By Hindustan Times
Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur is nearing release and was within the news so much too. It even premiered on the Cannes Film Festival recently. But from some of the cast, information about director-actor Tigmanshu Dhulia’s role within the film was under wraps thus far. Now, word is out that Dhulia is playing a task inspired by Suryadev Singh, a mafia lord from Dhanbad.
Singh was a controversial figure of his time and was very on the subject of then Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. Illegal mining and winning government contracts remain the most important areas of operations of the mafia in Dhanbad.
Unofficial estimates of those operations are worth around Rs. 100 crore per day.
Anurag admits numerous preparation was needed for this two-part film. “We needed to make multiple trips to Dhanbhad and do a large number of research at the area. That’s why it has taken over two years to shoot the 2 parts. It was obviously not easy, but I'M extremely proud of the result. It's been a super experience.”
Ask him if he took permission to base his film on an actual mafia don and he says, “Gangs Of Wasseypur is encouraged by, but not in accordance with anyone in particular.” And about Dhulia’s casting, he explains, “His character is a vital one. Not many poeple know that Tigmanshu is an excellent actor. Also, there has been a little bit physical resemblance (with Suryadev). I COULDN'T call to mind anyone else to play this role. It’s tougher to play a personality inspired by someone in particular, but Tigmanshu pulled it off really well. It was payback time for me after he cast me in his film Shagird (2011).”
