With Ajay, I learned the power of appeasing the local deity: Mani Shankar on 20 Years of Ajay Devgn-Bobby Deol’s Tango Charlie – Exclusive | Hindi Movie News

As ‘Tango Charlie’ completes 20 years, filmmaker Mani Shankar reflects on the journey of bringing this gripping war drama to life. Starring Ajay Devgn and Bobby Deol, the film delves deep into the psychological and emotional toll of armed conflict, exploring themes of duty, sacrifice, and the moral dilemmas faced by soldiers. In this exclusive conversation with ETimes, Mani Shankar revisits the real-life experiences that shaped the narrative, the dynamic between his lead actors, and the lasting impact of the film. From Ajay Devgn’s quiet intensity to Bobby Deol’s transformative journey, the director offers rare insights into the making of a film that questioned the cost of war while paying tribute to India’s unsung heroes.
Your film Tango Charlie turns 20 today.
Tango Charlie came as a result of certain harsh experiences I had as a filmmaker. In 1996, I went to Kashmir on an invitation from the Home Secretary, Government of India. I was supposed to create a truthful film that countered the endless barrage of videos beamed from Pakistan. We created a music video penned by the late P.K. Mishra and composed by Oscar award winner M.M. Keeravani, titled Pyara Gulshan Apna.
During the making of that film, I interacted with many renegade militants of Hizbul Mujahideen and learned their stories firsthand. I then started meeting paramilitary soldiers who were protecting our film crew from assaults inside Kashmir. That’s how the seeds of Tango Charlie emerged—through gruesome firsthand accounts of brutality, passion, and determination from both sides.
Were you able to put on screen what you had envisioned on paper?
Tango Charlie wasn’t just a movie script. It was the outpouring of hundreds of hearts—hearts that had seen battle firsthand, had witnessed their buddies being ripped apart, and had groped for answers but found none. When I finally started writing the script, it coalesced into two characters—the hardcore killer and the soft-hearted novice: Ajay Devgn and Bobby Deol.
The two were perfectly mismatched?
Ajay played his part with ease and perfection, like he was born for it. There was a quiet menace in his eyes that never went away. His character had simply killed too many people, and his mind had hardened into a soldier’s attitude of repaying a debt. In a classic line, he even equated patriotism with just paying off a debt to his nation and his death with clearing the interest due. He was simple, hard, and focused—killing was what he did best.
Bobby, on the other hand, was the novice, brimming with innocence and naivety. He had his dreams and desires lined up. Ajay trains a reluctant Bobby to kill as efficiently and silently as possible. Bobby does it, but not without revolting from within, asking hard questions, and sometimes refusing orders. Together, they patrol the hotspots inside India. The script spares nobody, not even the audience, as they encounter heart-wrenching events that leave scars on Bobby’s soul—scars he cannot heal or explain away.
Did Tango Charlie question the validity of war and terrorism?
A host of unanswered questions rise to haunt the audience, even as the action enthralls and grips them—questions we all should ask at some point in our lives. This is our nation, and we cannot turn a blind eye and hope to remain at peace.
Bobby and Ajay hunt a group of militants in the jungles of the Northeast. After a night of slaughter, they are the only ones left alive. They capture a lone militant, the last survivor of his company, and Bobby pleads with Ajay to spare the man’s life. He is simply too tired of the endless killing and cannot imagine shooting a man in cold blood. Ajay relents and lets him go.
The scene shifts to a Naxalite zone, where Bobby fights and kills his own JCO, who tries to rape a captured female Naxalite. Later, in Gujarat, at the height of the riots, they have to fire and kill unarmed rioters. Everywhere, Bobby faces real dilemmas with no answers, and Ajay provides none. Sometimes, Bobby’s sentimental approach is highly misplaced—he is too naive—and Ajay has to step in to protect him from certain death.
But did Bobby learn his lessons? Did he harden up inside?
In the climax, as Ajay dies protecting a road bridge en route to Kargil—and indirectly paving the way for victory in the Kargil War—Bobby finally rises and becomes his own man. He uses every strategy and tactic he has learned from his mentor and turns the tables. But not before lying mortally wounded in the snow, knowing nobody would come to his rescue. In his last conscious moments, Bobby reflects on everything and laughs without regret—of a life well lived, a job well done—a soldier signing out with dignity.
What do you think about the trajectory of Bobby Deol’s career?
Bobby showed in Tango Charlie that he can be a brilliant actor if he gets the right kind of role and director. When he did Animal, he got both. And he excelled beyond belief. Bobby is indeed the ‘Chupa Rustom’ of Hindi cinema, while Ajay has always been the ‘Badshah.’
I must mention my dear friend, the late Nitin Manmohan, the producer who pulled off an amazing project with such stalwarts. Nitin was a great support and a fighter of extraordinary bravery. Behind the scenes, he fought many battles to keep the film going. Ajay was his mischievous self on set, always coming up with something wicked that kept everyone in stitches. He and Bobby shared great chemistry behind the scenes and would sometimes conspire together to create some fun.
You once told me that Ajay does an elaborate puja at every location.
With Ajay, I learned the power of appeasing the local deity. He would always seek out the local temple and perform a full-scale puja before starting the shoot. He also considered it his duty to feed the poor in the town. It was his way of showing gratitude.
What did he say when you asked him why?
Ajay replied enigmatically, We need their permission and their blessings. This is their town; they have been here for centuries. We are the strangers who must kneel before their power and grace. Without their support, nothing will go right for us.
What is your most grueling memory of Tango Charlie?
I remember shooting the last scene of the film on a snowy mountain, at night, in sub-zero weather. Everyone was surviving on a diet of brandy and hot water. My challenge was to wrap up before the inebriation of the unit wobbled the camera and ruined the shot. Fortunately, in the script, a dying Pakistani soldier asks for some rum, and Bobby shares his flask as they exchange a few final words. Breaking all protocols, the liquid in the flask was actual rum, not colored water—ensuring my actors stayed warm enough to deliver their lines.

Closing thoughts?
Tango Charlie started as a record of anguished memories of foot soldiers who faced life-and-death battles—and it ended authentically in that spirit. It is a tribute to our men in uniform, a salute to their sacrifice and honor. This is the 20th year of Tango Charlie, and the movie has more than 190 million views on YouTube alone—an amazing record!