On Vatsal Sheth’s birthday, we take a nostalgic journey back to his celebrated debut film ‘Taarzan: The Wonder Car’, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the film’s release. Directed by the famous duo Abbas-Mustan, this movie also marked the debut of actress Ayesha Takia, showcasing a unique blend of thriller and emotional drama that has left a lasting impression on Indian cinema.
The cast of ‘Taarzan: The Wonder Car’ was populated with some of Bollywood’s iconic figures, including Ajay Devgn in a special role as Sheth’s father. The ensemble cast boasted legendary performers such as Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Shakti Kapoor, and Gulshan Grover, adding significant gravitas to the narrative. The storyline centers around Raj, played by Vatsal Sheth, who transforms his deceased father’s car into a technologically advanced vehicle named Taarzan. The twist in the tale comes with the car being possessed by his father’s spirit, leading to a series of events where the car avenges his murder by eliminating his killers.
Released on August 6, 2004, ‘Taarzan: The Wonder Car’ marked a significant cinematic venture, achieving cult status despite its initial underperformance at the box office. As the film hit television screens and later OTT platforms, its popularity soared, amassing a considerable fan base.
Discussing his venture into the film, Vatsal Sheth expressed sheer admiration for the project and the opportunity to work with the renowned Abbas-Mustan. In an interview with mid-day.com, he stated, “I was never skeptical and was more than excited. Abbas-Mustan is a very big name in the industry and I got to debut under them. It was a car movie, and who doesn’t like cars? It was such an amazing concept, set up in a nice way, big budget film and we had Ajay sir in the film. I thought it couldn’t get better than that.”
However, the film’s box office performance did not meet expectations, which Vatsal attributes to a variety of factors including timing, publicity, and marketing. He believes that if a film is genuinely good, it will find its audience eventually. “It was when I met somebody from Zee back then how big the film really is. They would put Tarzaan in the same time slot when competitive channels would telecast films like ‘Ra.One’ and Don. That’s when I realised it is huge.
. To date, people talk about Tarzaan,” Vatsal said.
A particularly amusing anecdote related to the film was when Vatsal and Ishita Dutta had a baby boy, and a meme circulated suggesting that Ajay Devgn, who played Vatsal’s father in ‘Taarzan’ and Ishita’s father in the hit film ‘Drishyam’ and its sequel, became both a grandfather and great-grandfather. This humorous incident underscores the lasting impact ‘Taarzan’ has had on its audience. Vatsal reflected, “It’s been two decades since Taarzan and people still connect with it. This shows how successful the film is and how much people love this film.”
Telling the story of how he landed the lead role in ‘Taarzan: The Wonder Car’, Vatsal revealed a rather unconventional casting process. Unlike the norm of rigorous auditions, he described a casual meeting with Abbas-Mustan that sealed his fate in the film industry. “Well, to my surprise, there was no audition. I met Abbas-Mustan and they spoke to me for a good one hour. My manager called and said that I am in for the project. I did not even ask whether they want my pictures or an audition. I didn’t want to lose out on the film, I was like ‘great’. When we started shooting, I asked Abbas-Mustan bhai why they did not do my audition and what made them sign me. They had not even seen my TV show ‘Just Mohabbat’. They said, ‘Vastal, we auditioned and met like a lot of guys, at least 40-50 guys. They said that everybody used to come to their office and everyone would wear tight shirts, sleeves, and jackets. They were fully dressed up and showing off their physique and muscles. They said you were the only one who came in a simple shirt and jeans, and they felt like oh this is the boy.”
The impact of ‘Taarzan: The Wonder Car’ continues to resonate with audiences, as evidenced by its recurring presence in discussions and media even after two decades. As Vatsal Sheth celebrates his birthday, it’s not just a milestone for him but also a celebration of a film that has cemented its place in Bollywood’s cultural lore.
