Amitabh Bachchan praises ‘Chehre’ producer Anand Pandit for pulling off a gruelling schedule in Slovakia. Pandit says he is deluged by compliments for the superstar’s stunning performance as a judge in ‘Chehre’

Anand Pandit’s passion project ‘Chehre’ has been running successfully in theatres and has won much acclaim for its suspenseful theme, powerful performances, and solid writing. In an informal chat with Pandit and co-star Emran Hashmi, Amitabh Bachchan recently praised the extraordinary care that was lavished upon the cast and crew during the film’s schedule in Slovakia.

Amitabh Bachchan said, “Before we discuss anything else, I must tell you Anand Bhai what an exemplary and extraordinary producer you have been.  As a producer, you have excelled and looked after the entire production and the unit so beautifully, I cannot express it enough. I was so petrified when I was told that we have to go to Slovakia and that we have to shoot in the snow. I realised that shooting in -17 degrees would entail a lot of care and a lot of precaution given how big the crew was.  I didn’t know what the exact number of the crew members was but we all needed warm clothes and winter gear.  Anand Bhai, when I landed there, I saw every crew member, no matter what contribution they were making to the film, was wearing warm socks, winter clothing and there were impeccable heating arrangements available for all of us, so we could work in that intense winter. This was an incredible job and I truly appreciate it. Thank you so much for looking after all of us.”

Bachchan added that Pandit ensured the well-being and comfort of everyone in the challenging climate conditions with such care, that not even a single member of the crew felt a twinge of discomfort during the shoot.

Amitabh Bachchan has a way with courtroom and revenge dramas. As an Angry Young Man, he fought on-screen battles for underdogs, the oppressed and the wronged for decades and even today, his eyes have the same glimmer and his voice has the same power when he plays the justice driven avenger.

His latest release ‘Chehre’ has brought back memories of his dramatic monologues from ‘Deewar’, ‘Andha Kanoon’, ‘Main Azaad Hoon’ and many more and also the poignance and power of his performances in ‘Pink’ and ‘Badla’ where he played a man obsessed with righting a wrong.

Veteran producer Anand Pandit who released ‘Chehre’ on the big screen on August 27, says he has been deluged with complimentary messages about the film and Amitabh Bachchan’s performance. He says, “There is nothing comparable to Mr Bachchan holding forth and mesmerizing the audience with his voice and dialogue delivery. Because ‘Chehre’ is a lot like a courtroom drama, people were reminded of his work in ‘Pink.’ Because the film is about crime, retribution and justice, many recalled his role in ‘Badla.’ He has revived the memories of some of his best roles across the decades in this film.”

Pandit has many favourite moments in ‘Chehre’ but he says, “Mr Bachchan’s confrontation scenes with Emraan, his monologue and the title track are the highlights of the film and the audiences too have appreciated them immensely.”

Produced by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures & Saraswati Entertainment Private Limited,  ‘Chehre’  also stars Emran Hashmi, Annu Kapoor, Krystle D’Souza, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Raghubir Yadav, Siddhanth Kapoor, and Rhea Chakraborty. The film was released in theatres across the country on August 27, 2021.

(Cover image: Amitabh Bachchan with producer Anand Pandit  Credit: Studiotalk)