have connected with it.

I’d tell you one moment which gave me the greatest kick of my life more than anything else. As I told you, I was facing a lot of hellish time before the release. Meanwhile, the main theatre chosen for the film was Maratha Mandir. We went there as we wanted to check a reel of the film in the Dolby sound. This was on Tuesday, 3 days before the release. I reached early and I was waiting outside Maratha Mandir. A little boy came cycling and stopped in front of me. He told me that ‘Your film’s pirated print will be out on Thursday’! I was shocked but more than that, I was stunned to see that he recognized me. I asked him, ‘How do you know me?’. He told me that ‘I work in the video library near your house’. Then I asked him how he’ll get the print before the release of the film. He replied, ‘The print that you have sent to Dubai…it’ll be transferred here in VCD and we’ll get it by Thursday’. I got a jolt and I feared that my film was going to get killed.

Meanwhile, the film’s distributor arrived. He called me towards the advance booking counter. I was scared that he might say that he was not going to release the film! However, he simply pointed towards the advance booking board. I saw all the shows of Sarfarosh were sold out. I then found out that the advance booking of the film opened a day before, on Monday, and within an hour, all shows of the week were house full! My whole life and my struggles to make the film passed in front of my eyes at that point. I also saw people asking if an extra ticket is available, this is what I have done for so many good films that I saw in cinemas. And now it’s happening with my film! I treasure the moment the most. It was like a payback time for all the hell I went through!

3 years ago, there were reports that you’d be making Sarfarosh 2. John Abraham was reportedly signed for the lead part…
I want to make Sarfarosh 2, but on my terms. So, if my conditions are fulfilled, I’d make it. Or else, I won’t. I want to make it in the circumstances where I am in control over the final product. This is because of the hardships I faced during the making of the first part. Moreover, I don’t have the money to make part 2. The costs have gone up tremendously. If I had the finances, I would have made Sarfarosh 2 by now. Also, the cost of the film prohibits me from taking absolute newcomers. My requirement is for a 26 or 27-year-old boy to play the lead who doesn’t have biceps and triceps. I am unable to find the right person that fits the bill. Also, the one who’ll play the lead needs to be a star so that the financiers are confident of the recovery of their investment. Due to these reasons, the film is stuck. Moreover, Covid-19 also brought restrictions in the last 2-3 years.

Would you like to remake Sarfarosh?
No, I don’t need to. I have scripts for 2 sequels of Sarfarosh which I’d rather make. So, if I am lucky enough to make Sarfarosh 2, I’d like to follow it up with Sarfarosh 3. All these films won’t be connected with each other. The theme, however, would be common in these films, and that is national security.

You directed a film named A New Love Ishtory, starring Himesh Reshammiya. Why didn’t it get a proper release in cinemas?
I can’t claim that film to be mine. They completed the film without my knowledge or awareness, and I didn’t want to get into a fight. I don’t even know when they released it. They have no right to put my name on it as it’s not my film. I only shot half of the film. I wanted to redo certain things. It was a film on sperm donation, much before Vicky Donor (2012) was released. Sadly, it got delayed and the star and the producer got into a fight.

The film is out on YouTube and it seems to be a pirated print. Moreover, Himesh Reshammiya’s voice has been dubbed by someone else…
I don’t know what they have done. They even added songs and I have no idea about it.