'SRK couldn't have done this film'
"Each time I watch a so-called Bollywood flick, my blood boils. I fail to understand why filmmakers try to mask a real situation with gloss?!" Well, that's Alphonse Roy, cinematographer of Rajeev Khandelwal-starrer Aamir for you.
An internationally acclaimed wildlife cinematographer, Alphonse readily agreed to be part of Aamir after hearing the script. Recalls Alphonse, "I was toying with the idea of shooting a feature film since long. But as we know, getting an entry in this industry is not easy. And even if you manage, your creative freedom goes for a toss. Luckily, the director and the actor were also newcomers like me. So, it was more a team effort. When I was approached for Aamir, the first thing that appealed to me was the plot. I was waiting to do this for really really long time – to shoot a realistic film in real location, with hidden cameras and above all, a real action. I have tried to make it look like one of those French films made in the 1960s. Rajeev is a very good actor and credit goes to him for making this project shape up so well."
Made on a shoestring budget, Aamir was shot in places like Bhendi Bazar, Crawford Market, Jacob Circle, Bandra Masjid and Dharavi in Mumbai. Alphonse adds, "Director Rajkumar Gupta wanted someone who could capture the true 'character' of the dingy streets in Mumbai for his thriller. It was difficult but challenging too. I wanted to use my knowledge of natural light in a controlled arena. It was for the first time I was working with a large crew helping me. The transition was fun…"
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