After a year of planning, writing and battling casting hassles, Shootout At Wadala was finally launched yesterday with a launch event that was attended by all of the cast. While Ekta Kapoor is gung ho in regards to the prospects of this gangsters v/s cops film, co-producer and director Sanjay Gupta may be heaving a sigh of relief that he's getting behind the camera greater than half a decade after Zinda. No wonder, he will also be heard singing praises about his lead protagonist Anil Kapoor and antagonist John Abraham who stayed by him even if others came and went.
"It was greater than a year ago when Sanjay had approached Anil Kapoor and John Abraham to play a top cop and gangster respectively. Although they hadn't formally signed at the dotted line, there has been a gentleman's agreement about doing the film", says a source just about Sanjay Gupta, "ACTUALLY when Sanjay approached Anil, he didn't even hear the tale and was pleased with the fundamental characterization narrated to him. Ditto for John because the antagonist who instantly agreed. Even supposing remainder of the solid was doubtful for as regards to a year, Anil and John were permanent."
This will also be evidenced from the truth that while names like Vidya Balan, Asin, Vivek Oberoi, Nana Patekar etc. were thrown around, neither Anil nor John (who had won accolades in Gupta's Musafir and Zinda respectively) blinked an eyelid even once.
"Yes, either one of them have come forward and supported me on the time when there has been a 'fatwa' out on me. Such a lot of people were excited about working with me and vice versa but if it came to formalizing the association, they backed out. It was Anil and John who stood by their word", says Gupta in a humbled tone, "Now that we're beginning the film's shoot today, it's almost a surreal moment for me. Looks as if last 5-6 years have just evaporated in a jiffy and i'm beginning from where I had left."
While previous couple of years taught him quite a lot of important lessons in life, to not forget an ally he got in Ekta Kapoor, he wonders why people nursed such a lot negativity when it came to his return as a filmmaker.
"People thought that in the event that they dump me down in drain, they might be capable of finish my career in Bollywood. Today should you see, most of them has been forced to close their very own shop", says Gupta, "I PONDER why there's such a lot negativity on this industry. I FEEL the largest weapon you'll be able to have is your personal self. In place of praying for someone's downfall, why not lift yourself up and are available trumps? The phenomenon hasn't stopped, it's still continuing. Well, allow them to do it, it's okay. I'VE moved on for sure."
