Unfortunately, she didn't criticise the film per se. All self-styled columnists are lobbyists and push various agendas through their columns. This has coloured their vision so much that they think that every other person is doing that. That's really unfair. Do a critique of my film and don't question my integrity.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
How do you react to De's argument that Bajrangi is an exercise to clean Salman Khan's image? Do you think an artist eventually gets judged by the personal baggage that he carries?
An artist is not alone in the process! Filmmaking is a collaborative effort involving hundreds of people. I am a filmmaker, not a lobbyist. I am not going to spend a year-and-half of my life trying to clean up someone else's mess, if there is! I am going to make a film that I want to make. We don't select stories thinking this will help clean someone's image! How ridiculous it is to suggest that! A lot of people don't understand anything about how to read a film and they should go and learn that first before abusing the platform that has been given to them by newspapers and magazines! They just can't go and declare that we're making films with an agenda and not because we want to simply tell a story.
Your film has grossed over Rs 150 crore in 5 days. Did you expect such an overwhelming response?
Nobody expected the film to do the business that it is doing. We knew it would work because it was one of the most-anticipated films of the year, but the numbers have taken even the trade by surprise. I am not a numbers person per se but to have the same collections on Monday which we had on the opening day is kind of rare! The word of mouth has been extremely strong and that has helped sustain the interest in the film.
Did Salman Khan have any box-office numbers in mind?
Salman never discusses figures. At the end of one of our screenings, we saw people crying and even sobbing. We both knew this isn't a safe film - it is neither formulaic nor does it have lots of action, so in that sense it is riskier than anything we both had done so far.
A safe film would have been a sequel to Ek Tha Tiger...
Absolutely.
Pawan (Salman's name in the film) has reminded people of the Salman from Maine Pyaar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Koun...
There is earnestness to his character which is very likable, and Salman himself has pushed the envelope this time. He would participate in the whole acting process, give his inputs and even ask me if we could do a scene in a different way. This film has been my most fulfilling work and I am sure even Salman feels that. I am glad he's getting recognition in Bajrangi because this is a film where every small character stands out with his/her acting abilities. The last time a kid got such overwhelming love like Harshali (Malhotra) was probably when Jugal Hansraj did Masoom as a child-star. Everyone is just mesmerised by her,
The call from your fraternity that touched you the most?
Aditya Chopra. That was one phone call that I was frankly waiting for (Kabir's Kabul Express, New York and Ek Tha Tiger were all produced by Adi). He saw the film at Chandan (a single screen in Juhu, Mumbai) and called me immediately after the show. He was so overwhelmed that he went on to say it is one of the best mainstream films he's ever seen. Coming from Adi, that's a lot. He never speaks in superlatives. He is someone who has seen me grow as a filmmaker. I felt a sense of complete validation after his call.
Aamir Khan too cried after a screening...
That was just astonishing. I saw a video of him coming out with a big towel in his hand. He called me on the phone and said that he wanted to meet me immediately. We met up and had a lengthy conversation where he spoke about how he could identify with Bajrangi.
What kind of power does the success of Bajrangi give you as a filmmaker?
Freedom. The best aspect of making a successful film in this industry is that people stop questioning you. They assume you know what you are doing and that gives you a lot of freedom to push boundaries. Unfortunately, in Bollywood, the more successful an actor or director becomes, the safer they become. Like I said, Salman and I I could have made Ek Tha Tiger 2 but we chose to do Bajrangi- and now we're feeling validated!
The film goes the whole hog to tug your heartstrings. I will also say that you never see any character with shades of grey as you go about creating a utopian universe. This, of course, is far removed from reality unlike some of your previous films...
It is definitely a utopian universe. But I am not a fool. I know that a Pakistani crowd can never storm a Kashmiri checkpost the way it does in the film and neither will the Indian army allow anything like that. But in films, it can happen. So why not celebrate that dream and for once, forget the cruel world that we live in? I strongly believe that religion and politics should never come between friendships and all my films will have this ideology.
Can cinema be a tool that drives such dramatic social/political change?
It can certainly provoke people to think and build better relationships. We can start looking at each other warmly. I know it will take one stray incident for the hostility to return, but we can at least make an attempt!
Are you and Salman collaborating on another project?
Yes, we certainly will. It is too premature to say what it will be, but we share a great working relationship and will come up with something soon.