Vidyut Jammwal showered with praise by Junglee director Chuck Russell – here’s why

Global cinema is a culture that nurtures the value of co-existence the most. The two prominent industries Hollywood and the Hindi film Industry (Bollywood – as we call it), have proved many times the power of coming together with their collaborations. One such collaboration where desi meets videshi is the film Junglee, starring Vidyut Jammwal in the lead and directed by Chuck Russell. Yes, you read it right! Cinephiles would know that Chuck is the man who directed the 1994 cult American comedy, The Mask, and other films like Collateral, etc. At the age of 60, the director has ventured into the Hindi film industry with Junglee. Here the delightfully unaffected and candid Chuck talks about what brought him to India, and why Junglee.

How was your first experience of working with a Bollywood actor, Vidyut Jammwal?

Are you kidding! Here’s somebody who is a legit martial artist. His style is nature-related and he is already an animal-lover. So he has already got that discipline in his balance, and his practice in his day-to-day life. To bring him into the subject that you have heard, about elephants in a natural environment, that was amazing! And I swear, he dealt with the project in very real way because he has that thing from martial arts. So that was magical to catch.

How did the idea for Junglee originate in your mind?

It is a story by Ritesh Shah, and I was blown away with it because it is a very real opportunity for a westerner – to come in and shoot with a herd of elephants and such an Indian story. I live for global cinema, I live to work with artistes and different cultures, because then I grow. But then, it is my responsibility to be truthful to the Indian audience. I got wonderful collaborators, and I told them to bust me if I was off. I want to tell bigger-than-life stories, but not clichés. I can do many genres, even comedy, but here, I wanted to showcase this culture.

How did Vidyut come on board?

I was told that it was meant to be for Vidyut. So first, I visualised telling a really positive story, and we wanted someone to communicate with the elephants. And Vidyut is looking rocking in this. I got to meet him in person. Our success has come from specifically bonding first with the star, rather than scripting first and then going to the star. So we told him that this was the story, and that he inspired a certain character. I asked him, ‘You are a tough guy, but will you be vulnerable? Would you do some comedy? I want you to be macho, but I don’t want you to be commando.’ I had sensed the charm and warmth in him, and I can’t figure who else could have done this.

How difficult was it to work with the Hindi language, considering this was your first time?

It was difficult. But, the Indian culture is very welcoming and has beautiful art – history. The positive message of not just ‘Save the elephant, but defend them,’ makes it an action movie as well. So silences were also a part of the script, including the action sequences. With Hindi, my cast was very supportive. The base was made in English, the narration, improvisations and character-sketches, everything was in English. So when the translations happened at the dialogue stage, everyone was gracious enough to come forward and point out if a joke was not landing the same way as in English. It was a great collaboration between me, the cast, and the Hindi writers in every sense. I don’t know Hindi, but by the time we were done, I knew every line of my script. It might sound weird but I was totally having fun directing in Hindi.

How has your experience in the world of Hindi cinema been?

Oh, it has been so welcoming, and I imagined it would be hard because of our subject which is fun, but a little bit inspiring too. It is about returning to nature, about defending the elephants. But I think it is part of the Indian DNA from centuries, the relation between man and beasts and man and nature. It was new for me, and I wanted to do it well. I used my team to make sure it was as authentic as possible. When anybody asks me how it was, shooting in the jungle, I say I was happy as no digital devices were working. You could hear the wind through the trees, suddenly you get the sense of nature. So, I hope people begin to cherish that a bit more and understand that the ecosystem makes us better people.

Is there any difference between the two industries with regards to movie promotions?

Promotions? Oh, it is fun everywhere. My movies are different and they require the audience to understand. The Indian audiences from the very beginning have showered love on Junglee, and I hope they keep that on. But in the West, they have never seen such a project, Hollywood is a bit cynical. But still, they are finding it emotional, inspirational and not just frivolous, and I am surprised and happy. Obviously, the film is funny and meant to be entertaining, but there is still an inspiring message.

Are you planning any future projects that you’d like to do in India?

I love to do global projects, and I would love to do something in India again. My greater interest is to work with actors from India because the Indian film industry (Bollywood) is bigger than life in Hollywood. The performers here are off the moon, just very strong, actors, and dancers, and each one is all three. So to combine that with western, and other kinds of cinema. I love making adventures and comedy. So my dream for the future would be to create a multi-cultural cast and tell entertaining stories. If I bring such kind of films to the globe, I will think I have done something positive.