Jazbaa hits the screens in a week's time. Is there something you will miss when the film gets out of your life?
The sight of Aishwarya Rai on my set. I won't meet her everyday like I'm meeting her right now.
Nervous?
The only time I have butterflies in my stomach is when the film is being seen by the Censor Board. It's a scary thought for a filmmaker like me because I'm so anal about everything in my film - the scenes, dialogue, songs. The placement is so crucial. And suddenly if you have four unknowns telling you about where they think something should be placed, you'd be terrified.
Did you always have Aishwarya Rai in mind?
I had Angelina Jolie as my option had Ash said no. I dropped Jolie the minute Aishwarya said yes. (Laughs)
Most filmmakers have restricted themselves to tapping into Aishwarya's beauty...
People are in awe of her persona and so, no one goes beyond her superficial beauty. It's the same problem that her father-in-law, Mr. Bachchan faces. People are so intimidated by his personality that very often, you'll find Amitabh Bachchan overpowering the screen character. It's an achievement that in Kaante, his reel character emerged more powerful.
Do you think Aishwarya can achieve that?
Irrfan has something very interesting to say. Angelina Jolie was at the top of her game in Hollywood when she opted for A Mighty Heart. It was a complete departure from her usual Hollywood fare but her real personality overpowered the role. She couldn't shed her stardom but Aishwarya has succeeded at that. She's dived into her part in Jazbaa.
Aishwarya was returning to the studios after over four years. Was she anxious?
No. She walked on to set, ready with her scene, hair and make-up. She's not the regular actress. There's a level of homework she does before starting work. She had been away but nothing in her demeanour made us feel that.
Do you find similarities between the criticism that Aishwarya and you face despite working against odds in your respective spaces?
Aishwarya, because of her beauty, never gets credit for her acting. And even if I make a great film, I won't ever get credit for it because it'll remain style over substance. With the kind of mediocrity scattered around us, my films look big and fancy. I will be ripped apart even if I made Gone With The Wind. Bombay Talkies with four stories was made two years ago, but I made Dus Kahaniyaan years before that with six directors. People will always find reasons to call all my films a copy of some other. I deserve some credit for the few but original films I've made. So, now, I turn a blind eye to all of that criticism and please my audience with a sensible but commercial film.
How do you avoid press scrutiny when you start your films?
Honestly, most of the stories were generated by my PR team and me to keep the film hot in the market. I brainstorm with the publicists to create an image of my product in the market and people have been manipulated to write what we want them to write.
What keeps you motivated after 20 years as a filmmaker?
My kids, Shivaansh and Dalai are my driving force. Shivaansh even came for the trailer launch. When my kids see my pictures in the papers, they get excited. My son realises his father is someone important. I want to be relevant even 10 years down the line and for that, I need to be working. I need to be in the press even at that point so my kids can be proud of me. Longevity is my single point agenda because directors have small shelf lives.
What's next in line for you?
I have five films ready with scripts and casts in place. We just have to put them on a timeline.
Is a film in the Shootout series in the pipeline?
No Shootouts for now! I waited seven years to make the sequel because I didn't find an interesting story. It's on the backburner till I find something kickass.
And Khotey Sikkey?
That starts post 2017.
Image source: Manav Manglani, Rediff