Ramgopal Varma is back with ROAD, which is produced by him and directed by Rajat Mukherjee, who had also directed Varma's Fardeen-Urmila-Sonali starrer PYAAR TUNE KYA KIYA.
Not many are aware that Ramu had suggested the title (ROAD) even before finalising the script. ?When Ramu-ji suggested this title, I took to it instantly,? Rajat Mukherjee states, ?Later, I went to Jodhpur for a holiday and completed the entire script there. I called on Ramu-ji when I was through with it and narrated the script on my return.?
The title, Rajat says, is among the USPs of the film. ?That's the most interesting part of the film. The title is not only unusual, it is catchy as well. So much so that people are looking forward to the film due to the title,? he smiles.
A thriller, ROAD is about Arvind (Vivek Oberoi) and Laxmi (Antra Mali) who love each other. They flee their homes when their parents oppose their relationship. On the way, they come across Babu (Manoj Bajpai), who asks for a lift. ?What happens next will catch the viewer unaware,? Rajat reveals.
Continuing in the same breath, he states, ?People have the impression that ROAD is all about Vivek Oberoi, Antra Mali and Manoj Bajpai. But it's about the four principal characters, Arvind, Laxmi, Babu and the Road (smiles).?
Rajat singles out Sandesh Shandilya's music as an asset. ?The music of ROAD compliments the script beautifully. There's no denying that Sandesh has done a great job,? he smiles.
Rajat quashes the rumours that Ramgopal Varma has ghost-directed the film. ?As a producer, he has every right to visit the sets of his film. Every producer does that. But that shouldn't be translated into ghost-directing the film. Ramu-ji's inputs were always there, but why would he resort to ghost-directing the film? He would've directed the film if he wanted to, couldn't he?? Point noted!
In the pipeline is a project with Sonu Nigam in the lead role. ?I am doing a film with Sonu, but it's not for T-Series,? Rajat clarifies, ?Yes, I did visit T-Series' office several times, but that was to negotiate about the music rights of the film. May be people jumped to the conclusion when they saw Sonu and me together there. I am in the process of negotiating with several makers since the scripting is almost complete.?