Meet The ‘Real’ Hero of Azaad

‘Abhishek
is
known
to
launch
new
‘stars’
and
not
‘kids.’
He
has
always
been
successful
with
that.
He
has
a
lot
of
patience
for
new
people.
I
won’t
say
to
tolerate
them,
but
to
nurture
them.
All
of
them
have
done
very
well.’



Rediff.com‘s
Mayur
Sanap,
Hitesh
Harisinghani
and
Afsar
Dayatar
report
from
the
trailer
launch.

For
a
film
buzzing
with
the
star
power
of
Ajay
Devgn,
it
was
amazing
how
the
real
star
actually
emerged
to
be
a
handsome
black
horse,
playing
the
titular
character
in

Azaad.

Director
Abhishek
Kapoor
explains
the
story
behind
his
new
find.

“I
did
not
want
to
make
a
movie
about
a
horse
and
then
rent
one.
I
was
wondering
whether
we
should
import
a
horse
or
try
VFX.
Then
I
thought
I
will
just
buy
a
horse.
I
sent
the
team
all
over
the
country
to
find
the
most
beautiful
black
horse
they
can
find.
On
a
cold
morning
in
February,
I
got
a
call.
It
was
a
call
from
a
village
in
Punjab
and
they
said
we
have
found
a
horse
for
you.
I
landed
up
in
Punjab
to
see
him,
and
this
horse
came
out
from
the
mist.
It
was
love
at
first
sight.
I
knew
this
was
my
hero.”

Kapoor,
who
is
known
for
launching
the
careers
of
Sushant
Singh
Rajput
with

Kai
Po
Che
and
Sara
Ali
Khan
in

Kedarnath,
introduces
Ajay’s
nephew
Aaman
Devgan
and
Raveena
Tandon’s
daughter
Rasha
Thadani
in

Azaad.

The
director
describes Azaad
as
his
passion
project,
for
which
the
writing
took
10
years.
Kapoor
said
he
had
to
learn
the
whole
process
of
how
to
make
a
movie
with
an
animal.

“We
bought
several
other
horses
to
play
the
other
characters,
so
now
we
have
several
of
them.
This
part
of
making
this
film
has
been
the
most
enriching
for
me,”
Kapoor
adds.

VIDEO:
Abhishek
Kapoor
talks
about
the
‘gravitas’
in
Aaman
Devgan
and
‘rose
like
quality’
in
Rasha
Thadani

Ajay
calls Azaad ‘extremely
special’
and
praises
Kapoor
for
his
ability
to
foster
young
talent
and
being
patient
with
them
on
sets.

“Abhishek
is
known
to
launch
new
‘stars’
and
not
‘kids.’
He
has
always
been
successful
with
that.
He
has
a
lot
of
patience
for
new
people.
I
won’t
say
to
tolerate
them,
but
to
nurture
them.
All
of
them
have
done
very
well.”

VIDEO:
Rasha
Thadani
shares
her
mom’s
best
advice 

Aaman,
who
plays
the
character
of
a
rebel
named
Govind,
said
he
is
‘truly
honoured’
to
be
a
part
of

Azaad
and
revealed
that
he
was
‘very
nervous’
on
the
first
day
of
the
shoot.

“When
we
started
shooting
this
film,
I
was
very
nervous,”
he
says.

“I
am
still
nervous
but
it
is
accompanied
with
a
lot
of
excitement,
happiness.
This
moment
will
stay
with
me
forever.
I
was
so
nervous
on
the
first
day
when
I
shot
with
him
that
I
was
not
seeing
the
character.
I
was
seeing
Ajay
Devgn.”

Set
in
pre-independence
India,

Azaad
revolves
around
themes
of
friendship
and
loyalty
with
the
story
of
a
horse
and
an
army
of
dacoits
at
its
centre.
The
trailer
gives
a
sense
of
emotional
adventure
with
a
high-energy
mix
of
action
and
dramatic
moments.

VIDEO:
Aaman
Devgan
tells
why
he
was
nervous
on
the
first
day
of

Azaad’s
shoot

Ajay
plays
a
dacoit
rebelling
against
the
British
Raj,
and
becomes
a
mentor
to
Aaman’s
character.

Speaking
about
their
equation
in
real
life,
Ajay
feels
Aaman
is
like
his
own
son.

“He
keeps
getting
fired
from
me,”
Ajay
says
looking
at
Aaman.

“Whatever
he
tells
us
is
not
enough
for
me.
He
works
very
hard
but
I
keep
pushing
him
and
say
it
is
not
enough.
Sometimes,
he
likes
it,
sometimes
he
does
not.
But
that’s
how
I
am
and
that’s
how
I
will
be.”

Aaman
adds,
“He
is
as
loving
as
he
is
strict.
When
it
comes
to
having
fun
and
enjoying
family
time,
he
is
very
loving.
But
when
it
comes
to
work,
you
will
want
to
run
away.
He
is
very
strict.”

VIDEO:
Ajay
Devgn
shares
his
favourite
horse
story 

After
delivering
two
blockbusters

Shaitaan
and

Singham
Again
last
year,

Azaad
marks
Ajay’s
first
film
of
2025.
When
asked
if
he
feels
nostalgic
seeing
the
debut
of
new
stars,
the
actor
took
the
moment
to
reflect
on
his
32-year-long
career.

“A
lot
has
changed
over
the
years,”
he
says.
“When
we
came
into
the
industry,
there
was
a
rawness.
Today’s
generation
comes
fully
prepared,
which
is
a
good
thing.
Back
then,
we
would
learn
things
on
the
sets.
The
audience
overlooked
our
mistakes
but
today’s
audience
is
not
forgiving.
That
puts
a
lot
of
pressure
on
today’s
generation
of
actors.
You
need
to
be
well
prepared.
I
feel
both
these
kids
(Aaman
and
Rasha)
have
prepared
themselves
very
well.”

Azaad
will
release
on
January
17.