“It’s A Been 11 Years In Exile For Me,” J P Dutta Breaks His Silence

Movie moghul and war specialist J P Dutta is  back with his new  war film(what else?) entitled Paltan.

 And and in spite of  setbacks, J P is very satisfied with the results.  “This was  my first film without my father(writer  O P Dutta who  has written the dialogues  of  J P Dutta’s  film before  Paltan). One reason why I’ve feared  returning to filmmaking for so long is because I didn’t have  my father anymore to hold  my hand.”

  But then God, says JP,  takes  with one  hand gives with another. “I can’t tell you how smoothly the shooting in some of the toughest terrain went. And  it’s all because of my elder daughter Nidhi who took charge of the entire production. In fact both my daughters  have been  a tremendous support.Wohkehte hain na, bête zameen baant-tehain, betiyan dil bandhti hain. I am lucky to  have Nidhi and Siddhi to support me at this stage  of  my career.”

With Paltan  JP returns to direction after 12 years.

“How time flies! I still remember every detail from  the shooting  of  Umrao Jaan in 2006. That’s when Abhishekand Aishwarya fell in love. It was a very special time.,” recalls JP fondly.

Unfortunately  Umrao Jaan  didn’t do well. And it really broke  JP’s heart.  “It was my first romantic film . I  guess audiences identify me with war epics. Seeing me  do Umran Jaan was  a culture shock  for  audiences . So here I am back with a  war film. I hope the audience  gives  it the same  love that they gave to my earlier war films Border andLOC.”

Paltan  brings back some of  JP’s  favourite actrors Jackie Shroff and  Suniel Shetty who have worked with  him repeatedly in the past. Unfortunately Abhishek  Bachchan whom  JP introduced in Refugee in  the year 2000 could not be part of Paltan.

JP insists  there is no illwill over  this  omission. “Abhishek is like my own son.He is welcome to be part  of my cinema  any time he  likes.  Paltan  gave me  chance to work with actors I had never worked with. It was an exciting film to make, and one that  I’m proud of.”

The movie-making scenario and   and economics  of the trade have changed since J P Dutta last made a  film.

“True,” he concedes. “But a  good story and an engaging film will never go out of fashion.”