New Delhi: Filmmaker Kamal Haasan quipped that any movie that starred both him and Rajinikanth would be an expensive venture as little would be left in the coffers after paying two of Indian cinema's legendary superstars. In other words, despite rumours that such a film is in the offing, fans may have a long wait ahead of them.
Haasan, who was in Delhi recently to promote his upcoming film Vishwaroop (Vishwaroopam in Tamil), spoke on several issues, including his controversial decision to release the film eight hours prior to its official release, to DTH (Direct to Home) providers.
"The issue stands on our side, it will be sorted out. In South it has already been sorted. We have come to a consensus," Haasan assured those worried that the escalating fight between the theatre owners and the filmmakers will delay its release.
The film will be available at a price of Rs 1000 on DTH. He is betting to raise around Rs 150 crore through 2000 screens across the globe. Some distributors are unhappy with the decision of screening the film on DTH, as they think it will hamper their business.
"The comfort of watching it in your home will be what you will be paying for. It's like getting food ordered and sent home, you will still have to find the plate and later clean the plate. The theatre experience is basically the eating at a hotel experience. One will not affect the other. You have a choice. In India cinema going is a culture, a habit, nothing will change. I don't see that happening in my lifetime," Haasan said.
"An impertinent friend from theatre owners association asked me what I needed all that money for. I told him, to build more theatres," he said.
The recent spate of mega successful blockbusters, the proverbial 100 crore club, will not affect the traditional space that filmmakers struggling to raise money to make films, occupy, Haasan said.
"If today Mr Ray comes back as a young man, he will still have to sell his family jewels. Nothing is going to change, I came from there and I haven't forgotten that, these 200-300 crores mean nothing until they come to your hand," he said.
But a lot is at stake for his film. "This film will fail if it doesn't crore 150 crore. I'm not hoping it might, it will have to, otherwise it isn't a clever project. It's not wise." The film has reportedly been made on a budget of Rs 95 crores.
In a dark room we are the only light
"My conscious decision is to make a film that will be talked about. Our conscious effort is to entertain a large audience. The demography should be big, then we feel our success is bigger. My intent is to entertain, to keep you laughing crying and happy in whatever time you have invested in us. In a dark room we are the only light and we better be bright," Haasan said about his films.
But he dashed the hopes of fans who were speculating that Haasan would remake 'Sadma' and 'Ek Duje Ke Liye', his hugely successful early films.
"People are talking about part 2 of Sadma where she (the heroine suffering from amnesia) remembers everything and comes back. But a tragedy is best left at that, it is a tragedy because she doesn't return," said Haasan.
A film with Rajinikanth
Haasan said a film with Rajini will have to wait. "Well it's a costly question, after both of us have been paid, there will be very little left to make a film, probably the DTH revolution will make that happen because there will be more money," he said.
They have done a few films together in the early stages of their career, notably 'Apoorva Raagangal', which was the breakthrough film for Haasan and the debut film of Rajinikanth.
The 58-year-old actor is currently gearing up for the release of his new big-budgeted thriller 'Viswaroop', on January 11. Haasan has written, directed and acted in the film, which also stars Pooja Kumar, Rahul Bose, Andrea Jeremiah and Jaideep Ahlawat. The film will was shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi and also stars filmmaker Shekhar Kapur in a special role.
Shekhar Kapoor and Kamal Haasan
"Shekhar and I have been discussing about making a film together. When I asked him to be a part of 'Viswaroop', he went about with the enthusiasm of an amateur and worked on this film," Haasan said. (With additional inputs from PTI)
Comments
0 comment