JANNAT 2 - STILLS

Emraan Hashmi’s Jannat 2 was shot inside Delhi's Tihar Jail. The director, Kunal Deshmukh, had permission to film for three hours inside the high security prison, but had to limit his team to just 20. This meant that the junior artistes who were to crowd around the leading man were barred entry. “Even as we were wondering how to compensate for them, the policemen on duty offered to be part of the scene being canned in return for photographs and autographs with Emraan who was happy to oblige them. And the shoot went off smoothly,” says Kunal, admitting that he wasn’t allowed to shoot any working stills.

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The scene is integral to the plot and Emraan is relieved that they managed to shoot it inside a real jail.

“It makes it more authentic,” reasons the actor who plans to hold a private screening of the film for the cops. “They were hassle-free and shared little insights with us during the shoot.”

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After playing a cop in two films, Risk (2007) and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai (2010), actor Randeep Hooda will don the uniform of a cop once again in Vishesh Films’ Jannat 2. “I guess my personality and voice suits tough-guy roles,” he explains, adding, “But I am glad I have got roles with variations. Playing a cop is quite generalised in films, which shouldn’t be the case. No two people in any profession are alike.” In Jannat 2, Randeep plays a driven cop with baggage of his own. He is emotionally distraught and an alcoholic. “While preparing for the role and shooting, I began to like drinking a lot,” he says with a laugh. “It took a lot of will power to not depend on the juice. I can understand how tough it can be for a person to quit drinking. I experienced it first hand for a short span of time. It can be devastating to crave a drink all the time.”

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Randeep, who is known for being a method actor, loves getting under the skin of his characters. For Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster (2011), Randeep learnt to play the guitar by practising an hour every day. The actor also learnt to play the cello for his next film Shooter, where he takes on the avatar of an assassin. In Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine, he will be seen as a cricketer. The actor got tips from Virendra Sehwag as he wanted to play his character convincingly.

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Randeep feels, “Homework about your character’s background and experiences, even though it might not be shown in the film, helps you portray the character effectively. It is also fun to be someone else. As an actor, my biggest joy is to experience diverse mindsets and personalities. It is a high for me personally, but it’s not recommended or necessary for a role. I am an actor who ‘lives’ a variety of roles. I enjoy the process and do it for my sake, as much as for the film.”

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Emraan plays an arms dealer in the Jannat sequel with newbie Esha Gupta opposite him. The film opens on May 4.

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