For long, Rajkumar Santoshi was known for hard-hitting movies like Damini and Ghayal. The filmmaker now wants to make masala films to destress his audience. He talks to Karan Bhardwaj about Phata Poster Nikla Hero, his inspirations and spat with Firoz A Nadiadwala
Rajkumar Santoshi has impressed audience and critics alike. In 90s, he emerged as the king of hard-hitting cinema with movies like Ghayal, Ghatak, Damini, lajja and Pukar. However, he received flak for films like The legend of Bhagat Singh, Khakee, Halla Bol and Family: Ties of Blood till he finally hit the jackpot with Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. The director whose next, Phata Poster Nikla Hero, is again a masala entertainer, says commercial success is crucial for him to sustain his vision for cinema. Excerpts from the interview:
Your last release (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani) was a blockbuster. Why did it take four years to come backIJ
Well, it’s been unfortunate. After success of Ajab Prem…, I started Power with Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. It was produced by Firoz A Nadiadwala. We did the mahurat and shot it for nine days in 2010. But some date issues happened and the film was stalled. I waited for two and a half years but it never resumed. Nadiadwala kept hanging on the project. It was a big one but I lost precious two years for that. During that period, I wrote couple of more subjects. One of them was Phata Poster Nikla Hero. When I narrated its script to Ramesh Taurani, he got excited. I was also fed up of Power and started a new film.
Your spat with Nadiadwala turned ugly...
He ruined my three years. I had to move on. But he was threatening me of my life. So I lodged a police complaint and issued a public notice. He was projecting the issue like it was my fault. So I decided to bring facts to public domain. If it was because of me, why was he silent for three yearsIJ Why didn’t he terminate the contractIJ
let’s talk about Phata Poster Nikla Hero. Was Shahid the first choiceIJ
I had two options, either Ranbir Kapoor or Shahid Kapoor. Ranbir had prior commitments but Shahid was available. As a director, I find Shahid dedicated and he has worked very hard. I think audience will be surprised to see him in this comedy film, he hasn’t such a film so far. I hope Phata Poster Nikla Hero consolidates his position back in the industry. His potential has not been tapped properly in the industry. Even in Jab We Met, he was subdued.
How do you look at evolving taste of audienceIJ
Young viewers have become mature and sensible. They appreciate good cinema. Filmmakers tend to make more youth-oriented films, but I feel that’s not right. If movies like Ganga Jamuna, Golmaal or Anand were released today, they would have become blockbusters. The success of films like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Barfi! proved that audience is receptive to different cinema. I have faith that young audience will like my style of making films.
Your inspiration as a filmmaker...
I don’t want to get corrupted by the market forces. I have always followed my heart and instinct. A lot of people make political statements with their cinema. But I avoid propagating any particular formula. As a filmmaker, I react to the reality. People are agitating against rapes today, but I made Damini on this issue in 1993. Damini raised her voice and stood by her faith. I made lajja when entire country was celebrating millennium in 2000. So many rape cases emerged in UP and MP during that time. For me, it was not a moment of glory but a shame. After so many years of Independence, women are still exploited. I exposed the male diktat in our society with lajja. Had India woken up then, we would have created a better atmosphere for women today. While filming Pukaar, I read a book on Bhagat Singh. I wanted everybody to know his story. So I made The legend of Bhagat Singh. But I don’t believe in repeating myself.
After hard-hitting movies like Ghayal, Ghatak, Damini, lajja and The legend of Bhagat Singh, what prompted you to make masala entertainersIJ
They are need of the hour. People are helpless and there are loads of sufferings. I want to serve something light to destress my audience, which I think is my duty as a filmmaker. At the time of Halla Bol, I remember a little girl was coming out of the multiplex after watching a comedy film. The family was so happy and relieved.
Does commercial success matterIJ
It matters a lot since it gives me strength as a filmmaker. It gives me ability to choose my next subject. When your film is successful, you are not questioned by producers or distributors. Because of Ghayal, I could do Damini and Andaz Apna Apna. Such subjects were not the flavours.
I wish Phata Poster… becomes a hit and I continue with my cinema. If films are not hit, I will be dictated by trade pundits.
So do you plan to make more such soft cinemaIJ
No, I am not going away from serious subjects. My next would be translation of famous play Jis lahore Nahin Dekhya Woh Jamiya Nahin. I have bought its rights. It’s a serious drama but is topical. It’s about sharing, understanding, harmony and love.
What are the changes you have seen in last two decadesIJ
The biggest change has come in marketing strategies. The timing of release matter a lot. Festivals like Diwali, Eid and Christmas are blocked two years in advance. Big corporate and stars dominate the scene. Merit or content of the film is not the criteria of success. I think stars are fighting for the release dates because they don’t believe in their product. It’s just a matter of three-four days. Even before audience could realise whether the film is bad or good, they want to flaunt the number game and affect the psyche of the audience. They want to prove it’s a blockbuster. Now, you don’t remember films anymore, you remember only business figures.
Sequels, remakes, especially of South Indian films, are in trend. Talks of sequels of Ghayal and AndazApna Apnaare doing rounds in industry.
I don’t believe in it. People keep telling me to do them. I don’t want to sit on past success. Most of films being done are not sequels. They have completely different story and cast. How can you call them sequelsIJ I will do a sequel only if there is a genuine follow up story. I don’t want to fool people. Sunny Deol approached me for Ghayal’s sequel. But I turned it down since I had no story. Now I guess he wants to do it with different people because it appears to be a promising project.
Your relationship with Sunny DeolIJ
I have high regards for him as a person. He gave me chance in Ghayal when I was nothing. He trusted my vision. In return, I also gave him a trend-setting blockbuster. Ghayal was actually a starting point of Sunny’s career. We had some misunderstanding during the making of Barsaat. A small friction also took place in 2005 during the making of The legend of Bhagat Singh since he also wanted to make it. Unlike him, I had a done a lot of homework on Bhagat Singh. But after that phase, we again started talking. We never discuss past issues. For last one year, we have been discussing a film together. It’s not Ghayal. Sunny has liked the subject. But since Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 didn’t fare well at box office, financiers are shying away from this project. I hope to do it by middle or end of the next year.
About young directors in the industry...
I like Imtiaz Ali, Raju Hirani, Anurag Basu and Tigmanshu Dhulia.