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The Showman of Bollywood who gave us classics like Saudaagar, Khalnayak, Ram Lakhan etc says that he won’t be interested in watching remakes of him movies. He also talks about how content precedes stars in the industry….
Star prices have gone through the sky! But given the fact that they bring in the crowds, is it not fair for them to demand their price? Who suffers when the film doesn’t work? Should the stars take responsibility and return some of that hefty amount? The industry bigwigs are in discussion over star prices. Subhash Ghai condemns the blind dependence on a handful of A-listers to carry a film to the box-office. “I always believed that story and treatment are all that matter. Unfortunately, the whole trade seems to be controlled by stars rather than the story. Then there’s this trend of `100-crore and `200-crore clubs. The producer gets just 10-20% of the profits,” he says.
Need to regulate
Ghai says he is in regular touch with his contemporaries over the issue. “Even in the 1990s Mahesh Bhatt, JP Dutta and 10 others directors, including me, had formed a directors’ forum. It is very important for us to come to some unanimity regarding film budgets and star prices. Every filmmaker talks about working with new actors. But when it comes to the actual film they go back to the same stars, because no financier or distributor is willing to back a film with newcomers. I’ve suffered first-hand. No one backed me financially on my last film Kaanchi.”
Star cast
Ghai reveals he had a huge row with his financiers over the casting of Kaanchi. “I am aware that making and selling Kaanchi with Kareena, Priyanka or Katrina would’ve been much easier for me. There was a heated debate in my office. I was told to think it over. But I very clearly told financiers and distributors that I want a new girl to play Kaanchi.”
Staying in touch
He has made the careers of many actresses from Mahima Chaudhary, Manisha Koirala and Madhuri Dixit. Ask Ghai how many of his discoveries have stayed connected with him, and the mentor grows silent. He finally says, “Shall I tell you the truth? Not one of them has kept in touch with me. I don’t blame them. Everyone grows in life and moves on. I’m happy to have given the film industry these talented actresses.” His male actors, however, still stay in touch.
Show must go on
The Showman says the show will again go on. “If my films become successful, people will all come back. But I will never look back. My whole creative process is about the quest for the new. I won’t watch the remakes of my Hero and Ram Lakhan.”
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