Rohit Shetty is brimming over with happiness at the box office response to Dilwale (2015) and shrugs off the critical reaction. He looks back at the Dilwale experience and his film’s immediate competition, Bajirao Mastani (2015).
Why didn’t you publicise Dilwale before its release?
I had not done interviews during the promotions because I was busy working on the film. I made the film in five months. Now I have time to come out and promote it more.
Are you happy with the kind of response you have got for the film?
We were tired but now I am at peace and relaxed. I am happy because I see the collections; and the most important thing is the positive public response.
Do you think Dilwale’s collections would have been better had the film’s release not clashed with Bajirao Mastani?
Yes, definitely. It harms the business but at the end of the day what I am happy about is that for the first time two big films were released on the same day, which was not a holiday, and it became a cricket match for three days. Now everyone has gone back to their work.
People who want to see the film are going to see it. Everyone was panicked and eager to know what’s going to happen but from whatever I have heard till now, both the films are doing well. Dilwale’s opening collections were much higher than those of Bajirao Mastani. It’s because Dilwale is a family entertainer ... but by the year end we both will be in a good space.
Are Shah Rukh and you keeping a tab on the collections?
Not really. Shah Rukh is busy giving interviews and still promoting. You get to know in three days what’s going to happen with your film.
The reviews have been mixed.
That happens with my film and I am used to it... it never gets good reviews. We knew the reviews won’t be good maybe because it’s not that kind of a film; my films are more family or commercial films. If you see any of my films, you get the same type of reviews. We were prepared for that. There have been so many films which have got good reviews but have not done well. At the end of the day, you have made the film for the audience and if they are liking it... After four-five days all one remembers is the business. Everything works on money.
Most successful directors have started their own productions. When are you turning producer?
I am starting a film next year which I will be producing but not directing. One of my chief assistants will helm the film. Then there is one film with Priyadarshan which will start next year.
You have known Kajol for many years but what was it like to direct her for the first time?
When I narrated the script, it was quite odd for me because I have known Kajol for many years and also assisted in her films like Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha (1998) and Raju Chacha (2000). Once we started working, gradually the feeling went away. It’s fun working with her, she always keeps me on my toes, and is always bubbly and doing masti.
After Chennai Express, (2013) was Shah Rukh a given choice for this film? Did you assemble the rest of the cast thereafter?
Varun was my first choice and he was the first person to whom we narrated the script, even before narrating it to Kajol and Shah Rukh. Shah Rukh was busy with a film so he had only heard the story and not the final draft. I had seen Heropanti (2014) and I wanted to cast Kriti because Varun and her would make a fresh pair.
Any other young actor you would love to work with in the future?
Ranveer Singh — he is good and I would love to work with him someday. He has that kind of energy that Varun has.
Weren’t Shah Rukh and you going to remake Angoor (1982) before Dilwale?
We always plan to make Angoor but we ended up making Chennai Express and then Dilwale. We will definitely make Angoor but I don’t know when.
Have you finalised the cast for the Ram Lakhan remake? Buzz is that Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor are to be cast.
We are still writing the film. For the last three-four months we were working on Dilwale and we didn’t get time but from next week my team will start working on it. By mid next year we will finalise everything.