Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia says that actors do not really have a role to play in the success of a film. By Ayushi Sharma

Filmmaker Tigmnashu Dhulia stirred up a hornet’s nest when he suggested that actors really do not have any role to play in the success of a film. “Everything is done for them in advance, the schedule is made, the location is set, everyone reaches on time and they have the privilege of coming late on the sets, all they have to is put their make on and sign autographs,” he said. But when countered, he chuckled, retracted his statement and conceded that without good actors there cannot be a quality film... while adding the caveat that it is an amalgamation of everything that makes any film, exceptional.

However, he did say that film making has become easier in today’s time. “Those were the dark ages and didn’t have much advancement, even in terms of stories,” he said.

Tigmanshu recalled that while making Bandit Queen he chanced upon the story of Paan Singh Tomar, a soldier in the Indian Army, who won a gold medal at the Indian National Games, but unfortunately was forced to become a bandit. The director said, “I was sure since that time that I had to make this film. But I couldn’t find any information anywhere on him. I just had a single magazine with me in which it was written about him but the details were not sufficient to make a film.”

He further apprises us that In the olden days there was no such concept of research while making films. This trend has started now. “I discussed the story with one of my friends, so he told me write it but I said yeh koi fiction thodi hai kuch bhi likh du. It’s a story of someone’s life. How can I make it up and show it to the audience? Then after some days a channel came to me, they told me to research more, I did so and eventually Paan Singh Tomar happenend. So that’s how this research funda kicked off. And none other than Irrfan (Khan) could have done justice to this role. He is my jiggar (heart).”

Talking of another change he said, “People have stopped going to theatres unless and until there is a film like Baahubali or Tamasha. I must say cinema is going to be dead in no time.”

He expounded that theatre is on the verge of coming to end, and the history has been a witness. There has been a lot of encouragement in the past to keep it alive, believed Dhulia. However, he is not ready to give up. Just yet. He is back to making a film with Irrfan again. “Probably it will be on a life of a journalist,” he said.

Tigmanshu, who was the guest at the Cineaste International Film Festival, said, “Achieving success in life is not a huge thing. You just have to be honest with your work as well as with your family members and that is enough to lead a peaceful life.”

(The film festival was held at the Delhi Metropolitan Education.) Photo: Harjeet Singh Kukreja, Nabeel Ahmed