Suspended cop Daya Nayak talks about grooming Randeep Hooda for ‘Risk’ and his thrilling life-script
‘Fool’ish foibles
“My first request to ‘Risk’ director Vishram Sawant was not to make the cop look like a fool. In the past, one lead actor wore the cop’s cap front-to-back and was seen dancing in the garden with a girl. An authentic cop film was Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Shool’. But it showed the cop losing everything to remain true to his duty. Also, I hate it when an underworld don is shown living a glamorous life. No gangster can afford to come down from a helicopter. RGV has done a lot to improve the image of the police force.”
Randeep goes real
“I also made it very clear that I wouldn’t be giving out confidential information about the workings of the police force. Randeep used to visit the police station late at night. We'd go patrolling together. He would wonder how we coped with so many mosquitoes. He even came home and saw all the trophies that I had won for bravery. I instructed him on the length of the hair, the clothes and the walk that would go with his character. I want to watch ‘Risk’ with the audiences and hear their roar.”
Biographical business
“When RGV was making ‘Ab Tak Chappan’ based on my life, I requested him to make a decent film. They wanted to know even minute details like how I held my gun. Films like ‘Kagaar’ and ‘Encounter’ (a Kannada film) have also been made on similar lines. There are 75,000 articles on me on the internet. My life resembles a movie. I come from a very poor family. I ran away from my village to come to Mumbai. I worked for several years in a hotel and attended a night school. My biography would be a sell-out.”
Bollywood buddies
“I helped sort out extortion and underworld problems. When I began to fraternize with the film folks I had to maintain a certain lifestyle. Some of my colleagues got jealous. I was accused of being too speedy in my working style.”
Brahmin origins
“I hate being called an ‘encounter specialist’. I’m a Brahmin. To kill anyone deliberately is unthinkable to me. I don’t eat meat. I don’t drink—not even tea and coffee. I’ve never attended film parties. Whatever happened in the line of duty was a painful necessity. Koi jaan boojh ke to kiya nahin. No police officer is interested in killing anyone deliberately. I’ve worked sincerely and I’ll do so again as soon as my suspension is revoked. For now, I spend a lot of time with my family. Since all the security has been removed, my family is under threat. I keep getting threatening calls. But I don’t let these setbacks bother me.”
