Mumbai: In an exclusive interview with actor and producer Nikhil Dwivedi, where he discussed his experience at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where his film ‘Bandar’ received an overwhelming response. Then, he praised director Anurag Kashyap's competence and strong creative vision, noting that their collaborations can lead to intense discussions but ultimately benefit the project. After that, he commends actor Bobby Deol's dedication and performance, describing him as a hardworking artist. The film's storyline and themes are explored, with a focus on its nuanced portrayal.
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#NikhilDwivedi #TorontoInternationalFilmFestival #TIFF #Bandar #exclusiveinterview #BobbyDeol #artist #Trending #BollywoodNews #BollywoodGossips #BollywoodUpdates #BollywoodNews #Bollywood #Bollywoodcelebrity #ians
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NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome to IMS. It is a pleasure having you on Word.
00:04Firstly, I would want to know that you recently went at the TIFF platform.
00:11How exciting was it? And you went for Bandar, right, your upcoming movie.
00:15So please tell us something about the movie, also about your experience at the platform.
00:21Very exciting. It was our first time, at least as a producer.
00:25So this is one of my first films that has gone to a prestigious film festival.
00:30The response was overwhelming. The film was appreciated a lot.
00:36And eventually that is what you endeavor for when you start a project.
00:41So very happy. It was a happy journey. We all came back very satisfied and very grateful.
00:47Any particular moment that, you know, something that excited, that was very exciting at the TIFF?
00:54Just the series of claps that you get once the film has been watched.
00:59And it is that moment that you have decided to make films, that everybody likes it.
01:07So yes, just the moment that everybody just, there is a thunderous applause as soon as the end titles roll.
01:13So the movie has been touted to be a little controversial.
01:19So what do you have to say about that?
01:22I don't think it's a controversial film.
01:25I think sometimes people do not get the right term, so they want to call it controversial.
01:32I think the film triggers you.
01:35It provokes you to start thinking, to start having a conversation, to start a debate.
01:41And that's what sometimes art and cinema is meant to do.
01:46You come onto the table and you start talking.
01:51The subject of the film is such that it will maybe polarize opinions.
01:58And that is very much the intention.
02:02To create a controversy is not the intention.
02:04The intention is that everybody should start discussing something that we are trying to show.
02:09The movie has been directed by Anurag Karshav and he has been known to creating such a particular genre of movies, right?
02:20How difficult or easy is it to be working with him?
02:23Again, I don't think it is deliberate on Anurag's part.
02:28See, this genre was handed over to him in that sense.
02:31The script was written by Sudeep Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee.
02:35And it was a ready script.
02:36And Anurag read it, who I had approached.
02:39I was working with him on another subject in film and who I approached to be the creative producer on this film.
02:46And once he read the script, he said that he wants to direct it.
02:50And Anurag is a very competent director in that sense.
02:54Whether he is difficult and easygoing, he is a very good director, a difficult person.
03:00But he is not difficult because of any tantrums or because, I think he is difficult because he sees and views his films that he wants to make in a very particular way.
03:14And there is always, there is always, there could be a differing creative opinion, but Anurag protects his opinion very, very strongly.
03:28So, there are times when there are discussions and they end up in arguments.
03:33But one needs to understand that any creative argument will always only be healthy for the project because it's a creative discussion.
03:42At the end of the day, we have always kissed and made up very quickly and very soon.
03:49And Anurag does allow that space for the dialogue, which is also healthy.
03:54When we talk about Anurag, right, as a person, he is known to express his thoughts very, very bluntly, right?
04:03Do you think that sometimes does kind of, can impact the project that you have been associated with him?
04:10I think I am not going to view it with the prism of a project or a business getting affected.
04:16There are several times that I may not agree with what he says or how he says it.
04:25But like I said, we need to be very democratic about each other's ways and how they choose to express themselves.
04:34If you would ask me, I know that I would like to choose to express myself through work.
04:38And Anurag has that power far more than I have.
04:43He can make a point with his art.
04:47Sometimes he likes to make his point on Instagram, which is tricky.
04:52But yeah, I think sometimes as a friend, I do tell him that he needs to calm down.
05:00Okay, talking about the storyline of Bandar, whatever we have read online, it seems to be very dark, yet very impactful.
05:11What made you come up with, like, choose a project like Bandar to act?
05:15I don't see projects as dark, bright or grey or colourful.
05:20I see scripts as purely as stories.
05:26And if the story of that script or the narrative of what I am reading is an interesting storybook,
05:33then that is something that you want to make because you can already visualize it,
05:37that this may be very interesting cinema.
05:40Sometimes stories are of different kind.
05:43One could be funny, one could be a little tragic, one could have a lot of pathos,
05:48one could be with a lot of anger and angst.
05:53It's not a particular genre that I chase.
05:56I wouldn't call this a dark film.
05:59I would call it a drama, a very interesting drama.
06:03And once it is out there and people see it,
06:07they'll realize that the film is a very well-made film by Anurag Kashyap
06:13and everybody else who's worked with Anurag on this.
06:17I mean, Bandar has Bobby there and its lead, right?
06:23In today's era of Ranveer Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal and all these, you know, actors,
06:29what made you feel that Bobby is the perfect fit for this film?
06:33No, I did suggest Bobby's name to Anurag.
06:37I'm only saying this because Anurag mentioned this in one of his interviews recently.
06:42Otherwise, but the casting is finally the decision of the director.
06:47I think Bobby would have fitted the character in Anurag's mind.
06:52Otherwise, Anurag is not the one who'll compromise in casting.
06:56He's not into somebody's box office or stardom that makes him cast.
07:04And I can understand why Anurag finally chose to cast Bobby.
07:09Once you watch him in the film, all of you will know Bobby is spectacular in the film.
07:16It's a performance that is so overwhelming and so good that I think it's his finest ever.
07:24Okay, continuing to the question, I mean, after years of being in the industry,
07:30Bobby looks like he's finally arrived, especially with the humongous success of Animal and Ashram
07:38and the impeccable performances that he's been giving.
07:41Do you think that would probably must have been the reason why he was also cast along,
07:45obviously along with his acting skills?
07:47Bobby was cast much before Animal was released.
07:52Yes, yes, yes.
07:53Animal only, when it came out, we were very happy for Bobby.
07:59But Bobby would have been in the film irrespective.
08:02Like I said, I don't think Anurag really looks into the box office status of an artist or an actor.
08:09Or he's just made a movie with newcomers.
08:13He wouldn't work like that.
08:16For me as a producer, economics and business is important.
08:18But not to the extent that I choose my artists and actors purely on the basis of the endeavour for me,
08:26which should be because I have to remain in business and I want to continue making movies that whatever I invest should come back.
08:33And the actors should be competent and they should not, they should be easygoing and they should not have a large entourage, which is right now.
08:46Yeah.
08:46So, Bobby is all of that.
08:49And it was a lot of fun working with him.
08:51Right.
08:52Recently, Bobby had mentioned that he is very grateful to you for introducing him to Anurag Kashyap.
08:58What is that?
08:59No, Bobby is just being kind.
09:01Like I said, during a creative discussion when you're trying to start a film or a project,
09:08a lot of people, director, producer, writers, everybody, we discuss a lot of names.
09:12And we discuss which actor would be suitable for this particular part.
09:16In that academic decision, I may have suggested Bobby's name.
09:21And Anurag met Bobby and would have liked something about him.
09:25See, one thing you have to understand that the new version of Bobby Dole is an extremely hardworking artist.
09:32Whatever he performs is only going to be analyzed later.
09:38But nobody can question his integrity and his passion for being on the set and giving his 100%.
09:52That, I think, is going to be very appealing for a lot of filmmakers.
09:55Right, absolutely.
09:57Some critics have said that the film is told through a man's lens.
10:01Right?
10:02Do you feel that this might overshadow the woman's perspective or was it like a deliberate lens?
10:07I don't understand what a man's lens is.
10:11The only lens we, or I think I pick up scripts is from the lens of an audience.
10:19It is completely free of any lens or viewpoint of a gender.
10:26But I don't think so.
10:28Some of the creative names that are attached to this project are extremely evolved and extremely progressive creative artists.
10:41Sudeep Sharma, Abhishek, Anurag Kashyap, his co-director, Sakshi, Bobby himself.
10:48I don't want to speak for myself, but I would like to believe that I also don't have a particular lens to pick up a story.
10:58This story was picked up because of its merit and because we were inspired from certain true events.
11:06And we all together very strongly felt that a story like this should be told.
11:15But it was not done to.
11:17And there were a lot of women audience at Toronto Film Festival and they really lauded the film.
11:24And some of the loudest cheers and claps were from the women themselves.
11:28What made you select the name Bandar for this movie?
11:31I mean, I think it was Monkey in a Gate.
11:33So my only contribution to the film, which I can claim is the title, which Anurag really liked.
11:43And then, you know, I'll tell you something interesting about it.
11:46First, I suggested Bandar and then I myself started to have second thoughts about it.
11:52But Anurag and everybody else by then had started to love the title so much.
11:58That they said this title, but there was a thought behind it.
12:01It is because when I was seeing the character's journey, I kind of saw that it was being made of any kind of madari.
12:10And a lot of times Anurag unknowingly said that this system is being made of Bandar.
12:22And one time he would have maybe casually mentioned and I said, why don't we keep the title as Bandar?
12:28So that's how it came about.
12:29Okay, talking about, I mean, I just want you to know that considering today's scenario, basically, which is a lot more inclined towards women, especially the laws and this and that and all that.
12:41So do you think that it is a tough place for men to actually thrive and survive?
12:45No, firstly, I think it's high time that it is inclined towards women because I think women have been at the receiving end for the longest time, especially in conservative patriarchal societies.
12:59It has not always been very fair or equal and still, it doesn't continue to be so.
13:06I think if we go to places where patriarchy is still prevalent, it's not a level playing field in terms of education, in terms of nutrition, in terms of rights, it's still eschewed very heavily in the favour of men.
13:26But having said that, it also does not mean that a man cannot be a victim, that only women would be victims.
13:39Only men commit crimes.
13:44If it is like that, then why would it be jail for women?
13:50So I think somewhere this notion or this thought process that only men do wrong and a woman can't or let's not speak out for this man as a victim because it may dilute the larger cause against women.
14:17I find that unfair because wrong is a wrong, done by anyone, any gender and if it needs to be called out, we should have the strength to call it out.
14:32When you talk about all of these things, do you feel that at times freedom of speech and all of those rights, constitutional rights that we have, are exploited by the female gender?
14:45No, I don't think so. I think it's been done by, see, one has to be sensible.
14:52I have seen, again, I don't want to be gender specific about this.
14:57I view people as individuals.
14:58I think just like there are sensible women, there are sensible men. Just like there are good women, there are good men. Just like there are stupid men, sometimes there could be some women who are not so bright.
15:17So we have to view them as with a very individual lens and we should not stereotype genders. I have seen a lot of freedom of speech misused and abused by lot number of men and you would always of course find a few women doing the same.
15:38So I don't think it's a stereotype.
15:39Talking about the current, you know, dating scenario that we have here, which is through online datings and which also kind of later culminates into ghosting and all those very depressing chapters.
15:56What do you have to say about how love stories have evolved basically through and because somewhere down the line that is a little bit what one girl highlights.
16:06So I have not been, I don't know too much about online dating and that's a very genuine answer.
16:16When we were fancy free and what could pursue some online dating themeing.
16:22We had to do all the work with ourselves.
16:25It was very tough.
16:29But yeah, it's the sign of times.
16:31I think we had written in the past few times and then we had to write an email.
16:38Now because it's changed, it's WhatsApp texts and online dating.
16:42I think this is just the sign of times.
16:46Things about ghosting and all, I think people should just take it in their stride.
16:50There will always be somebody who may like you initially, but may that attraction may wear off.
16:55And then because I think sometimes they don't know what to say.
17:00Toh ab ek chalan ho gaya hai ki na bolne se achcha hai ki ghost kardo.
17:05That's not just in dating. I think it's just in even any business transactions or business relationships and professional associations.
17:13People don't respond back or they don't reply when they don't have an answer to give.
17:16I think I don't agree with it. I think communication is a form of respect.
17:21And agar aapko kisi se picha bhi chhoda hai toh bol ke achche se karna hai hai.
17:27But it is what it is. I mean, what can we do?
17:30Yeah, absolutely.
17:32You know, Bollywood's not easy at all.
17:35As a sabka kehna hai, which is true also.
17:38Ho na bhi nechi hai.
17:39So, what do you feel are the bads of the industry as a producer that you have had to probably face behind the camera?
17:47It is for every department in the movie industry.
17:50People say that the movie industry is a very difficult place. There is absolutely.
17:52And it needs to happen.
17:54Because I think it's an extraordinary profession which gives you extraordinary returns when you succeed.
17:58When you succeed.
18:03Aap, Amitab Bachchan ji ke bangla ke bhaar jaiye sunday ko.
18:08Aaj bhi, aapko, anginat loogun ki bhi dhe me legi.
18:15He is going to be 83.
18:18Pachas saal se filmo mein.
18:19And I think Zanjeeer ke baad se bhi bhi dhe legi ho ghi.
18:23Judh gai ho ghi ho ghi unko dhekne ke liye.
18:25Usse pehle bhi ho sakti hai.
18:26But Zanjeeer ke baad se to aaj tak nini rukhi hai.
18:29Pachas saal tak
18:31Is tarha ka adulation kisi ko milna.
18:35Kisi sportsmen ko nini mil di.
18:38Kisi politician ko nini milta.
18:40Kisi industrialist ya businessmen ko nini milta.
18:43Lekin movie stars ko chai wo Amit ji ho, chai wo dharam ji ho, dharmendra ho, chai wo jitendra ji ho, chai wo shatrugan sinah sahab ho, chai wo mithun chagravarti ji ho.
18:55Main inke naam le raha ho kyunki ye abhi bhi hai maujud aur kahi nikal jayen.
19:00Or ager kahi airport pe dhik jayen.
19:03To inke irdh girdh bheedh jama ho jati.
19:05So please understand that the returns of this profession are extraordinary.
19:07Public aapko aapko aapne sar aankho pe bitha ke rakhti hai.
19:13It is not going to be easy.
19:17It is an extraordinary profession.
19:21And bhoat kum loog yaha succeed kare.
19:24Jho nahi succeed ho te, unko is baat ka na to malal ho na chahi hai, na bitternes honni chahi hai,
19:28naa yeh insider, outsider ki debat shuru kare day chahi hai.
19:31Kai bhai, isle nahi hua, waa angur khattai lagti hai.
19:34Ohp, it's just not worked out because it's not worked out.
19:38It's going to be an extremely small percentage, which is going to succeed.
19:43So you know when you talk about jinn vidgarj kiya apne naam lehi havi, right?
19:47Inke, jo aage ka generation hai, all of them are into bollywood.
19:51But there's been a certain amount of debate and chatter around them about their constant comparison about their career with their parents, right?
20:02How do you think, how do you think of it as fair for them?
20:05It is fair because then with that same, in that same breath you will say ki unko wo chance jyada asani se milta hai.
20:14So it is going to have an advantage and a disadvantage.
20:16Ah, kisi bhi star ke bachche ko woh moka jyada jaldi milta hai.
20:25Usmei koi harj nahi hai.
20:27Ah, woh isliya nahi milta ki ki koi bhoat cheating ho rhi hai aur koi nepotism ho rhi hai.
20:33Ah, pehli chiz toh nepotism ka yeh wordi yahan film industry ke liye bilkul galat hai.
20:38Kyunki, ah, nepotism mein vaha maantta hou, jahaan aap public office ya public funds ka isti maal, aapne kisi pariwarvaat kar rhe hai, aapne kisi ko badaane ke liye kar rhe hai.
20:52Film industry jyada tar private funds pe chalti hai, ya private companies ke funds pe chalti hai, ya un companies ke funds pe chalti hai, joh public funds nahi use kar rhe hai.
21:02Hum kisi ke tax ke paise se film bana nahi rhe hai.
21:05Ab agar, mein unka naam le raha hon, lekin is liye le raha hon, just to give an example.
21:09Agar karan johar ji chaathe hai, apne paise se, woh kisi ke saath bhi film bana hai.
21:15Woha unko kaise rok sakti hai aur usmei harj kya hai.
21:18Woh unka paise hai.
21:20Woh chahehen to, us paise ko, uđana chahehen to uđa de.
21:25But, ah, woh, ah, but we have to understand ki, ah,
21:31ah, apke paas woh choice hai ki,
21:33aap apni ticket, apna paise hrč karke dhekna chaathe hai, usko ke, nahi dhekna chaathe hai.
21:39Jab ap dhekna chaathe hai, tab hi ap jate hai.
21:43To, aap kis baat ke liye jhagda gar rhe hai ki,
21:45hamnene usko chance dee dhya, hapne usko chance dee dhya.
21:48Agar hap ko, hamnene jisko chance dee hai,
21:50woh chance apko nahi achhi lag rhi.
21:52To, aap matahee yoi film dhekhen.
21:54Isme, ah, koi, ah,
21:56moh laha meri pahli film as an actor,
21:58an actor did not come to see a lot of people. This was his choice. You can't give that person
22:04who has worked for me. If I'm in the industry, that was his choice. He gave his money.
22:11So firstly, I think this entire nepotism debate is very wrong when it…but in the same breath
22:18that the child of that star or somebody who's an insider gets that break far more easy than
22:27an outsider. So if they are being compared, that's also fine. They should take that in their stride.
22:35That we get the opportunity quickly. If we're not here, we'll never get the opportunity.
22:42But now we'll compare and they need to live with it.
22:46Right. When you talk about insiders and outsiders and all of that debate, right?
22:50You yourself have come from an absolutely non-filmy background and no godfather in the industry.
22:56Back then, when social media didn't even exist.
22:59Now, you might call you in the audience in your era.
23:04But back then, how difficult was it for you to kind of get into Bollywood and make it big?
23:10It has always been difficult. Raj Kapoor Ji's time. It will always remain difficult.
23:16It will always feel like it's happening because of social media or something changed.
23:20Some things will be good and some things will be bad.
23:22If you're getting an audition on social media based on the basis of followers,
23:26then you'll think about how many followers are.
23:28So you've increased the competition. You've increased the competition.
23:31You've increased the competition. You've increased the competition.
23:33Before, if only 20 people were giving an audition,
23:35you'll call 200 people. So it's all…it's just…
23:40You don't know why you're getting a break or why you're getting a chance.
23:46It will be a lot of praise and God has listened to it.
23:50So, you know, when you ventured into Bollywood, you came here as an actor.
23:55And then your journey transformed into now being a producer.
23:58Firstly, how…what was…was it a conscious decision?
24:01And number two, how has the journey been?
24:03No conscious decision.
24:05I've already said it before.
24:07It will always feel like I'm going to cry.
24:11But as an actor, my film didn't work.
24:13And because it didn't work, it was a good day.
24:15So because I had to earn a livelihood,
24:18I didn't understand anything else.
24:20I didn't want to leave the movies.
24:22I loved cinema.
24:24I tried my hand at production.
24:26My first film as a producer kind of became a success.
24:30So I found some relevance.
24:33I think it is just that, nothing else.
24:36You know, as a producer, you often handle big actors and their demands.
24:39Right?
24:40So has anybody troubled you on set?
24:42Or any kind of…any fun experience?
24:44No.
24:45I've been very fortunate that way so far.
24:47I hope that continues the good luck.
24:49All my artists and actors have never really troubled me.
24:51My directors may have, but not the actors.
24:52You know, actor costs are skyrocketing these days.
24:53How do you balance the budget without compromising on the creative vision?
24:54If the star has that recovery, it has to be recovery based.
24:57I think everybody is getting it wrong.
24:58This entire cost of entourage and everything.
24:59Even the actors have to understand if they are providing that kind of recovery to the producer.
25:04See, nobody should be asked to make a loss on their account and make a film project.
25:11It's devoid of any logic.
25:12You don't mind…
25:13I've said this earlier, you don't mind giving a charter airplane for any journey to…
25:14let's say…
25:15a…
25:24Mr. Shahrukh Khan or Mr. Salman Khan.
25:28Uh…
25:29It's devoid of any logic.
25:34You don't mind, I've said this earlier, you don't mind giving a charter airplane for any journey to, let's say, a Mr. Shahrukh Khan or a Mr. Salman Khan or a Mr. Aamir Khan.
25:46Their box office is 300, 400, 500 crores.
25:49In that, the small cost, which is a very small cost, is a very small cost.
25:53But if there is somebody whose recovery is only 30 crores, and they want to demand that I'm going to go in private aircraft, then it just doesn't make sense.
26:02So one has to understand it has to be directly proportional to the recovery that you can command at the box office.
26:09You have been dealing with the pressure of producing, I mean, you've produced Dabang, right?
26:15So you've already had Salman Khan on board with you, and you've experienced working with him as a producer.
26:23How difficult or easy is it to work with him?
26:25No, no, firstly, Salman Khan produced it, and he allowed me to participate in it as a producer.
26:31I have to say, the easy or difficult, he's the most easygoing actor that anybody can work with.
26:42And I'm not saying this to just, yeah, he's, I mean, he's, I mean, he's, I mean, he's not a divan.
26:50He's not a divan.
26:51You've been shooting in Rajasthan, in the outdoor.
26:55You can give any vehicle to him.
26:57He will never even look at that vehicle.
26:59What has he been given?
27:01So no hoty-dolty attitude.
27:02No, he's the most easygoing, and in fact, that's what I, when I see a lot of young artists, I'm like, here is, here are actors like Shahrukh, or Salman, or Amir, or even Amitji, or Hrithik,
27:18who are just so easygoing, that there can be no reason for anyone younger to be difficult for any reason on the sets, because these people are not.
27:32Raeibad, this, because you have brought it up, I would like to give my two-bit on this, about Salman coming late.
27:42Please understand, these are artists.
27:44All artists should be allowed their own temperament.
27:48I will give you an illustration.
27:52Since the last 10 to 15 years, all Salman's films have been releasing mostly on Eid.
28:01How would they release on Eid?
28:03That means he's working backwards, because he has to catch a particular date.
28:07How will he catch a particular date for the last 10 to 15 years, without actually finishing that film on time?
28:16How can he finish that film on time?
28:18If he is not shooting enough?
28:23Are you saying that an artist needs to arrive on the sets at 9 AM, to show that he is dedicated?
28:29Or is it important that he is spending enough time on the sets, shooting that film, working backwards to catch a particular date?
28:36You can debate whether you have liked the film or not liked the film, but you have to understand they are all large films.
28:46It takes 120 to 180 days to shoot a film with Salman, which means he is working non-stop for those 6 months on a film.
28:54On top of that, he is doing Big Boss.
28:56So, when was it like that this weekend, Salman is not there, because Salman is not, he is not come on time.
29:06It's either he is out of the country for some reason or he is shooting.
29:09That means he is arriving, maybe everybody is expecting that the shoot will start at 11 AM, maybe it will not.
29:20Maybe he will start shooting at 2 PM.
29:23That's his choice as an artist, that this is the time that I feel most comfortable at.
29:28So, I think this debate is just exaggerated because I think Salman's reputation precedes him far more and he never clarifies and he never takes a stand.
29:43So, because he doesn't clarify, I think it's now become a kind of a Salman's unprofessional.
29:49So, continuing with the same, do you answer, do you think Salman probably is the most misunderstood actor currently?
29:57No, I think, I think at some point or the other, all artists or people in public life are misunderstood.
30:09I won't just, because I think, see there's so much of public scrutiny all the time.
30:15And sometimes you are intending to say something or act in a certain way, but it doesn't come across like that.
30:22You have to be articulate all the time.
30:24You have to be politically correct all the time.
30:27You have to be, your conduct has to be so impeccable all the time.
30:35There are some bad days.
30:36Everybody is a human being.
30:37What we don't have is the patience or the empathy to understand that anybody could be having a bad day.
30:48I mean, this is a country where we have not spared greats like Sachin Dendulkar and Virat Kohli and Sunil Gavaskar when their form was bad.
30:57In spite of the body of work that they have carried, we are forgetting one day.
31:00That way, I think it's a problem of, it's a South Asian problem or it's our culture.
31:06We can dismantle legacy overnight.
31:11So, I think all of them have faced it.
31:15And do you miss facing the camera?
31:20See, acting was my first love.
31:26It still could be, maybe.
31:27But I'm really enjoying making films.
31:30It's, being a producer, except for the stress part of it, because a producer is supposed to magically fix everything.
31:41But just the joy of creating a film is a very big high for me.
31:50So, throughout your entire journey, right, from you coming to Mumbai, I mean, establishing yourself over there, who has been your biggest friend?
32:02I think in my, whatever I've decided to do, my family, my wife, some of those friends who have always rooted for me, and family.
32:16Because, see, if you have enough well-wishers who are, who want you to succeed, then I think you're in a good place.
32:28Right. In the previous months, you had mentioned that, you know, actors and everybody have, particularly under a lot of scrutiny these days.
32:36Do you think, continuing to the answer, do you think that because of social media, it has become more difficult and arduous for every, you know, famous personality?
32:46Oh, definitely. Definitely. And social media is a monster.
32:49I see it as a disadvantage than an advantage. There have been some goods out of it, but I think there are more evils attached to it than the good.
32:57The good is very strong too.
33:02Immediately, if you are in distress, and if you give out a call or shout out on social media, a lot of help arrives.
33:07You can fight your cases better. A common citizen who would have never had a voice earlier on anything can raise a public issue on social media.
33:18But, in spite of all of that, I still feel the evils are far more.
33:22Everybody is not pretending to be nice. Everybody is pretending to be humble.
33:26Everybody is, even the press that states it, oh, he's so humble.
33:32He opened the door of the car. I mean, how do we know he's not opening that door car because he knows it's going to come on social media like that?
33:41So, everybody is pretending now. And you don't want a pretentious society.
33:46You want people to be real. So, I think social media that way has really destroyed the fabric.
33:51And what do you have to say about the paparazzi culture?
33:54No, that was, again, going to be the sign of times and that is fine.
33:57If you're in, look, I think people just lie that they don't want to be, maybe on a bad day, you don't want to be clicked.
34:04But you can't choose.
34:09It's true that everybody wanted to be clicked. Everybody wanted to be mobbed.
34:14Everybody wants to be mobbed. Everybody wants to be clicked.
34:18Everybody wants their autographs taken. Everybody wants, let me tell you,
34:22a single actor, star, celebrity or anybody in the public life.
34:30If they ever are ignored completely, they will almost die.
34:38They are lying that their lives have been disturbed.
34:41This is what they wanted.
34:44And when they are getting it, I think they should only be very, very grateful.
34:48Do you kind of feel the paparazzi pressure, the social media pressure yourself?
34:54Of course, because you have to, now you can't look, you could have just walked anyway.
34:59Not that it's a lot of difference in me, but yes, you have to be really conscious of it.
35:05And looking at your journey, has there been one turning point that has really, you know, changed your life or whatever?
35:12I think my first film as a producer, E.D. The Wedding, that was a turning point because it worked.
35:20Like I said, it gave me some relevance and you're seeking success and relevance all the time.
35:26Right. You've produced movies from different walks of life, right?
35:29Has it always been like a conscious thing or what's made you?
35:32It's just a script. Tomorrow it could be a comedy.
35:35And I would do it because it's just something that I want to do.
35:38Okay. Outside cinema, I mean, you dwell into this entire creative zone for like hours and hours.
35:45But outside the world of cinema, is this something that really keeps you grounded and what helps you, you know, live life better?
35:51I think you should always have family members like that who keep you grounded.
35:55I don't think anybody treats me or gives me any special status or has given it or will give it even if I was the most successful person on this side of equator.
36:07That I'm very confident about my family.
36:10They would still treat me like Ghar Ki Murgi Dal Burabar, which I think is good.
36:16Lastly, talking about Bobby Deol, I mean, he's all set for the bads of Bollywood with Aryan Khan and he's just ruling the roost right now.
36:27So what do you have to say about him?
36:28I wish them all the best. I've had the good fortune of watching the series about a month back.
36:36It's stunning what that boy has done. He's going to surprise a lot of people.
36:42Right. And lastly, talking about Bandar, do you have anything more to say about the movie?
36:46We'll wait for the movie to release. It's still some time for it.
36:49I think we are just sitting on the release plan now and we should be releasing it soon.
36:54But I think it's a film that everybody is going to enjoy and love a lot.
36:58Would it like create a kind of sensation in this idea?
37:01Again, the intent is not to create any sensation, but I hope it does provoke a debate.
37:08Okay. Perfect. Any message for your fans?
37:11Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for having me.
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