Directed by Anurag Kashyap and starring Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in the lead roles, Bombay Velvet follows the lives of street fighter Johnny Balraj (Kapoor) and jazz singer Rosie Noronha (Sharma). Billed as a "period crime drama", the film is set in Bombay in the 1960s and was shot extensively in southern Sri Lanka, where an elaborate set took almost a year to build.
Kapoor, 32, scion of Bollywood's first family and one of the film industry's top actors, says he wanted to be part of the film as soon as he read the script. "The script of Bombay Velvet just fell into my lap. I read it and I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of Anurag's grand vision, his innovative storytelling, his moviemaking process – everything that he does so perfectly."
The villain is played by the noted filmmaker Karan Johar, who had a short cameo in Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1998) and a few blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearances in other films. But Johar insists that Bombay Velvet, in which he portrays a businessman inspired by former journalist Russi Karanjia, is his acting debut. "I am really nervous about it because it's my first proper foray into acting," says the 43-year-old.
Johar, who prefers to dress in black, was also anxious and “a bit uncomfortable” when Kashyap and designer Niharika Bhasin Khan decided to add plenty of colour to his costumes. But he decided not to interfere because he wanted to “follow the vision of the filmmaker” in his role as an actor.
Despite having contrasting cinematic sensibilities, Kashyap and Johar say they got along well professionally.
“Being directed by Anurag Kashyap has been the most exhilarating experience of my life,” says Johar. “Working under him has been like going to film school.”
The trailer for Bombay Velvet has been well received. The film has music by Amit Trivedi, with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. It is due out in cinemas on Thursday, May 14.
artslife@thenational.ae
