Exclusive! Bloody Daddy: One needs to see the film to know why Shahid Kapoor’s look reminds people of ‘John Wick’, says Ali Abbas Zafar

After having stepped in showbiz as an Assistant Director, Ali Abbas Zafar made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’. As they say, ever since then, there was simply no looking back for the man, who, later went onto make films like ‘Gunday’, ‘Sultan’, ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, ‘Bharat’ and others. This time round, he is all set to storm the audiences’’ minds, hearts and imagination with the Shahid Kapoor starrer ‘Bloody daddy, which releases tomorrow on Jio Cinema. The prolific director was in an exclusive conversation with OTTplay.

Ali, what’s the feeling now? Are you under pressure or chilled out?
Pressure nahi hai. Excitement and a bit of nervousness which happens around this time. And when you have given at least two years of your life to a project, there are bound to be butterflies in your stomach!

Also Read: Bloody Daddy on OTT: Know the release date, trailer, cast, budget and more about Shahid Kapoor's action thriller film 

And these butterflies will be flapping around in the stomach till tomorrow (June 9). Right?
Not really! These butterflies will be flapping around, even after the film’s release. It’s like the time before the announcement of the exam’s results.

People know Shahid as a chocolate hero. But you have shattered that image of his with your film ‘Bloody Daddy’. How difficult was it for you to transform Shahid the chocolate hero into Shahid the action hero?
The good thing about Shahid Kapoor is that he gets most excited with the character. He always looks upto his father Pankaj Kapoor saab. Of late, if you have seen his choices of films., then., he is on the extremes. I think that he is right now in a phase where he wants to experiment with himself as an actor. I just knew that he wanted to do an out and out intense action film for quite some time now. That’s when I told Shahid Kapoor that, firstly, I need to find a character that you will like- be it a sportsman or an action hero.

Also Read: Exclusive! Bloody Daddy: Shahid Kapoor finds an interesting link between action and dance 

How did you explain the film to him?
I told him clearly that this is not the film where the cars will be flying and choppers will be attacking each other. The film is about all the events that happens in one night. That’s why we will try and show everything that happens in that one night, but the action will be brutal and rustic. When he understood that, he was game. There is also a presence of Covid in the film as well. When I presented the entire plan of the film, Shahid Kapoor got sold on that. His character’s personality in the film is extremely aggressive.

How was the over all experience working with Shahid Kapoor?
It was an extremely healthy collaboration. There have always been so many conversations which took place uber the sun. There was lots of comfort of ideas between us. The film has a string intensity which comes from the character of Sumer (played by Shahid Kapoor). ‘Bloody Daddy’ is not like ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ or ‘Sultan’ or ‘Bharat’. It has a heart of its own.

‘Bloody Daddy’ is not about one single superstar alone. It’s an ensemble cast. How easy or difficult is it to manage an ensemble cast?
It is challenging. What is very difficult is basically give each actor the same dignity when they all are standing in the same frame. As a director, if you don’t give that respect to anyone, it starts showing in the film. The film’s balance starts dangling.

Why choose the film of this magnitude and canvas like ‘Bloody Daddy’ to be on OTT platform (Jio Cinema) rather than a theatrical release? Is it not a huge risk o you feel its justified for the OTT release?
The script was, from the initial stages, was designed to be made for OTT platform only. When you see the film, you will get to know the reason behind it. We wanted to release the film in its truest form.

Wats your reply to those who are comparing ‘Bloody Daddy’ to ‘John Wick’?
(laughs heartily). The film is more of an adaptation of a French film, but a new film in totality, there are lots of things in this film, which is nit there in the French film. The basic reason, I think that many are comparing to ‘John Wick’ is because, both, Shahid and the film’s lead hero are wearing suit. But one needs to see the film to know why Shahid’s look reminds people of ‘John Wick’.

Any specific reason to choose Diana Penty as the leading lady opposite Shahid Kapoor?
In the film, you will see Diana playing an extremely strong character in the film. The film will see her doing too much of dramatic action in the film. She suited the role perfectly well.