Big B's 9/11 Memories

Sanjay Gupta's Kaante, which completed 22 years earlier this month, was Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs with some tweaks here and there. Shot entirely in the US with an all-American crew, Kaante's technical brilliance shines through.

- Subhash K Jha

Sanjay Gupta's Kaante, which completed 22 years earlier this month, was Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs with some tweaks here and there. Shot entirely in the US with an all-American crew, Kaante's technical brilliance shines through. To his credit, Sanjay had not given in to the temptation of focusing on the biggest star in the cast, namely, Amitabh, and let every character develop on its own. Amitabh Bachchan was all revved up about Kaante on its release. Here's looking back at an interaction with the superstar.

Q. Sanjay Gupta told me you had made up your mind to do Kaante even before he approached you because of Sanjay Dutt?

A. Yes, Sanjay Dutt did speak to me about Kaante. My career's first screen test was organised by Mrs. Nargis Dutt, and I feel very emotional about that episode in my life. The second film of my career was Sunil Dutt Saab's Reshma Aur Shera. Dutt Saab signed me for that film when I was a nobody. So I share a bond with the Dutt family. I wanted to extend a gesture of friendship if I could. When Sanjay came to me, I readily agreed.

Q. Kaante was made in LA during the September 11 attack?