Oct 07, 2026 6:39pm IST
Abbas Burmawala on ‘Baazigar’ Getting Quoted In Fahadh Faasil Film: ‘That’s Because It’s Liked More Than Our Other Films’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Director duo Abbas-Mustan’s next is the heist thriller “3 Monkeys,” scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on December 4. The promotional campaign kicked off with the unveiling of the film's first poster and motion poster. The film flips the "three wise monkeys" philosophy ("see no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”) with a modern, Gen-Z twist tagline: "Sab Dekho. Apni Suno. Bekhauf Bolo" (“See everything. Listen to your own voice. Speak without fear”).
The thriller features an ensemble cast, reimagining the classic character names Amar, Akbar, and Anthony as three masked men, alongside a pivotal gun-wielding character played by Arjun Rampal.
Here’s what Abbas Burmawala has to say about the upcoming film and their return to direction.
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Excerpts…
What prompted Mustan and you to return to direction?
We heard a lot of scripts. But we weren’t getting any exciting ideas. That’s why we took a break. “3 Monkeys” was an idea we really liked.
Filmmaking has changed a lot in your absence.
Yes, it is. We are accustomed to narrating the script so the artist can visualize what we want to convey. Nowadays, actors need bound scripts, which they interpret in their own way. We want to work with actors who trust us.
‘3 Monkeys’ seems to be a departure from all your other films. Is it a take on Manmohan Desai's ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’?
It’s a different type of thriller, not based on any film or novel. Absolutely original.
The recent Telugu release, ‘Don’t Trouble The Trouble’ had the villain quoting ‘Baazigar’ dialogues after all these years…
If “Baazigar” is quoted in a Telugu film, it is because it is liked more than our other works. For us, all our films are like our children. Thirty-five years ago, a film was made with a bold concept. ‘Baazigar’ became what it was, because of several factors.
Was Salman Khan the first choice for ‘Baazigar’?
We think it is in bad taste to talk about actors who are offered roles. The important thing is, “Baazigar” cannot be imagined without Shah Rukh Khan.
How do you look back on your 19-film career?
We went on making films we liked and made the films we wanted to. Some worked, others didn’t. That’s life!
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