Films inspired by true events need to be handled with precision: Aseem Arrora

There is a lot of curiosity around Aseem Arrora’s Bell Bottom starring Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Jacky Bhagnani among others. Aseem, who has quite a number of hits to his credit, is known for writing films like Baazaar, Malang, and TV shows P. O. W. - Bandi Yuddh Ke and 1 Sarfarosh - Saragarhi 1897, is now in news for Bell Bottom.

A self-confessed hard worker, he says, “I am not moody or erratic.My hunger for work and keeping at it is on a different level. I am very hard working and I would not let anyone else work harder than me. I don’t want that compliment to go to anyone. I don’t want my mood to be a stumbling block.”
Aseem’s Bell Bottom, an untold true story about a spy, will go on floors soon. Asked if it’s difficult to write a movie based on true events, he said, “I won’t call it difficult to write because then that will be like drawing a comparison with the writing fiction. But you need to take due care because there are real people involved, real events involved, and you need to handle it with utmost care because you can’t snatch away someone’s credibility or someone’s respect by fictionalising a part that might at a later stage be offensive to them.”

He adds, “It needs to be handled with precision, yet at the same time I understand when it’s inspired by a true event and you need to make it in a film or web show, there needs to be some dramatisation, without losing the credibility of the event or people involved in it.”
Aseem says a Bollywood writer should have perseverance and interest in books and meeting people. He feels that writers are often not given importance, but accepts that times are changing and people behind the camera will get credit for their work.
“There’s a saying that goes ‘writers are the first people to be remembered and the first ones to be forgotten.’ For years I have felt so and have been frustrated because of it. But I think things are changing now. People are getting much more conscious of it now. There are people like Nikkhil Advani, Ekta Kapoor, Luv Ranjan, who happily give the credit and make sure that writers are given due importance and credit, and compensation. With Ekta Kapoor it’s another level of pampering I can say. Things are changing and it has taken time and it will take some more time, but eventually, people behind the scenes, the heroes behind the scenes will be given their dues,” he asserted.
When asked to name his favourite scriptwriters, he started with Ritesh Shah’s name and said, “Not only because of the quality of his writing but also because of the pace at which he churns out films. It is incredible because even I am like that and I would like to continuously write more films. I also like Juhi Chaturvedi’s writing, Parvez Shaikh, and Luv Ranjan’s work. I also think Aaron Sorki is fantastic.”
He even revealed that he has got multiple favourite films, but said that movies like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Dil Chahta Hai and Mera Naam Joker had an impact on his life.

“ There are many films which have made an impact on my life. I think the screenplay of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak is best till date. I think it pushed the envelope in terms of craft, and the screenplay was so subtle yet so impactful, it wasn’t dry. Dil Chahta Hai was path-breaking in the way that suddenly film writing was not dependent on monologues or crass massy jokes. It was real yet funny and poignant. Then I loved Lagaan and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Other favourites will include Mera Naam Joker, I loved the writing of the film, then Guide as well I think it was much ahead of its time,” he adds.
Aseem has also co-written a book titled Ranger with Richa Ganesh in 2018. The book will soon be converted into a web series. Talking about the book, he said, “I had written the screenplay first and I had even taken it to a star and that star had loved the screenplay. I wanted to direct the film and did not want to give the screenplay away. Kunal Kemmu is a very dear friend. He suggested I write a book, at least that will help me vent or express myself and will make it reach people. Then, I got another author Richa Ganesh involved, who wrote it along with me. That’s how the book took place.”

Talking about a few films that are based on books and have been made well, Aseem says, “3 Idiots definitely did justice to Chetan Bhagat’s Five Point Someone. I understand it was massy and entertaining, but it gave a very good message about the education system at that point of time. And I think the movie The Kite Runner, directed by Marc Foster, wasn’t as impactful as the book.”