A few days before Hunterrr (2015) was re-released in cinemas on April 4, the highly talented Radhika Apte spoke exclusively with Bollywood Hungama about the film, her memories etc.
EXCLUSIVE: Radhika Apte talks about Hunterrr’s re-release: “Unfortunately, sex comedies in our country are quite DEROGATORY. This one was not”; also reveals, “NOBODY in the star cast was paid much. But it changed our lives”
When did you learn about the re-release plans?
I was told about it around 2 months ago. The makers called me to inform me about the re-release plans. I told them to wait for me (to come back to India)! I am hoping to go watch it again and celebrate it with everybody. Very rarely do you do a film that goes on to become a cult. Also, Gulshan Devaiah, Sai Tamhankar and I are all very close friends even today. As a result, it’s been more than a film to us.
Do you recall what made you sign the film?
That’s an interesting question. I don’t recall exactly but I do remember that it was a very small independent film. We were about to leave for the shoot and that’s when something went wrong. We thought that the film might not be made as we lost out on financiers. Gulshan and I met Harsh (writer-director Harshvardhan Kulkarni); we took a cake for him! We assured him that the film would be made. Finally, the film went on floors as they worked very hard to raise money.
Were you happy that despite being a sex comedy, Hunterrr was not a misogynistic film and females were not shown as dumb?
I just liked the script a lot. I could relate to it as I grew up in that time. I was born in the 80s and I was also from Pune. Hence, I have seen boys like the ones shown in the film. I’ve been that girl in the school which has been depicted in the childhood portions. As a result, I saw it as a personal, sweet film. It’s very true to its time. Unfortunately, sex comedies in this country are quite derogatory. This one was not.
In an old interview, you confessed that you were paid Rs. 60,000 for Shor In The City (2011). By the time you signed Hunterrr, did your pay see a jump?
I don’t remember my fees for Hunterrr but I don’t think I got paid a lot. Nobody was paid much! We became a part of the film because we loved it. However, the film helped us get paid better in the future. It did change everybody’s lives, be it me, Gullu, Harsh, Sai etc.
I still remember what a year 2015 was for you. Exactly a month before Hunterrr, you were seen in Badlapur. The same day, your Malayalam film Haram also arrived in cinemas. A few months later, we saw you in Manjhi – The Mountain Man. It must have been a special year for you…
Yes. But when we were shooting for Hunterrr, I had some 4-5 films lined up. Something had gone wrong and every film got postponed. I was like, ‘What is happening?’. And then all these films arrived in cinemas in the same year. But yeah, there was a time when I feared that these films might never work out.
What feedback did you get for Hunterrr among the general public? These days, one instantly gets to know the reactions as people tend to tweet or send DMs. This wasn’t in trend then…
I don’t check DMs or tweets even now! But I remember people loving it and getting great reviews for it. There was scepticism when we were doing the promotions. They saw the trailer and the design of the poster and people were like ‘Why you guys are doing a sex comedy’. And when people watched it, they really enjoyed it. And as I said, for a particular generation, it was a very relatable film.
What was the industry feedback like?
(Laughs) I don’t remember. I have realized that after you give birth to a child, you go through a brain fog (laughs)! These years seem to be a different chapter of my life. Therefore, I don’t quite remember much!
Gulshan Devaiah has often said that if Hunterrr had collected Rs. 100 crores, things would have been different for him. Do you also put too much importance on the box office?
I feel that those who put in money need to recover. It’s very heartbreaking when you make the film with honesty and it doesn’t break even or make money. That’s important. Beyond that, which film made how much is something I have taken myself out a long time ago.
There have been talks about Hunterrr 2…
Harsh was supposed to make the sequel. Even after so many years, we are behind him to make Hunterrr 2. I really hope he makes it.
Also Read: Gulshan Devaiah, Radhika Apte and Sai Tamhankar REACT as Hunterrr gears up for re-release on April 4: “The film has gone on to achieve cult status”
More Pages: Hunterrr Sequel Box Office Collection , Hunterrr Sequel Movie Review
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