After being an independent producer for 20 years, Vashu Bhagnani, in his bid to expand the operations of his movie company, Puja Films joined hands with Eros International. SpotboyE.com had a quick chat with the filmmaker on the way ahead. Excerpts:
What’s in this tie-up for your company Puja Films?
It’s becoming difficult to function in isolation because of the rising cost, marketing budgets and so many expenses and plenty of expertise needed from time to time. With this tie-up, the size of my professional family has multiplied manifold instantly. Now, I can make 4 films a year, which as an independent producer is not possible. One can make 1-2 films in about three years. It’s an assurance that we have someone to share work and profits with.
Why Eros?
We had been in talks for about 3 years now. And in the last 7-8 months, we had almost become sure of joining hands. It’s just that I wanted to complete two decades in the business before doing this. So, this was the best time. Yes, I could have tied up with anyone. But Kishore Lulla kept himself available to meet and discuss probabilities all the time. We had some 35 meetings. I wanted to associate only with a company that is on the same page as me.
So which are the first few projects that will roll?
We will start with Hero No 1, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan remakes and two original films. The details of the latter should be finalised by September.
You are reportedly keen on Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan for your projects...
I just want a good actor and all of them are good actors. I don’t know who will eventually work in these movies because we’ve not finalised the story and the directors. A cast will come in only after these details are set.
Buzz is that you want the key original cast of all your films to have at least cameo appearances in the remakes.
Of course! In fact, I want them to have full-length roles in the films. But it all depends on how the scripts shape up and whether they have time for those roles. I’m sure no one will turn down my request to associate with the remake. I may not have worked with everyone in the last few years, but I trust the relationships I’ve built in the industry over the years.
Was it the failure of films like Himmatwala and Humshakals that forced you to look beyond a certain bracket of cinema?
Success and failure teach you a lot. I know in my heart where I failed with these movies. Sajid Khan wasn’t a wrong guy. He’s a great guy who makes family films and has given hits in the past. I guess it was pack-up time for that genre of cinema. Sajid hasn’t failed and I promise you that I will work with him again.
Go on...
Had we not invested Rs 80 crore on Humshakals, and had we managed a Saif Ali Khan film in about Rs 45 crore, the film would’ve been a hit. We had a box-office opening of Rs 13 crore and lifetime collection of Rs 72 crore despite all the negativity around that film. So, why blame Sajid for it? All of us miscalculated. This time when I work with him, I will be very careful with the budget and the star cast.
We’ve often heard of FALTU’s sequel being planned. Is it really going to happen?
Of course it will. Even Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein will be remade. We’ll make a sequel to Youngistaan as well. When I told the director about it, he got a little scared. But he eventually realised that a film like this will work because everyone who had seen Youngistaan had loved it.
Now that Jackky and Deepshikha have become producers, do we see you retiring?
I’d be the happiest the day my kids tell me, “Dad, we’ll manage. You can chill and go on a holiday.” It’s the proudest moment for any father if his kids take over his responsibilities. I can retire tomorrow if Jackky wants me to. The reason I’m doing all this work with them is that I want to build a repertoire that the next generation of Bhagnanis can be proud of.
Sarbjit was the first film your kids produced, but it didn’t do as well as expected...
It was my kids’ first production. They made a name for themselves. It was not the kind of films I have made so far but we backed it with all our heart. And it was a brilliant film. Everyone involved with it made money. I just wish the film had a better run at the box-office.
Why do you think the box-office suffered?
I think as Indians, we’re used to happy endings. Had Sarbjit been alive and we made this film, it would have had a happy ending. But after that heart-wrenching struggle, he died. We had to put it across as it happened, which saddened a lot of people.
Even Aishwarya Rai’s presence didn’t seem to help the film...
I don’t think Aishwarya Rai or any other artiste or the director can be blamed for the low box-office numbers. I laud Aishwarya for being so brave to play a 55-year-old woman. She’s such a glamorous personality and for her to play a de-glam role is a big deal. She did it so well. Randeep (Hooda) was excellent. Omung (Kumar, director) did a good job. I think such films have a limitation on the box-office anyway.
Image Source: facebook/vashu.bhagnani.3, Pvlrs & Indiaforum
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