Neeraj Pandey: ‘Sikandar ka Muqaddar is my ode to Muqaddar Ka Sikander!’

- ADVERTISEMENT -

The trailer launch of Netflix’s and Friday Storytellers’ Sikandar Ka Muqaddar began with a difference: A ‘live’ action sequence was shown before the actual promo of the film, featuring Jimmy Sheirgill, Avinash Tiwary and four ‘cops’ and a ‘glass’ mirror being smashed. And after that, the team of the film—director-co-writer Neeraj Pandey, Jimmy Sheirgill, Tamannaah Bhatia, Avinash Tiwary and Gujarati stage, TV and screen veteran Rajeev Mehta (best known as Praful in the cult sitcom, Khichdi) came on stage.

The usual mutual raves were there, but the bulk of the praises were stored for Neeraj, the man who has helmed movies like A Wednesday!, Special 26, Baby, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and series like Special Ops and Netflix’s Khakee: The Bihar Chapter.

Neeraj replied to each praise with a subdued “Thank you!”, including from Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director, Original Films, Netflix India, who revealed that Neeraj has sent his script to her for perusal with “the last five or six pages missing!” She said that she was grateful that Neeraj had thought of Netflix for his first direct-to-digital film—a classic heist story, the kind Neeraj had excelled in when he crafted Special 26.

The actors kept talking about Neeraj’s penchant for long shots and his openness to suggestions from them, and Rajeev stated that he would like to work with Neeraj again. Jimmy Sheirgill, who has worked with Neeraj before more than once, stated that it took one complete film to understand a director and by now Neeraj and he had a comfort zone where they understood each other even without any spoken word.

Tamannaah mentioned that Neeraj looked at her differently from her other Hindi makers—as someone beyond just a glam girl (though her outfit was glam at the event!) and stated, “My character, Kamini, is a complete transformation for me, a role that allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. She’s a blend of vulnerability and strength, and as the narrative unfolds, so does her journey. I’m grateful to Neeraj-sir for trusting me with such a complex role and to Netflix for this incredible opportunity to explore new dimensions in my craft.”

Avinash Tiwary was the butt of several remarks (mostly complimentary but told in a seemingly opposite manner!) and has done Khakee… with the director earlier. He was the first to mention the long shots, which Neeraj stated took a lot of pre-planning. He also stated that he had never seen a director like Neeraj who was so fast and economical because he knew exactly what he wanted. A “Good morning!” greeting from Avinash would be answered with a nod and a quick primary instruction and even after shooting was over, within minutes, Neeraj would be away in his car! He also said, “I feel truly honored to be part of this journey, working alongside Neeraj-sir once again and collaborating with Netflix to bring this story to life.”

The film is about a Rs. 6 billion diamond heist, three suspects, and one cop with solid moolvriti or ‘instinct’. The first three are Mangesh Desai (Rajeev Mehta), Kamini Singh (Tamannaah Bhatia) and Sikandar Sharma (Avinash Tiwary) and the last is Jaswinder Singh (Jimmy Sheirgill), who says that he is the writer of Sikandar’s destiny. So are the three suspects truly guilty, or is there more to the story than meets the eye? As the investigation deepens, the lines between guilt and innocence blur, and Jaswinder’s pursuit turns into a relentless obsession.

Talking about the film, Neeraj shared his goal to captivate audiences with a narrative that intertwines obsession and mystery. “As a storyteller, one always looks to create something for the audience which is thrilling, engaging and entertaining and that is exactly what we have endeavored with Sikandar Ka Muqaddar. It’s been quite a journey directing this film with a cast that does justice to the characters that they are portraying. Strengthening the partnership further, between Netflix and Friday Storytellers, we are thrilled to bring forth this story to our audiences worldwide.”

Asked about the title of the film, Neeraj stated that the title was deliberate and a kind of ode and tribute to Muqaddar Ka Sikander, the 1978 blockbuster that is one of the films on which he has grown up. “The genre is totally different though!” he added.

Ruchikaa added, “We are thrilled to present Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, a gripping crime thriller that will keep audiences hooked. This film offers a compelling exploration of human behavior, revealing the lengths to which individuals go in pursuit of justice and survival. With Neeraj-sir at the helm, renowned for his masterful storytelling and deep command of the genre, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, which streams from November 29 on Netflix, is set to be an unforgettable addition to our growing catalog of high-quality, diverse films that captivate and connect with viewers around the world.”