Karwaan Director’s Gift To Dulquer Salmaan

“There are two reasons for gifting DQ this van. One, of course, is emotional. It was almost like an important character in the film and the two spent a lot of time together. Two, it’s been through a lot of wear and tear and is all beat up now. It needs an automobile fanatic like DQ to give it a new lease of life,” informs Akarsh, adding that the van travelled from Mumbai to Bangalore, Ooty, Kochi, in fact, all over Kerala, eventually finding its way back to Aram Nagar in Andheri.

Malayalam star Dulquer Salmaan, who turns 32 on July 28, got a pre-birthday gift from the director of his first Hindi film, Karwaan. Akarsh Khuranais gifting his leading man the blue van that he travels in, with co-stars Irrfan Khan and Mithila Palkar on board, through the film.

Revealing why he chose this van in particular for the comedy-drama, Akarsh says it was for its shape and size. “It had to look like it could fit a dead body in the back. And it had to be practical to shoot in, with space for the camera and the team, along with being tough and comfy,” he says, adding with a laugh that he himself is a big guy.

The filmmaker recalls that once, while they were shooting, Dulquer braked suddenly and he sprawled on the focus puller who in turn fell on the camera. “Sneha Taurani, the associate director, couldn’t stop laughing,” he flashbacks with a smile.

On another occasion they were shooting within a campus in Ooty but since the roads were really steep, it was taking too long so they just drove out. “We knew production would panic because we were driving out with stars and without permission or security but we needed the shot. So, we switched off our phones and walkie talkies and just rolled. The production guys went crazy but we got some great shots and it was a nice drive,” he chuckles.

The birthday boy, he shares, is himself crazy about cars and bikes, owning an array of premium cars and motorcycles. “He has a BMW M3, a Polo GT and a modified Triumph Bonneville in his garage, along with a BMW R1200 GS adventure tourer, a Porsche Panamera Turbo sports sedan, a Mini Cooper and an E46, BMWi8. The van will be another addition to his collection,”Akarsh signs off with a smile.

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