Atlee is the man of the moment. Having helmed Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan — which is smashing box-office records even as you read this — the film-maker with outings like Mersal and Bigil to his name has scored his biggest blockbuster yet. t2 caught up with Atlee over a video call to chat about the magic and masala of Jawan, the SRK factor and more.

One always knew that Jawan would be a blockbuster, but has the kind of euphoria that has surrounded the film and the daily making and breaking of records taken you by surprise in any way?

Yes, it’s definitely a surprise and to see such huge box-office numbers is always a good thing for a director. But box office comes later, the appreciation of the audience comes first. The kind of praise that has come in for Jawan makes me feel more responsible going into my next film. Now I am constantly getting the feeling: ‘Okay, people are expecting so much from us. They are getting so engaged with our writing... oh wow!’ That the next one has to be better is my biggest takeaway from all this appreciation. I have to work very hard (smiles).

Would you call this responsibility a huge pressure?

There are always two ways of seeing any kind of pressure. In my opinion, if I don’t take pressure then that means I am not taking things seriously. So taking on pressure contributes to my growth. This is a happy and a good pressure which will take me higher.

Is there a standout piece of feedback for the film, from within or outside the industry, that remains memorable and heartfelt for you?

An audience member, when he came out from the theatre,
said that after a very long time, people have started celebrating the release of a film inside theatres. As a writer-director, that was a very emotional reaction for me. After the pandemic, the dwindling footfall in theatres had exhibitors, distributors and the industry very worried. But when a viewer comes out of a theatre after watching a film, in this case Jawan, and says: ‘Yes, it has brought us back,’ then more than numbers, these are things that make us happy.

A friend gifted me a Rolex watch and told me: ‘Thanks for bringing the theatre audiences back.’ It was really emotional for me. I am going to cherish these comments for a lifetime.

Being a part of Jawan is God’s blessing. I didn’t do anything extra. Whatever was needed to be done to bring audiences back into theatres, that’s all I have done.

In South India, we are used to seeing euphoric scenes during a big film release. That happened all across India for Jawan and even overseas. Did you visit any single-screen theatre to take in the hysteria firsthand?

Initially, I had a planned roadmap to visit theatres across the country. I started off with Rohini in Chennai and on the same day, I flew to Mumbai and visited Gaiety Galaxy and PVR. After that, I started seeing my Instagram and I saw euphoric videos from all over the country. I said: ‘Okay, I can happily sit at home and watch what’s happening everywhere’ (smiles).

Your films have been distinguished by their seamless merging of mass and message, something that you achieve very well in Jawan. What’s the key to achieving that balance?

Seriously, I don’t understand the math between mass, commercial and message. I mean it genuinely. I know that I write what I enjoy watching. I have no idea what ‘mass’ means and I have no formula for it. I always work in terms of basics. I have a very basic IQ. I am not a very intelligent person and there are many, many more people in the industry who are far more talented than I am.

I am a writer and film-maker who sticks to very basic emotions. I know that my films do great, but I also know that I will be given feedback that I do the same thing (smiles). I also respect that. But what I create is something very basic... it comes from what I see, what I experience, what I feel... that is my strength. Everything comes from my gut. I work on instincts. I don’t want to change that. When it’s working, I shouldn’t be worried.

You have said that you have always been a fan of Shah Rukh. As a film-maker and a fan, what do you think he brought to Jawan that no other actor could have?

Atlee on the sets of Jawan

He’s a global icon. Why so? There are so many others. That’s because he understands the whole film system very well. We all know that he’s a good actor, he’s a charmer, he has a good understanding of the film business. His X-factor is that he’s a good-hearted person. Even after all that he’s achieved, he keeps himself very basic. That’s one big connection between me and sir. He’s always the same person. He doesn’t have an ego. He doesn’t say: ‘I know this, I know that.’

Jawan is only my fifth film. But whatever I told him to do on set, Shah Rukh sir would do it. I have never seen a person like him, whether it’s his human nature or ideological nature... he’s something else.

When I started working with him, I travelled abroad and I was in a taxi. It’s a country which may know Hollywood, but not much beyond that. The cab driver asked me what I do. When I told him that I am a film-maker from India, he promptly said: ‘Oh, I know Shah Rukh Khan!’ Shah Rukh Khan is an identity of the nation and I had a huge responsibility directing him because I also needed to grow as a film-maker. I have done my best. The thing that I will cherish all my life is that I have spent four years with him and I have learnt a lot from him.

What is the most inspiring thing he has told you?

He inspires me every second. What stands out is the fact that he has always told me to do what my heart tells me to, without giving a second thought to it. That keeps me going.

The film is packed with a lot of meta and movie references. Which are the ones you most enjoyed writing?

I really enjoyed the Mufasa dialogue (from The Lion King). My list of favourites includes the opening tribal scene (which marks SRK’s introduction), the entry of Vikram Rathore (played by SRK) before the interval and the portion where he gets his memory back.

I know that you believe in not fixing anything which isn’t broken. But looking back, would you like to rework anything in Jawan?

If any film-maker feels that they have made a 100 per cent perfect product, then that will be the end. Everyone associated with Jawan has put in their best and thankfully, it has worked. I have certain learnings from this film which I plan to correct in my next film (smiles).

Theri to Mersal to Bigil, Thalapathy Vijay has been a big part of your journey as a film-maker. What are the similarities between him and Shah Rukh, as actors and as human beings?

Professionally, they are very serious about the art of film-making. ‘If I come, people will clap’... they don’t have that mindset. They are always ready to put in extra to make a film fresh. They are both kind-hearted, they are the best humans I have come across.

Jawan definitely lends itself to a sequel and even a franchise. Is it too early to ask you about taking its world forward?

Let’s enjoy this phase and see where it goes. Let me sit with a white paper and if we land on ‘Jawan 2’, I will call you and tell you (smiles).

What’s that one thing you really want to do when the euphoria gets over?

My call sheet is only for my family now. My son is seven months old and I plan to spend the next few months with him. He has just started reacting to my ‘comedy’(laughs). And then I will sit down to write my next.