cinematographer and sometimes an
actor is one person who is in the wish
list of all the A-list actors these days.
However, many of you would not
know the ups and downs this star faced before reaching the pinnacle.
His first hit Golmaal became a huge
success and did a great business at the
box office. The film was applauded
not only by the audiences but the
critics too. Since then, Rohit Shetty
performed even better with blockbusters like Golmaal Returns, All
The Best: Fun Begins, Golmaal 3,
Singham and Bol Bachchan. Now, with
Chennai Express lined up and an
expected blockbuster, Rohit Shetty
shares his life's initial phase and some beautiful memories of Chennai
Express and his tuning with the actors
Shahrukh Khan and Deepika
Padukone.
Now that Rohit Shetty has completed
almost a decade in the industry, he
has become the most sought after
director in the industry who has
delivered best of action, comedy, car
blowing scenes. Now, the actor is ready to try his hands in romantic
films too. Here are some excerpts
from the candid conversation.
You have hit the 10-year mark in Hindi films. How does it feel to
complete a decade as a director?
Really? 10 years? I had no idea. It's
been a good journey. When I look
back at the directors that started out
at the same time I did, I feel very
fortunate. You have to be fortunate to
work with the right people and luck also must favour you. It's a
combination of many things.
You had a shaky beginning but once you delivered a hit, there was no
looking back.
Yes, but that's the unpredictability of
our industry. And it's the same today.
One film goes wrong and you're back
where you started 10 years ago. Two
films go wrong and that sets you back
20 years. But that's the fun part of our industry.
What was the turning point in your career? Was it Golmaal?
Yes, Golmaal, for sure. We had no idea
whether the film would do well or
not. We were all quite apprehensive.
For us, it was like Ajay (Devgn) doing
comedy. Tusshar's over-the-top
character was a big risk but thankfully it all worked out.
Everyone is talking about Chennai Express. How did that movie happen?
Chennai Express was an accident.
Shah Rukh (Khan) watched Golmaal
and told me he really liked it. We
happened to be shooting at the same
studio at the time and we met. I was
planning to remake Angoor. So I narrated the basic idea to him. I said I
would write the script, get back to
him and let him take a call.
But after writing the film, I thought
we needed a larger canvas for
someone like Shah Rukh and myself to
work on together. The script of
Chennai Express was already with us,
so we started working on that film, keeping Shah Rukh in mind. When I
approached Shah Rukh again, I
thought he would kick me out and
consider me a mad man. But I had
gathered the courage to tell him that I
planned to make this film, not Angoor.
He said he wanted me to work on a film that would make me happy and if
I thought that it should be Chennai
Express, then so be it. I narrated the
script to him and he loved it and he
produced it happily.
According to Shah Rukh Khan, you have a unique way of narrating your scripts.
I have a team of jokers including
myself and we put up a three-hour
circus in front of actors and
technicians! I am not against an actor
reading a script but when he reads a
script, it's like a novel and he becomes the director, he visualises
the film. But
when a script has to be narrated, it
has to be narrated with the director's
vision. If an actor has visualised something,
the director can correct him, saying
'no I have something else in mind'.
And the whole scenario and film can
change. The whole approach of a film
can change. I think an actor can read a script but it is very important for a
director and his writers to narrate a
script to an actor.
What was it like to work with Shah Rukh Khan?
It was great. I am sad the film is over.
Shah Rukh is a great guy. When you
complete a film, you usually feel, 'Oh!
At last the film is over!' But not with
this one. We will soon be working
together again. Either Shah Rukh will produce the film or act in it. When he
is on the sets, there is so much joy all
around. He is a very good captain and
motivates the entire team. He knows
just how to draw the best out of
everyone.
As a producer, was he very helpful?
He had faith in me and told me to
make the film exactly as I pleased. He
said, 'Forget about the budget, just
make the film.' He is a great producer.
Was he punctual?
(Laughs) He was, always. He has even
shot with me at four in the morning.
We have travelled at five o'clock in
the morning, which was a surprise.
When an actor has worked in the
industry for a long time, they develop a routine and you have to adjust to
that routine. It was fun working with
him.
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