“Teraa Surroor is a full commercial paisa vasool film” – Shawn Arranha

Teraa Surroor has released and one thing that has certainly stood out is the technical finesse that the film carries. Director Shawn Arranha has pretty much ensured that even with a limited budget of 6.5 crore, the film carries a very stylish up-market look. In the times when even a single set costs this kind of amount, Shawn managed to shoot the entire film in Dublin and put it all together for his producers. Over to Shawn, who is sticking to the ‘mantra’ of making a grand film in limited budget and delivering a product that makes for a big screen experience.

How did you end up making the film in just 6.5 crore?
As a producer, Himesh Reshammiya trusted me to deliver goods. He has been in the business for long and knows that one can actually put together a film within budget. He is a fantastic producer. Moreover, he has a good technical team with him which ensured that everything went through clockwork precision. We in fact did a lot of pre-production work before the entire team headed to Dublin. We saved a lot there.

Wasn’t shooting in Dublin an expensive affair?
I know the aspect of my work very well since I am also a technical director. I know how to take a shot in such a way that it comes across as really big. Moreover, let’s not forget that none of that would have been possible without team work. My actors and technicians put in more than 100% which allowed me to finish the entire shoot in just 30 days.

That must have pleased Himesh as a producer.
Yes. He wanted a director who could shoot stylishly while putting together a glossy commercial film. When I went through the script of Teraa Surroor, I was bowled over. The story is very different and has the right mix of thrills and romance. From my past experience I have realized that when audience keeps guessing from the beginning till the end, it truly works. We have come up with a commercial potboiler which is totally different from the biopics that have been hitting the screens regularly of late. After a really long time there is a full commercial paisa vasool film that caters to masses as well as multiplexes audiences.

Guess Himesh got quite comfortable as an actor too by then.
From The Xpose to Teraa Surroor, he has gone to the next level. Physically too, he has gone lean and developed his muscles. He has actually worked a lot on himself. He is looking better and has got just the right dialogue delivery for the film. He is only getting better and better.

Now that the film has released, how do you feel?
Very happy! As a director, I waited to pick up a film that I could make with a good brand. What better way to do that than do that for T-Series and HR Musik. Nowadays, what works is the combination of content and budget. If you get these two things, you are on. I liked the script and the right budget, and hence I was game for it. I have given the film my best!