“If you want a miracle, you will have to believe in it”, says Vidyut Jammwal on his journey from Force to Khuda Haafiz Agni Pariksha

Action star Vidyut Jammwal talks about martial arts, movies, his production house, his mother’s prayers before he goes out to do stunts, and his journey from Force to Khuda Haafiz Agni Pariksha. Read on…

Khuda Haafiz part one went straight to OTT.

It was good that we didn’t go for a theatrical release. The covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. So, we decided to go directly to OTT. People had advised us not to go to the OTT. But if we had waited for the theatres to open, then the producers would have faced huge losses.

Your work in Junglee and Baadshaho received a lot of praise. What are your expectations from Khuda Haafiz Agnee Pariksha?

There are expectations with every film. I work a lot on my performances. Then it’s up to the audiences; whether they like it or not.

Did you experience anything new while portraying this character?

Khatarnak experience. I started believing that “Maa-baap apne bachche ke liye kisi ki jaan bhi le sakte hain”. Earlier, I used to think that people say that for effect. I don’t know whether someone would take someone’s life for their siblings or friends but a parent can do that for his/her child.

A father loves his children as much as a mother. Maybe a father is not able to say that out loud. Kids think that their mother loves and understands them. A father is most often not able to express this emotion. But in Khuda Haafiz we have tried to express what a father can do for a child.

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Are we going to see a new kind of action in this film?

Naya kya hota hai? Haath-pair ke alawa aur kya chalega?

Have you tried to take the action as well as the emotional quotient higher with this film?

There’s no limit to it. I’m continuing to do it. I can proudly say that there’s no one else in the world, after 11 years of doing action, I still do all my action pieces on my own. No one would jump off from the sixth floor, only I will do it. Whatever you are seeing on screen is done by your hero, what’s higher than that?

I can get the best stunt double whether he’s from Jackie Chan’s team or somewhere else. But I’m greedy [laughs]. I want to do it myself.

Any plans for doing romantic films?

Watch Khuda Haafiz part one. There’s plenty of romance.

Is your mother or family members protective of you and say that you shouldn’t do these stunts?

It happens every day. If I tell my mother that I have an action shoot today. She does puja for 8 hours till my shift is over. I think this is not special. Everyone whose family members are doing action would be praying for their safety.

My father was in the Indian Army. Whenever he would go on his duty, my grandmother would keep a puja and pray.

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Why don’t you follow your mother’s advice and do less risky films?

Because I believe in her puja. Mujhe yakeen hai ke woh pray kar ke sab sahi kar dengi.

What was the idea behind Kalaripayattu to the big screen? Tell us about your inclination towards that niche art form.

I have been doing it since I was 3 years old. It is the first martial art in the world. So, as an Indian I think it’s my responsibility to take it forward. People didn’t even know about Kalaripayattu till I started doing it in films. China and USA know that all forms of martial arts originated from Kalaripayattu. I take pride in it. Recently, I got an award for action from Jackie Chan.

How did you start your production house Action Hero Films?

I have completed 11 years in the industry. I have been watching great actors. But they never got the recognition. NSD ke bohot saare actors hain. And I realized that it happens to deserving people in any industry. The reason behind starting Action Hero Films is that I want to work with actors that I believe in. Whether big producers believe or not I don’t care. I believe in them so I will put my might behind them.

We have recently made a film on India’s secret services. There are 30 actors. Whichever actor from NSD that I believed in was called for this film. And we didn’t negotiate with any of them. We paid them whatever their fees were. I have seen everyone bargaining with actors, 5 rupaye ka kaam 3 mein kar do.

I am very happy with this next film which is based on Intelligence Bureau. Most people don’t even know what is India’s secret services called. They know FBI, MI but not IB.

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Recently, a martial arts performer lost his life while performing in Tamil Nadu. Do you want to comment on that?

Kalaripayattu is a deadly martial art. Many people get injured or even lose their lives.

How does having a background of being an Army kid help you? Any inputs from your father?

It helps in a lot of ways. You don’t have the discrimination between Hindus and Muslims in your head. My father used to get posted in Kashmir where there’s Bihar and Maharashtra Regiment. You don’t ask people whether they are Hindus or Muslims. And this is not taught. We have experienced this. Humare liye koi ameer-garib nahin hai. Number one thing is that you respect everyone.

Why didn’t you try to make a career in the Defense Services?

Arey yaar, India mein try kiya tha. Lekin nahin hua. Ab puraani baatein chhod do.

Comparisons are bound to happen between Hollywood and Bollywood when it comes to action films. How do you carve a niche for yourself?

The only thing you can do is that you do your hard work. Maybe people around you won’t acknowledge you, which happens a lot in our country. But who cares?

When I came to Mumbai, I didn’t have enough money to take ‘panga’ with a big production house. But I had the belief that I can find work. And as far as comparisons with Hollywood are concerned, log toh compare karte rahenge. In a way, it’s good too.

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Your work justifies your name Vidyut, do you ever think that you’re like a ‘current’?

Achha hua mera naam Komal nahin tha. Jokes apart, my mother gave me the name Vidyut. Unko koi galatfahmi zaroor hui hogi ke yeh bijlee paida hua hai ghar mein. I can’t take any credit in that.

From Force to Khudaa Haafiz, how has your journey been?

Magical. If you want a miracle, you will have to believe in it. You have to believe that miracles do happen. People think that miracles happen only to others. But it can happen to anyone. Sincerely believe in it, it happens.

To whom do you attribute this success?

Kismet.

When can we see the two biggest action stars Vidyut Jammwal and Tiger Shroff together?

Main Pandit thodi hoon jo predict kar paunga. It will be an expensive affair to make a film like that but I genuinely think that we should collaborate.

The title of this film is Khudaa Haafiz Agnee Pariksha. Any moment from your life which was like an agnee pariksha?

We are common people. We haven’t gone through any agnee pariksha. Agnee pariksha khatarnak hoti hai. Thank God we didn’t have to go through it.

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How much input do you give to the action director or the director?

We work as friends. The action director comes with his vision. I try to show my best ability. While starting out, you do whatever the action director tells you. When you reach a certain level, and people want to work with you, you need to be collaborative. While working on the sets, you don’t differentiate between the action director and the film’s director. You go by who is saying the right thing. Both are involved in a scene.

You are now producing your films. Do the actor and producer clash in terms of duties?

I’m not able to see the difference as of now.

You have worked in the south as well. With the south films prevailing in Hindi belts, do you think having a foot down south is a boon for you?

Main fauji ka beta hoon. Mere liye south-north, east-west kuchh nahin hai. All are Indian films. We should be happy whichever films do well. I don’t understand why actors are fighting. Your job is to act.

Your name is synonymous with action. What other genres would you like to do?

Action, action and more action. If you are good at one thing, you shouldn’t leave that to do other things. A little bit of other genres is also happening. The film on IB is not an out-and-out action film. It’s based on true events.