Wrap-up Of Mega Akshay-Tiger Action Thriller Bade Miyan Chote Miyan In Jordan

REPORT STRAIGHT FROM THE LOCATION:

In 1998, Amitabh Bachchan had moved to senior category, Govinda was at his energetic peak, director David Dhawan was a hit machine and producer Vashu Bhagnani was on a roll. Together they delivered the blockbuster Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with the title song and Raveena-Govinda’s ‘Kisi disco mein jaaye’ as chartbusters. The producer’s son, Jackky Bhagnani was a 14-year-old schoolboy, revelling in his father’s fortunes.

In 2024, David is escorted on stage for a Lifetime Achievement Award, Govinda and Amitabh have become senior and super senior citizens. Fit and agile Vashu Bhagnani is relieved to have his youthful son by his side, actively contributing to and participating in the 2.0 production of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (BMCM), their home franchise, on a mega scale.

In 1998, Akshay Kumar was in his early 30s and had already started building himself as a formidable Khiladi. In 2024, he’s the first crew member to step aboard the new BMCM and scouting around for a younger actor took the Bhagnanis to Tiger Shroff. Who better than the fresh Akshay-Tiger team for a franchise that spells action, dance and entertainment?

The international scale and polish came from Ali Abbas Zafar, the director who had globe-trotted to give awesomeness to Tiger Zinda Hai (2017).

“It was 80-20,” disclosed Jackky who was creatively involved with BMCM right from inception including contributing 20% to the scripting with Ali.

“But it’s dad who’s still the one with the money. And Jordan was his idea,” added Jackky, as a huge contingent of 52 journalists from all over India was flown to Jordan to witness the wrap-up of BMCM on the logistically nightmarish peaks of Wadi Rum (where Matt Damon shot The Martians). The entire film with heady action sequences in Glasgow, London and Abu Dhabi had already been shot. Choreographer Bosco had to shoot four song sequences in different parts of exotic Jordan that has a mélange of locations. Including the large expanse of desert and craggy hills of Wadi Rum with chilly winds and temperatures dipping below 10 degrees.

With everybody else in zipped up jackets, thermals and monkey caps, Akshay was indulgent about Tiger who stood bare-headed and bare chested as they danced happily to Bosco’s moves. Vishal Mishra is the music composer. If anybody remembers, BMCM (1998) had feisty music by Viju Shah. 

War-torn Israel was visible from one of the locations in Aqaba. But if a shoot that seemed like a logistic nightmare went off with clockwork precision and without a hiccup, it was the result of detailed coordination between Bhagnani’s efficient Pooja Films and the Jordanian government that has a one-shop window to encourage shootings from Hollywood and Bollywood. Jordan has even been buying up military equipment (tanks, planes et al) of World War times from all over the world to hire out to filmmakers shooting in their country. Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Malayalam film Aadujeevitham (Goat Life) was also shot in Jordan. As most people who’ve seen the teaser of BMCM know, Prithvi, a superstar in Kerala, is the main antagonist in the Akshay-Tiger starrer.

At the wrap-up party, hosted by the Bhagnanis a few hours before the 200+ cast and crew took the chartered flight back to Mumbai, Akshay and Tiger who also took the same flight, posed for umpteen selfies and photographs. Ali Abbas came late to the party with wife and infant daughter, apologising that he was delayed because the little one was sleepy and had to be woken up and brought to the dinner. 

The perfectly-organised press junket was an indication of the all-round efficiency with which this massive production has been put together.

The big Eid release is written and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar.

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