18 Years Of Taarzan: The Wonder Car EXCLUSIVE: Vatsal Sheth is humbled by the film’s BLOCKBUSTER response on television; says “Kids who were born way after it was released are watching it and loving it”

Abbas-Mustan’s Taarzan – The Wonder Car, which was released on August 6, 2004, might not have been a hit at the box office. However, it enjoys a huge fan following on television and is right there in the league of Sooryavansham and Nayak. The story of a car coming to life and taking revenge found an audience, especially among kids. As the film completed 18 years, Vatsal Sheth, who is back from the Maldives after celebrating his birthday, spoke exclusively to Bollywood Hungama about the memories of doing this film, working with Ayesha Takia and a lot more.

Taarzan – The Wonder Car was your debut film. Could you tell us the process of bagging the film?
I met Abbas bhai and Mustan bhai and they were looking to cast the main lead. Our meeting went very well. The next day, I got a call that I am on for the project. It just took one meeting for me to bag the film!

How was it to work with Abbas-Mustan?
They are simple, sweet, honest and straightforward. They treated me like their own son. Technically, they are amazing, and they know their script very well. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Taarzan – The Wonder Car was also Ayesha Takia’s debut vehicle. How was it to work with her?
Yes, we both were newcomers, and it was great fun to work with her. She is a fantastic actress.

Were you nervous, especially in the romantic scenes?
Well, it was my first film. So yes, I was very nervous. However, the whole team was amazing. I remember that Amrish ji made us so comfortable. He would talk to us which really helped.

Did you go to the cinema halls to check the reaction?
I did and it was amazing. But unfortunately, the box office numbers were not great. It doesn’t matter now because it’s the number one film on television. I guess it has broken all records. It gets such high TRPs while airing on televison till date even after so many years of release. This proves that something was good about the film.

Taarzan – The Wonder Car was released a day after your birthday…
(Smiles) Yes. So, it was a special birthday gift for me. I remember going to the premiere show on my birthday. It was quite memorable.

While growing up in the 90s, many of us remembered you as the ‘Just Mohabbat’ kid. However, kids born post-2000 know you thanks to Taarzan – The Wonder Car. What’s extraordinary is that many of them were not even born when the film had been released in theatres!
Yes, a lot of people recollect Taarzan – The Wonder Car. The other day, Sohail bhai (Sohail Khan) sent me a message saying that his son, who was born way after Taarzan – The Wonder Car released, is hooked on to the film. And this is what has happened – kids who were born recently are watching it and loving it. This is a great quality of the film. I guess, it was way ahead of its time.

Ayesha Takia won the award for the Best Debut (Female) at the 50th Filmfare Awards. Shockingly, no one was awarded the best for Best Debut (Male) and hence you didn’t win. Do you feel it was unfair?
I don’t remember, honestly. It would have been great had I won the award. But at the end of the day, when I see the response and love that I have got for the film, it’s okay. Awards milein ya na milein, it doesn’t matter.

Looking at the response to Taarzan – The Wonder Car, don’t you think that it’s high time that Taarzan 2 is made?
I don’t know. You should ask this question to the producer and directors. I would love to be a part of it.

You will be seen next in Adipurush, one of the most awaited films of 2023…
Yes, and right now, I am very, very thrilled and excited to be a part of it. When it comes out, everybody would be like ‘OMG’! I can’t talk much about it but it’s quite exciting for sure. Prabhas and Saif sir are there in the star cast. Om Raut, who has won National Awards, is the director. So, it’s a dream project, and also a dream role for me.

What’s the status of your Gujarati film, Hun Mari Wife Ne Ano Husband? It was shot a few years ago and there were talks that it would released in 2022…
We are looking for a Diwali release. Within a week or two, there would be clarity on the release date.

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