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EYE ON BOLLYWOOD JANUARY 31, 2025 | The Indian Eye 30

SONU SOOD

Why the Bollywood star made his directorial

debut with ‘Fateh’ — a sleek thriller

The first-time director emphasizes the importance of a balance between box

office performance, audience love, and critical acclaim

DIVYA MALHOTRA
New Delhi
ollywood actor Sonu Sood has
donned the hat of a director
Bwith his latest film, ‘Fateh’,
which hit theatres on January 10. The
film, an action-packed thriller in-
spired by real-life cybercrime events
during the COVID-19 pandemic,
marks Sood’s directorial debut and
has already gained considerable at-
tention for its gripping narrative and
high-octane action sequences.
In an interview, Sood shared in-
sights into his journey as a filmmaker,
and his decision to choose the action
genre for his directorial debut, in-
cluding working with legendary actor
Naseeruddin Shah for the first time
as a director.
When discussing his experience Actor Sonu Sood with BJP MP Manoj Tiwari during the screening of the movie ‘Fateh’, at PVR Select City Walk Mall,
of directing Naseeruddin Shah, Sood
expressed admiration for the veter- in New Delhi last Sunday (ANI Photo/Ritik Jain)
an actor’s incredible discipline and
approach to cinema. “I have already his team to always strive for improve- quences, “Action has always been should be respected for its honest
worked with him in ‘Maximum’ as an ment. “When we made Fateh, the my forte, and even today, people say portrayal. Acknowledging that the
actor and I believe Naseer sir is like an journey was about not thinking that that Bollywood’s action doesn’t quite success and failure of a film are be-
institute in himself. As an actor, being just because we made the film, it was match up to Hollywood standards,” yond a director’s control, he insist-
on set with him allows you to learn so done. No! We always thought about he said, adding, “I made this film with ed that the effort put into the film
much. His approach towards cinema, how we could make this movie better a lot of love, hard work, and honesty, is what truly matters. “Right efforts
his discipline, is incredible,” said Sood. and what we could add to it,” he said. which is why the reviews have been always pay off; just to hit those box
The actor-turned-director high- Sonu Sood explained that his positive. I didn’t make a movie filled office numbers, we should not forget
lighted that Shah’s improvisational decision to venture into filmmaking with masala, dance, and songs. In- other things,” Sood concluded.
skills brought an added depth to the stemmed from his extensive expe- stead, I chose to include music that One of the key highlights of
film. “When I started making the film, rience in front of the camera. As an matches the sequences of the film.” ‘Fateh’ is its adrenaline-pumping ac-
I felt that Naseer ji is the kind of ac- actor, he often felt there were mo- When asked about his definition tion sequences, choreographed by in-
tor who, when given a few lines, can ments in films where he wished the of a movie’s success, Sonu Sood em- ternational stunt director Lee Whit-
improve them and justify them in his direction had pushed him further or phasized the importance of a balance taker, known for his work in Captain
own way,” Sood said, adding, “Later, allowed him to express his character between box office performance, Marvel and Fast & Furious 5.
the weight he added to the movie was in a more personal way. audience love, and critical acclaim. The film also boasts a stellar en-
a huge learning experience for me.” “When you make your first film, “I guess the right percentage of all semble cast that includes Jacqueline
Sonu Sood also recalled famed having worked in many films through- three is required. Box office numbers Fernandez, Vijay Raaz, and Naseer-
filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s one of out your career, you inevitably miss are important to motivate producers uddin Shah, all of whom play pivotal
the famous interviews in which he certain things as an actor,” he said, to make more films. Critical acclaim roles in bringing the high-stakes nar-
said, “When your movie’s writing is adding, “You think, ‘I wish a director is also important because people who rative to life. The film’s visual appeal
finished, the movie is also made.” had made me do this scene’ or ‘I wish want to see intelligent cinema, we is further enhanced by its stunning
Sood mentioned that this phi- I had a dialogue like this that could need to cater to them too,” he said. international locations, with scenes
losophy guided him throughout the have been delivered in my style.’” Sood added that he respects crit- shot in places like Istanbul, Dubai,
filmmaking process, pushing him and Speaking about the action se- ics and believes intelligent cinema and the United States.

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