DEADLINE ? Sirf 24 Ghante is based on abduction

Tanveer Khan has earned accolades as a dialogue writer in his 12-year career span. Films like Jigar, Suhaag, Raja, Haqeeqat, Ishq, Hindustan Ki Kasam, Shararat and more speaks volumes about him. Though his path-breaking debut film as the writer-director MADHOSHI failed to ring in at the box-office, it has not deterred his spirit to tread on the same lines. His next directorial venture DEADLINE ? SIRF 24 GHANTE is based on ?Kidsophenia?. In conversation with the man himself.Excerpts:

What is DEADLINE ?Sirf 24 Ghante all about?

Deadline-Sirf 24 Ghante is an issue based film. It is an out-and-out thriller and is based on abduction.

The subject of kidnapping has been repeated time and again. The latest example is APAHARAN. What?s the novelty in your film?

My film though based on kidnapping, it is different from all of them. I bet it should be the first one of its kind in India. There is no ransom demand as such. A common man too will relate it in his day-to-day life.

Looking at the castings, your film looks arty?

No, no. Deadline ? Sirf 24 Ghante is an out-and-out commercial film. In fact it is a songless film. The subject being of an intense kind, it called for serious actor. All the roles are tailor made?. Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Rajit Kapoor, Sandhya Mridul, Zakir Hussain. Rajit Kapoor is a doctor and Konkona is his wife in the film. Irrfan Khan in connivance with Sandhya and Zakir kidnaps their child in front of their own eyes? As you see while scripting the film, we had known who would be the best for the respective roles. I would term it as a rare combination.

Is your producer happy with the end results?

It is a question to be answered by producer Ravi Agrawal and Plus Entertainment people. I feel he is also too enthusiastic. If he was not confident he wouldn?t have given me his other film, which is on the scripting stages. They have also made Benaras 1918 ? A Love Story which is right on the doors of release.

Won?t the simultaneous release of both these films eat into each others chunk of the box-office earnings?

I do not think so. Both are different. Benaras, I suppose will be released in January or February; while Deadline will be released by February end. The first copy of the film will come out next week.

Why didn?t you script DEADLINE?

The story idea is mine. Dilip Shukla then further developed it and has done a wonderful job. This time I wished to concentrate on direction only.

Or did you thought it as a bad omen since your debutante film MADHOSHI as a writer-director flopped?

Not at all! Like I said earlier, I wanted to concentrate on filming and am proud to have Dilip Shukla in tow. Madhoshi was again a totally new concept. It was based on the subject of schizophrenia. John Abraham, Bipasha Basu and Priyanshu were in its cast and was produced by the sister concern of Indra Kumar. I feel the subject was way ahead of time.

What is the USP of your film?

The fast paced thrills. The film is aimed for the classes and the masses. And being made on a modest budget will help the film to reap rich harvest.