BANGALORE: In hindsight it can be said that Halla Bol paved the way for Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani. At least that’s how its director Rajkumar Santoshi likes to put it. The 2008 released socially relevant and critically acclaimed Halla Bol was a failure at the box office. But for Santoshi it was a reality check.
Evidently wiser from his last flop, his latest film, Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani from the look of it has all the recipes blended in to cater to the new-age yuppie genre. The promos are a splash of colours, with the current pin-up boy Ranbir Kapoor romancing Katrina Kaif. For a director who has laid his hands on everything from hardhitting social subjects (Damini, Ghayal, Lajja), patriotic themes (Pukar, The Legend of Bhagat Singh) to occasional slapstick (Andaz Apna Apna), APKGK is definitely off the track. But Santoshi shrugs off any theories about adapting to the changing multiplex Bollywood culture. “It’s a very young, light-hearted romantic comedy. The reason why it looks new is because I have never attempted this before and also because I never repeat my subjects.” Among other things, the mint fresh pairing of Ranbir and Katrina has already been the talk of B-town (Err…there were reports about them being an item and Deepika fuming).
“I was impressed with Ranbir’s performance in Saawariya and Katrina was already a big star.
I knew both of them would look great together,” he elaborates.
I steer the conversation back to Halla Bol. Great story and impressive performances but what went wrong? “It’s a movie that made me realise marketing plays a key role in its success. You need to build a hype around the film,” says a wiser Santoshi.
He further details on the “marketing trends” in Bollywood. “If your movie makes a good initial, half the battle is won. It’s all in the right packaging and how you sell your film.” Santoshi, not known to mince words, has a few observations about his young Bollywood counterparts as well, “Most of the makers are made on a Monday. They discard their films after two days.
They are only bothered about selling their film by hook or crook,” rues the director.
Of his films, he singles out Khakhee and The Legend of Bhagat Singh for “its different treatment (I think the police force was shown in a positive light after a long time), great storyline and rather enjoyed making the film.’’ Like every other director, Santoshi acknowledges that filmmaking is a collective effort and is game for suggestions from actors and scriptwriters.
“Why can’t actors pitch in their suggestions? But all said and done till date I can say that I have only made movies according to my own terms,” he trails off.