His Ek Villain is doing all the talk at the box office but Mohit Suri is keen to take a break. For him, it is off-beat cinema that has the appeal and he will continue to make movies that have a deeper meaning. Deebashree Mohanty chats up the director to tell you about his new release
Are you happy with the success of Ek VillainIJ
Ecstatic! Everyone in the industry had warned us against this concept. They had said that this kind of a story would not work in the Indian scheme of things. How can you have a film revolve around the bad guysIJ But I stood by my writer and actors. We knew deep down that Ek Villain could do wonders. I had a hunch that it will have a better opening than Aashiqui 2 but the numbers are just too good. I am content.
Riteish Deshmukh as a psychopath and Sidharth Malhotra a diehard goon. What made you believe inthis starcastIJ
Frankly, I was not convinced that Sidharth Malhotra could carry off this angry-young man kind of a role. I thought he was just another rich-Delhi ka munda who had got things easy in life. I met him over lunch in Delhi and saw a new side to him. He also had his share of rejections as a model and he turned that failure into his stepping stone. I liked his raw appeal and confidence very much and wanted to work with him immediately.
I have known Riteish for a very long time. He is a complete family man who believes strongly in his roots. What struck us about him was his passionate love. And that we changed into some kind of a obsession on screen. Even he couldn’t believe it was him when he saw the premiere! The rest of the cast just fell into place.
Do you think there is a lesson in it for all that we must step out of the comfort zone to try new genresIJ
That’s the key to survival for me. The moment we cease to create something different, as directors, that would be the end of all of us. Although the industry wants directors to be repetitive and churn out films in the tested genres, the onus is on the director to break free from this shackle and create something unique. I am going to keep innovating with the kinds of films I do.
Is your wife Udita Goswami your fanIJ
She is my biggest critic. Udita is not the types to enjoy art cinema. She is one who enjoys a paisa vasool entertainer. So, if she found my movie boring or not mirchidaar enough, she will surely tell me on my face that the movie was bakwaas. It is her honest opinion that has made me want to take up challenges and succeed in them. I owe her my success.
What are you forth-coming moviesIJ
I have decided to take a break from filmmaking for a while. I don’t do movies because I have to do it. I will take up a script which genuinely interests me and I can relate to it a 1000 per cent.