What
made you go for Krrish 4?
Every
year, I am called for the King Circle Ganpati darshan. This year I said I must
'Go'. When I reached there, I could not believe my eyes. The Ganpati idol
resembled Krrish. I saw so many people praying so fervently. I realised that
they had so much of faith in the only superhero of India. I decided that I must
make Krrish 4 now.
I
had a vague idea of the film's story and how we can make it. We can't spent
equivalent to what is spent on a superhero film in Hollywood, so we ought
to concentrate more on content.
I
called up Hrithik and narrated the idea. Pinky (wife) and Hrithik both
said: Wow, why didn't you think of this before?
Hrithik has
a great fan base in kids...
I
remember meeting the parents of a 2-year old who said that their child neither
drinks milk nor eats anything unless and until he sees Koi Mil Gaya. So,
they've had to play the film for him every day.
Does Hrithik have
a double role again?
No.
So
what's the story of Krrish 4?
As
of now, I just have the beginning, middle and end. I am still developing the
script.
Image Source: twitter/iHrithik
Are
you done with Kaabil?
Yes,
barring a few days of patchwork. And Hrithik is outstanding in the
film. I am saying this not because he is my son but because people will know
what an actor he is. Yami is excellent. Sanjay Gupta (director) has done a
better job than what I would have done if I had directed Kaabil.
Were
you a hands-on producer for Kaabil?
Of
course, but not on the set. Let me say that I was involved at every stage. If
any changes were made, they would inform me. And,I would see the parts
that were shot on daily basis.
Did
you ask for a re-shoot of any portion?
Not
really, except a few minor things. It's so nice that Sanjay and I have been on
the same page throughout. And how can I forget that I have some outstanding
music by my brother Rajesh in Kaabil?
Kaabil
will generate a lot of curiosity. Hrithik and Yami both play blind
and mind you, they are very happy and bubbly and not helpless. And then
something happens that changes Hrithik's life completely. The film has a
very interesting screenplay in how a blind man takes his revenge.
To
get into a blind man's role, Hrithik interacted with a blind guy who
would come in a rickshaw from Dombivli to Juhu. He often had lunch with us and
mind you, he wouldn't drop a morsel.
Would
you agree that Hrithik is better in complicated roles? I loved him in
Koi Mil Gaya and Guzaarish but didn't like him in Zindagi Na Milegi
Dobara...
I
disagree. It is easy to enact something special but difficult to be normal.
Image Source: twitter/tseries
Will
Rajesh Roshan give music for Krrish 4 too?
Of
course. We are the four pillars of Filmkraft- producer, director, actor and
music composer. Importantly, all four are talented.
You
count yourself as two pillars?
Yeah
(smiles).
The
double pillar is an independent producer who never relied on studios. Today,
the studio culture is collapsing. Did you see this coming?
The
model of film-making will have to be changed in India. Do you know
why Studios thrive in Hollywood? That's because top cinematographers and
scriptwriters head them. I interacted with them when I wanted to release Kites
abroad. I saw that the people who sat in the conferences were not the CEOs,
COOs etc- but people from their film industry. If our Studios take people who
are experienced, they will never lose money. A producer should be the Jack of
all Trades, he should know what ties the film together. Only money can never
make a film.
With
reduction in number of Studios, what will happen?
2017
onward, fewer films will be made. Mukesh Bhatt, YRF and I have our network of
distributors. However, others may have to release their films themselves and
might find it difficult to carry out their business.
Stars,
including your son Hrithik, are said to charge a bomb. Doesn't this put
pressure on the film's budget and the Studio in question?
Yes,
but let me tell you something. Whatever they charge, the producer who has a
SRK, Salman, Hrithik or any big star in his film is not going to sell
the film at an economical price..
Image Source: twitter/IamSRK
I
have done the reverse for Kaabil. I have sold it at 50 per cent of the price
which one normally gets for a Hrithik film. My all-India sale is not
more than Rs 50 crore. So even if my film does Rs 100 crore, everyone stands to
not lose money.
Is
this the first time you doing like this?
Yes,
I don't want any distributor to lose money. The sharing will be more in my space,
else I would have sold them for a higher price. But having invested
lesser, they are far more covered than otherwise.
Talking
on this subject, Mukesh Bhatt told us that "actors will have to charge
lesser upfront and resort to taking back-end profits".
Yes,
but then they would like to do that with only those whom they trust. How many
producers are really transparent and accountable today?
It's
going to be tough for the actors...
It's
going to be a tough time for the industry, which may even come to almost a
standstill. We may see very few films being made because of Studios having
folded up.
Did
you foresee this crisis?
I
knew this was coming. Producers churning out five films in a year and only
being a hit, how can it augur well for the industry? Naturally, studios started
bleeding. But if you rewind, history has it that producers who make films in
quick succession have had to literally 'pack up'.
Any
names?
I
wouldn't name them, but I think we all know who all I am talking about.
What
is the mood at home when a Hrithik film flops? Do you sit down with
him and explain?
Our
family has seen many ups and downs. We are not afraid of failure.
Your
films generally don't flop...
My
films as a filmmaker have done well, but Hrithik has seen my tough
times when most of my films as an actor failed. I think only 5-6 films of my
mine clicked.
Besides,
that's a part of the game. If you don't come down, you won't climb higher. It
is better to go down by 2 steps and then go up by 4.
Did
the failure of Mohenjo Daro really didn't hit Hrithik?
It
may have, if his performance had been criticised. That didn't happen.
Image Source: twitter/iHrithik & akshaykumar
Mohenjo
Daro locked horns with Rustom. In Kaabil, you are doing the same with Raees...
You
can absorb 2 films over a period of 5 holidays. But two films will definitely
eat into each other's business if there's just a 1-day holiday. FYI, Mohenjo
Daro was announced much before Rustom.
I
announced Kaabil first. Somebody encroaches on it, how can I help it? I
remember delaying King Uncle and getting very superstitious after it failed.
After that, I didn't even tamper the date of Hrithik's debut Kaho Na Pyaar
Hai. It was sandwiched between Mela, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Pukar.
Distributors advised me to shift the date. 3 distributors even left my film.
Yet I did not budge.
But
you shifted Krrish 4 for SRK starrer by Aanand L Rai...
That's
because I hadn't started work on Krrish 4. Our industry needs some norms and
ethics. Egos should never come in the way.
SRK
and Ritesh Sidhwani visited your house to request you to shift Kaabil for
Raees...
I
told them exactly what I am telling you. It would be great if they understand
and shift Raees. I have worked with SRK, he is a nice and humble guy, inwardly
everybody knows that clashes don't help anybody
I
would have shifted Kaabil if I hadsn't announced it before Raees. I don't
have any egos. I am still the same hardworking, punctual Rakesh Roshan who
entered the film industry when he was 17 years old. I immediately reach
out to people who want to reach out to me, be it even on mobile or text.
Image Source: guyana
You
are only producing Kaabil. Is it likely that we see another film from your
stable before you direct Krrish 4?
Unlikely,
unless somebody comes to me with a bound script which I like and I don't have
to invest anytime in it. I spent 6 months on the script of Kaabil.
There
have been a couple of ups and downs in your family- Hrithik's separation
with Sussanne, Kangana Ranaut controversy. Moreover, so much has been written
about it. How do you'll deal with it?
Hrithik has
an inherent strength in him. False allegations have been levied against him,
but he has kept silent till now. However, he will talk one day for sure
(pauses). His silence has been misinterpreted, we both know the inside story.
But he will talk one day when the time is right.
You
are referring to the Kangana controversy, right? Kangana asks that why
does Hrithik need his dad to speak up for him?
Yes,
I am talking about the second one. The first (Read: Sussanne) was destiny, the
second one was something else. No more quotes on this topic, please. You
guys will have to wait for Hrithik to speak up.
Don't
you tell him that he should continue to stay with you and not in his new flat?
No,
he is always with me in the morning or evening for his gym of two hours. Look,
he needs his privacy na? if i am around, how will he entertain people?
Do
you sometimes feel that you shouldn't have patched up with Kangana
after Krrish and cast her in Kites?
There
is nothing like that. As I said, the truth will come out. Let Hrithik talk
about it. I don't want to come out and talk. But being a father and someone who
was associated with those films, I definitely know every inch of whatever
happened.
Image Source: newsdog
Is Hrithik closer
to you than to his mother?
Hrithik
confides in his mother more than he confides in me, right from his school
days it has been like that. I remember he did a scene from Anari in school and
my wife was told before I came to know about it. Right from that time, I knew
that he would turn out to be a great actor.
You
made films at a frenzied pace. Haven't you slowed down?
With
time, family grows and so does responsibility. I am 67 now and completed 50
years in the film industry. Shouldn't I relax and enjoy a bit now?
How
much do you decide when Hrithik gets a film offer?
Nothing,
he takes his own decisions.
Why
doesn't your brother Rajesh Roshan get enough work?
That's
his bad luck. His one of the most talented musicians around. Another reason
could be because he is not diplomatic.
Is
it necessary to be diplomatic in Bollywood?
Yes,
but not for ever. Diplomacy does not pay for long. I repeat, that's his bad
luck. Jitna likha hai aapki kismet mein, utna hi aayega
Your
most favourite film of your banner Filmkraft?
Difficult
to choose, but i would single out Koi Mil Gaya to be the most difficult one to
make. It is very difficult to make a grown up man walk and talk like a kid.
Rekha
in Krrish 4?
No,
the story has moved ahead.
Image Source: twitter/top10
Would
you like Hrehaan and Hridhaan to be actors?
Of
course, and why not? If they have talent, aptitude and attitude,
I will be the first one to suggest it to them. Right now apart from
musical instruments, they are also learning how to flip backwards and forwards-
a tutor comes to make them learn.
Hrithik
is a very indulgent father no doubt. Every Saturday and Sunday he
spends with his sons. He takes them out for holidays. He teaches them piano,
guitar and even Hindi. He even takes a very keen interest in their studies.
Last time out when he took them abroad, he taught them archery.
Are
you happy in Palazzo in Juhu, or would you have preferred to stay in
a bungalow?
I am
very happy. Maintaining a bungalow is a big headache. Here, I close just one
door and everything gets safe. Besides, I have 3 floors to myself- 8, 9 and 10.
I think I live in a bunglow in the sky.
We
have one of the finest gyms on the 10th floor. Many times, Hrithik drops
by and he, my wife and myself end up working out together
Thumbnail Image Source: muzul & twitter/ihrithik