Mohit Suri's first film, Zeher, a romantic thriller, released in 2005. Since then he has made films on a variety of mature and difficult subjects ranging from the Indian pornographic industry (Kalyug), gangsters and the flesh trade (Aawarapan), schizophrenia (Woh Lamhe), to exorcism (Raaz TMC).

All of them have been successful and their music has been even more successful.

'Racism exists Everywhere' says : Young Director Mohit Suri 

Director of 'C R O O K' Movie

The young director is back with Crook, a film about youngsters and racism in Australia. He talks about the reason behind making such a film, his equation with cousin Emraan Hashmi, the universal appeal of the film, and more.

Why did you choose to make Crook?

I read about Indians being beaten up in Australia.I found a story in that because when I was in Chandigarh, I saw that every household had a son going to Australia.I went there to do some research. I was not sure what exactly I wanted to do. I was shocked to find so many Indians there; the entire underbelly of the country is mostly Indian-dominated. Every cab driver is from Punjab, India.

I went to the store where the first racial attack had taken place. The victim had gone into coma. I asked around about what had happened. They told me a very shocking story about how this boy was beaten up. Some guys were driving around in a car singing 'Singh is Kinng' and the Whites did not like it.

So they entered the store and asked who was 'Singh'? This boy said that he was 'Singh'. They sent the other people out and shut the store. They beat up the boy. I was appalled by it.

However, when I walked out I saw a notice for accommodation. It said: For Gujarati Boys only. What I realized is that racialism is a part of every person's heart, all around the world. I did not want to make a film bashing any race or country as racism is universal. I have dealt with racism on a larger scale.

Does Emraan Hashmi influence the content of your film? Why do you always cast him in your films?

Emraan and I started our careers together as assistant directors. We have grown up with the same sensibilities. When I like something, he likes it too. I had shared the idea with him before I went to Australia. He was excited about it. He has always told me that I make good movies but they are more mature than I am. He has always wanted to make a youthful film with me. Emraan's character is 24-25 years old. He has usually played a gangster, undercover agent, cop, gambler, and other characters which are way older than him. He has played a father in Jannat two years ago though he has become a father only now. In this film, he has a younger, fresher, leaner, cleaner look.

We bounce off an idea and discuss it and take it forward. Emraan is a great actor and he is a draw at the box office too. What more do you need!

Today's youth does not care about the values their parents gave them. Only success matters to them. They think it is good to be bad. Emraan is very good at playing a bad, angry guy. In all his films, be it Gangster, Jannat, Murder, and Footpath, the bad character has always suited him better. Barring Tum  Mile, he has not played a purely nice guy anywhere. Even in Awaarapan, he was a gangster with a heart of gold.

In Crook, he is not all bad. He wants to be bad because he feels goodness does not get anyone anywhere. Emraan's character drives a cab, washes dishes, and the like in the film. That is what everybody does when they go abroad.

How did you cast Neha Sharma in the film?

I was looking for a heroine and came across Neha's photos. I had heard she had done South Indian films. We met her and I thought she looked nice and would be fit for the part. She asked me if I would audition her for the role. I said I would not because I had seen her dance in her films. I told her if she could do those steps fast, confidently, uninhibitedly, and gracefully, she could definitely act!

Is the film anti-Australia?

Everyone was worried about the message of the movie, whether we are bashing that country (Australia). This was an issue when we needed permits to shoot at certain locations. We had to shoot those scenes in Mumbai. The film is about racism in general and not specifically racism in Australia. Neither Mahatma Gandhi nor Nelson Mandela had a solution to racism so how can I, as a 28-year-old director, have a solution? People were prejudiced against the film wondering if it was anti-a-particular-race. The Censor Board has seen my film and they told me that the film is not only about racism in Australia but handles the issue on a larger scale.

Did you feel discriminated against while shooting there?

We were not allowed entry in a club. It was our day off and we decided to go to a club. The bouncer told us that the club was filled beyond capacity and he could not allow us. At the same time, he let a White guy enter. Ironically, the bouncer was Indian. This was interesting and took me back to colonial times. We still have a colonial hangover; if a White guy drinks, it is his culture but if an Indian drinks, he is considered uncouth and drunk! Before we point fingers at anybody, we need to look at ourselves. Racism is not about being racist towards a religion or race. People can also be racist towards their housekeeper, auto drivers, etc. It's there in all of us and the extent to which we express it, depends on us.

What is Shella Allan's character in the film?

She is playing an Australian girl in the film. She is a stripper. Neha and Arjan are siblings in the film and even this girl has a brother. I have drawn a parallel in the relationship of the siblings. The basic core of the sibling relationship, no matter what the nationality or how rigid their values, is the same.

Most Bhatt films are love stories with backdrops inspired from real events. Tum Mile had the 26/11 floods as a backdrop but it was a love story. Is Crook like that?

Crook is like how Kalyug was. In Kalyug, the porn industry was portrayed as dark and morbid. In actuality, it is quite exciting. Crook is more on those lines. It has shown Australian racism as it is but it is not a documentary. That has been done separately. I have not come to educate or provide information on racism in Australia because the news channels do a good job with it. I have come here to entertain people through my film.

All Bhatt films and especially Emraan Hashmi's films have chart-busting music. How does that happen?

We work very hard on our music. It is not that we are plain lucky with it. We know good music is one of the USPs of Bhatt films. Luckily, the directors who have joined the company, be it Kunal, Anurag, or me, have a ear for good music. We do not okay tunes till we are completely satisfied.

Which other films are you working on?

I am not somebody to do too many things at a time. I am busy with Crook till the 8th and then by the end of the year, I will start Murder 2.