Abbas Tyrewala is one of the really multi-talented filmmakers in Bollywood. He has not only written screenplay of Main Hoon Na and Maqbool but has written dialogues for Munnabhai M.B.B.S and Salaam Namastey. He has also written the lyrics for De Taali and Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. He is a perfectionist like Aamir Khan that is why he was taken up to direct Aamir’s home productions’ Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na.
Even though Abbas has tried his hands at various things related to filmmaking, it is the first time that he is directing a film and he is really excited about it. Directing came up when he met with a writer’s bock. After doing films of different genres he wanted to make a romantic flick. He confesses that the film was not made as a launch and Aamir doesn’t believe in a big launch. They zeroed on Imraan because he fitted the role but have not done anything special for a launch. Initially, the film was supposed to be produced by Jhamu Sughand but he couldn’t complete the film due to professional problems and then Aamir took it up. He considers himself equally mad about perfection like Aamir.
Aamir even took a test shoot from Abbas to see if he wants to produce the film. Abbas states that Aamir gives full freedom to his directors and how can we forget films like Ashutosh Gowarikar or Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Aamir has also been known to ghost direct his films but Abbas thinks it is just natural to give opinion on certain things and this is a simple interaction of an actor with a director. As Aamir was busy with Taare Zameen Par so Mansoor Khan was called back from his isolation to produce the film.
Without beating his drums about making a unique and different film, he states that his film will speak about itself. They have given a spoof of a beefy role to Imraan but it has nothing to his being a star-son but the film demanded him to have such a character. The decision of casting Genelia D’Souza opposite Imran was intended to give a freshness to the scenes and even though he wanted to take a newcomer, they were happy with her. the film also works as a comeback for Manjari Phadnis and Abbas thinks it is she who can give a tough competition to both Imraan and Genelia. The film also has another debutant Prateik Babbar, the son of Raj Babbar and late Smita Patil and he has an important role in the film.
Recollecting his first day of shoot, he calls it wonderful as his family was there and while his mother broke the coconut, Aamir’s mother did the clap. Abbas isn’t upset that Jaane Tu… releases with Lovestory 2050 but he hopes to entertain the college going crowd. Abbas has also written the songs of the film and is happy the way the album with AR Rahman’s music has been received. He confesses that Pappu can’t Dance took most of his time to write. Abbas also met his soul mate Pakhi during the shoot of the film. Pakhi was the casting director and also directed one of the songs.
Even though he has done it all like story writing, screenplay writing, lyricist, acting, dialogue writer and now direction, Abbas states that he gets maximum satisfaction from writing a good script. His favorite romantic films include Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, and Yes Boss. Abbas comes form a non filmy background but he has literally lived and dreamt about films and considers it to be his elders blessings that he is directing films now.
