Director and choreographer Farah Khan chats with Divya Kaushik about the making of her forthcoming film with Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, dealing with failures and her association with reality shows
After long hours of shooting, Farah Khan and the team polished off plates of chicken yakhni pulao that came from the choreographer’s home and were making most of the meager time they got off from the sets of Sony’s Entertainment Ke liye Kuch Bhi Karega. For Farah, it’s been a long association with the show and the team is like a family celebrating every small thing together. “This time it is particularly special as the show is returning after a gap and for me it is like coming back for a family reunion. Though, my other engagements, shooting for Happy New Year, are making it quite difficult for me to manage on both fronts but I am loving meeting new talent. I must credit the production team for selecting such diverse and versatile people from across the country. After the shooting when I go home, I feel de-stressed after meeting so many talented and interesting people,” said the producer and director, who has been a regular face on reality shows on TV. She has been a judge on Indian Idol, Nach Baliye 4, Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar and Dance India Dance lil Masters to name a few. Farah says that she is particular about the kind of shows she chooses for herself.
“It is important for me to personally connect with the show. I look forward to do shows where I don’t feel like I have stressed myself. I should enjoy and personally connect with the concept and people associated with the show. For instance, I like being part of Entertainment Ke liye Kuch Bhi Karega because of the opportunities it extends to people. Reality shows do give people an instant recognition but there are very less shows that give chance to people to make most of their participation even in later years of their lives. Some farmers have got an idea on how to make use of their talent to make money and provide education to their children. I have met children with Down Syndrome who can prove it to the world that they are no lesser and master dance forms like Kathak and Bharatanatyam. It’s heart-touching experience to meet such people. And I am being told that I am a TV-friendly person, audience love to watch me on screen and they can relate to me. I think that’s one reason why producers of these shows return to me. I am only happy as this allows me to get closer to the audience. I am a transparent person and I am glad that through these shows people know me as I am. I have women approaching me in departmental stores telling me how they feel that I am a part of their family. They often ask me my kids’ phone numbers as well and I happily give it away,” she said.
While films like Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om helped Farah establish herself as director, last few years have been not-so-lucky for her when it comes to films. Her film Tees Maar Khan failed to impress the audience, though she claims that “it brought good revenue to the producers”, and even Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, where she made her acting debut, failed to create ripples at the box office.
Farah is honest to admit to the failures but says that like any sensible person she got back on her feet determined to prove herself. She hopes that her forthcoming film Happy New Year, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, will be even a bigger success than Om Shanti Om or Main Hoon Na.
“I would like to believe that I have grown as a director in all these years and it should show in my next film. We want Happy New Year to be a bigger success than my previous films. It has been a tough time with shooting being stalled many times due to several reasons, but finally we will be finishing the last leg of shoot within three weeks. I am a person who believes that failures can teach you much more than success. If a film is being criticised unanimously, it does feel bad, but then you need to analyse what went wrong. After Tees Maar Khan flopped, I was offered over 10 films, all of which I rejected. People think that once you are facing a low phase you will accept anything being offered but I did not give up. Rather, I was determined to return with a brilliant script and prove myself, which I did. Also in our industry a person’s failure is better celebrated than his victory. So it is the time that you come to know of friends and foes. I am a positive person and would like to believe that failures only teach you many things in life, but that doesn’t mean I would like to go through that phase again. I am keeping fingers crossed that Happy New Year breaks all records of success,” she ended.