Parmeet Sethi on 15 years of Badmaash Company: 'Maine khunnas mein likhi'

Badmaash Company is still recognised as a chic commercial triumph, even after fifteen years since it was released. However, few people are aware that actor-filmmaker Parmeet Sethi wrote the script "out of frustration" when his ideal project bombed. Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma feature in the film.

Parmeet Sethi's frustration driven inspiration

The inspiration for Badmaash Company came to Sethi (watch Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin and Jhankaar Beats) amid a time of artistic disillusionment, he said in an interview with Indian Express. A romantic movie based on an India-Pakistan love story, Prince of Lahore was originally greenlit by Yash Raj Films; he was disillusioned with his career in television and film.

Production on Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, starring Shah Rukh Khan and debutante Anushka Sharma (watch NH10 and PK), was nearly ready to begin when producer Aditya Chopra requested that Sethi postpone the start of the production. Despite Chopra's best efforts, an Indian crew was unable to film in Lahore because the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks occurred just as the film was set to return.

Sethi recounted, "Maine khunnas mein Badmaash Company likhi." (I wrote Badmaash Company out of frustration.) Six days after he conceived the story in his head, he had a fully fleshed-out script. Chopra was the first person I went up to. The YRF head requested to meet with him the following day after Sethi informed him he had written another screenplay, and they started working on the film right away.

Parmeet Sethi's dream casting

The actor-turned-filmmaker was able to cast anybody he wanted once he obtained YRF's backing to launch the movie. He remarked, Aditya was like, "Tujhe kaun chahiye? Tu bas naam le, mai usko lekar aaunga." (Aditya was like, 'Who do you want? Just name them, and I will bring them on board.'

The leading actors of Bollywood at the time were Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, and Imran Khan. Without Ranbir, the film Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year would not have achieved its intended tone, and audiences were also eager to see Imran Khan. Thus, there was no mistaking Sethi's preference.

Shahid Kapoor was always his first pick. The actor-filmmaker was crossing his fingers that the actor would say yes, as he was working on his father's film at the time.

Kapoor turned down the part at first so he and his father, Pankaj Kapur, could concentrate on a film. The script, though, swayed him. Sethi remembered that at first Kapoor declined because he wanted to be in his dad's film, but after reading the script, he decided to do Badmaash Company instead.

Kapoor was on board in no time, but Sethi was apprehensive when Chopra suggested Sharma play the lead female role. He remarked, "Aditya suggested Anushka’s name. He said, ‘Yaar, she is very good. You just met her once.’ For me, her image was very Indianised because I had watched her in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. I wanted someone who looked extremely modern, was outspoken, and had an attitude. But when I met her, all my prejudice washed out. She is God-gifted and has a very unique spontaneity to herself."

Badmaash Company plot

Set against the idealistic backdrop of post-liberalisation India, Badmaash Company (released in May 2010) follows four young friends as they embark on an illicit business venture in search of rapid financial success. Not only did the film's financial success bring Parmeet Sethi's creative journey back to life, but it also displayed an attractive, youthful spirit that was popular with moviegoers back then.