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Licence to thrill
Rajeev Masand
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He's eliminated the risk factor in his latest film, Kasoor.
It's a win-win situation, Vikram Bhatt tells Rajeev Masand
At his
producer's office in Juhu, director Vikram Bhatt takes big
sips out of his coffee mug and sits down to discuss his latest
film, Kasoor a thriller starring Aftab Shivdasani and Lisa
Ray in lead roles.
The thirty-something
director who finally tasted success with his Unlawful Entry-remake,
Fareb (after he'd burnt his fingers several times in the past
with such disappointing efforts as Jaanam and Madhosh) hit
paydirt three years ago with his Aamir Khan-starrer, Ghulam.
He is currently committed to direct several films including
one with Hrithik Roshan, another featuring Akshay Kumar, Sunil
Shetty and Aftab Shivdasani, and a third with Rani Mukherjee
and Aftab.
An
interview with the young film-maker...
I
remember you telling me around the time Ghulam was declared
a hit, that you weren't as excited about your success as you
were apprehensive about your next film...
Yes, but I think every film is a test. I'm apprehensive
and nervous before the release of my every film. Look at it
this way: If Kasoor fails, I have to work harder on my next
film to stay afloat. If Kasoor is a hit, I still have to ensure
that my next film works so that people don't think Kasoor
was just a fluke. It's an endless process, really. There's
no escaping from this trepidation. Our fates are decided every
Friday, and nothing's going to change that.
After
the success of Ghulam, several A-list stars like Anil Kapoor
and Akshay Kumar expressed an interest in working with you.
Yet, you chose your next release to be a thriller like Kasoor
with relative newcomers...
First
of all, Kasoor is not a small film. True it doesn't have stars,
but the look of the film, the publicity of the film, the money
spent on promoting it is the same as any other major release.
But yes, it was an intentional decision not to make a film
with a big star immediately -- however, I am currently working
with Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty -- because
on various levels I wanted to do something different, and
that might not have been possible with a big star. When you
have an idea which does not fall into the slot of a regular
love story, a regular action film or a regular social drama,
the producer feels it involves an element of risk. They look
at it as an experimental film. I wanted to make a good film,
something that the audience is not sick of seeing yet. The
only way to do it was by hiring actors who didn't come with
an image attached.
Were
you allowed a lavish budget to work on?
To make something different, I wanted to make sure that I
budgeted the film in such a way that it doesn't go wrong.
If you make a very different film on a very high budget the
risk factor is huge. However, I've completely taken out the
risk element on Kasoor. There is no risk element at all. I've
made the film on such a budget that it's a win-win situation
for everyone involved.
How
much did you spend?
I think it cost about four-and-a-half crores in all. On an
economic level, I think it's a coup.
And
on a creative level..?
On a creative level I have got immense satisfaction. I think
if a film like Kasoor succeeds, then directors like me can
make the kind of films they believe in all the time.
What
was so special about doing a mystery film like Kasoor?
It's a mystery film. I think enough time has passed since
people exploited the genre. But I also think that Kasoor is
a love story within the parameters of a thriller. It is a
boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl story. It's
a very different man-woman relationship, and I couldn't wait
to get my teeth into it.
Apparently,
the relationship between Aftab and Lisa in the film, is very
bold...
It's a story about a man who's lonely, and a woman who's lonely.
They're attracted to each other more out of each other's needs
than out of love. First, it's a very selfish relationship.
It's about two lonely people. It's a very modern-day relationship.
I think it's very real, very contemporary and very today.
I don't think it's bold because it's happening all around
us, in every house and in every relationship.
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