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A film that turned out be a blockbuster of 2019 was Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor starrer War. The actioner that was helmed by Siddharth Anand received a lot of love from the audience and many loved on screen action by Hrithik and Tiger. Now, today, the film clocks 2 years and to celebrate it, Tiger, Vaani and Hrithik penned sweet notes on social media. Not just this, the director Siddharth Anand spoke to a daily and confirmed the possibility of a sequel to War going on floors next year.
SIDDHARTH ANAND:
‘My attempt has been to create benchmark action films like WAR’ : director Siddharth Anand
Director Siddharth Anand has established himself as the biggest director for action entertainers in India after WAR became an all-time blockbuster two years back. Yash Raj Films’ adrenaline pumping visual spectacle set a new benchmark in the history of Hindi cinema right from its box office record, to spectacular scale, to huge hit songs and it even created a casting coup to pit Hrithik Roshan against Tiger Shroff.
Siddharth says, “The intention with WAR was to raise the bar in action and stunts in Hindi cinema. We are such a large industry and we make so many films in a year but we really don't make too many action films, that somehow is a void in our industry. To make spectacle action films and my attempt in the last 5-7 years, 7 years actually since Bang Bang, has been to create benchmark action films like WAR and to fill that void has been my endeavour.”
He adds, “I choose subjects and stories. I write stories, I hunt stories that can encapsulate the action, that can be genre defining. So, yes, that has been a conscious decision for the past 5-7 years and now it has become my identity. My whole being has become tuned to make action spectacles and WAR was a testament to that endeavour. I'm working even harder to give the audience a bigger spectacle in my next.”
Siddharth reveals why Aditya Chopra and he wanted to mount WAR at a scale never seen before. He also reveals while Hrithik vs Tiger was a casting coup, it wasn’t the only factor that made WAR an all-time blockbuster.
He says, “I don't think that the WAR at the box office was won because of the ensemble star-cast. War came in 2019 and in the last 3-4 years preceding WAR, you'd seen all tentpole films of the biggest superstars had flopped. They were tanking left-right-centre. In fact, what was doing well was the mid-range actors with high concept films. So, it was actually getting a big star cast in a tentpole film, was the most unsafe thing at that point in time.”
He adds, “Obviously, it is a safe thing to get the big star-cast so that you get the budget that allows you to make the tentpole film you want but it doesn't necessarily guarantee box office returns. You need to get out there and make a good film which connects with the audience. Audiences stop coming for stars, they come for stories and they come for the film. Yes, getting the stars is a huge bonus and plus, but the actors themselves know, that's why they take time to choose films, because they know that stars get you an opening, but the film needs to work.”
He further adds, “Hrithik and Tiger have worked extremely hard in the film. They didn't sit back and say -'Oh we've got a great combination with YRF, and we have a great banner, good action director and 'we' are there, so the film's a success'. No, they worked really very hard, they know it themselves. They pushed to make a great film and everybody, the producer, the actors the technicians really worked hard to make War the success that it is.”
And when people look back at WAR for generations, what does Siddharth Anand think will be their takeaway? He says, “I'd like to believe that it would be the action genre defining film of that generation. I would like to believe that. I think we gave them the spectacle that they get from all the big scale international films they watch and that they are exposed to.”
He adds, “So, I think somewhere they would be proud that we've also made a film like that and that we can make films like that with a fraction of the budget that the Hollywood film's get. So yes, (I want them to) to remember it as a fun action film. A film that they can see again and probably they can show the next generation and say 'that time we used to have such films.' I think it's asking for too much but yes, I want them to remember it as a fun action film.”
TIGER SHROFF:
‘WAR made me raise the bar on the kind of action that I could do on-screen’: says Tiger Shroff
Tiger Shroff was mesmerising in WAR and his spellbinding prowess with action proved that he is one of the biggest action stars in the history of Indian films! On the second anniversary of the film, Tiger proudly speaks about where Yash Raj Films’ WAR sits in his filmography!
He says, “WAR took the benchmark of action films in India to another level. I’m deeply proud to have this film in my filmography and I thank my director Siddharth Anand and my producer Aditya Chopra for bringing to me this special project that also gave me the opportunity to share the screen with my on screen idol Hrithik Roshan.”
Tiger adds, “WAR also made me raise the bar on the kind of action that I could do on-screen and I enjoyed the challenge thoroughly. I was physically drained, bruised and battered but it was all worth it. I’m humbled with the love and appreciation that the film has received from every quarter.”
WAR had Tiger playing the role of an intelligent undercover operative Khalid and he defied gravity to pull off death-defying stunts. Ask him to pick one action sequence that was most difficult for him to pull off and he says, “That’s a tough one! I would say that my introduction scene in WAR in which I did hand to hand combat without my director cutting the scene was the most difficult one that I have done to date.”
He adds, “It pushed me to deliver something really visually breath-taking on the big screen and I will always cherish this scene. WAR presented me like never before and I’m thankful to the makers for putting so much belief in me. It has given me unanimous love and it’s made my life very tough as I have to only better myself every time I do action on screen.”
WAR pitted Tiger against his on-screen idol Hrithik Roshan. He reveals, “Hrithik has been an idol and inspiration to me. I was thrilled to have not only gotten a chance to work with him but also dance along with him!”
Tiger adds, “His discipline and dedication to the craft is what legends are made of and I learnt so much each day I spent with him. It was my wish to share the screen with him and WAR fulfilled that so I will always be grateful to everyone for making that happen for me.”