'My films are popcorn entertainers'-sajid khan

Just three films in his kitty – Heyy Babyy, Housefull and Housefull 2 – and all hits. A perfect hatrick! Riding high on the success of his last film, director Sajid Khan is all set to entertain the audience once again with his upcoming film Himmatwala

This is your first remake. Why did you choose Himmatwala?

Himmatwala is among my top 10 favourite films of all time, and that includes some Hollywood movies. I have always wanted to remake it in my signature style, with lots more action, lots more humour and lots more drama.I had written a draft many years ago, even before Heyy Babyy. Then Heyy Babyy became a hit and Akshay (Kumar) and I became a team. Later, I came up with Housefull and then Housefull 2. It's been one success after another thereafter and Himmatwala was put on the backburner.

Why Ajay Devgn?

I always wanted to make the film with Ajay (Devgn). He is my college mate and was the wealthiest guy in our group and we were his cronies. But he had no clue that he would be a superstar one day. I'm sure he had no idea that I would become a director one day either! Still, he used to joke about doing the film since his dad had done the action for the original. So when I met him, the first thing he said was, 'You have come to me with Himmatwala, right?' I asked him how he had guessed. And he said, 'I've known you since college, that's why.' So, I rewrote the draft and then spoke to Vashu Bhagnani, my producer, and asked him to buy the remake rights of the film, officially. I told him, I didn't want people to point fingers. But when I had finished my draft, I wanted to stop him from buying the rights.

Why is that?

Because my draft was nothing like the 1983 Himmatwala. It only has shades of the original and its basic flavour. You know it's always better to be safe than sorry so it is better to have the remake rights with you. But thanks to that, I also got to retain the title and two songs, Naino mein sapna and Taki re taki. You could say that this film is a 'rewrite', not a 'remake' of the original. It's clap-trap action, which people can enjoy with their kids. There is no violence and no double entendre. The heroine does not show any cleavage either. It's a clean family film, just like my other films.

What type of a response have you received so far?

It has been very good, especially in the trade. The trade is very excited… distribution circles, and cinema owners are very excited. The trailer has definitely struck a chord. See, I'll tell you why I make films. I make films not to make money. I make films so that I can enjoy those four to five weeks of travelling around cinemas with my team.

The promotions began with a bang, with the trailer release at the Gaiety Galaxy multiplex. Why is there a lull in the promotions now? Do you plan to go all out as you approach the release date?

There's no lull. After the launch, I did the music launch. I took the actors to the Mirchi Music Awards. I took Ajay Devgn on TV for Nach Baliye last Sunday too. Usually, filmmakers promote their films in the last four weeks before the film's release. I do it over eight weeks, so that I space out the marketing plan. From March 10, we all promote the film together. And we will be targeting everything, from TV shows, to channels to malls to cities and even a couple of countries. We will be on the move.

Promotions are extremely important but promotions alone don't make a film work. Promotions se picture chalti nahi hai, usse sirf picture ki awarenessbadhti hai. So, regardless of how much you promote your film, when the clock strikes 12, aap audience ke saamne expose ho jaaoge. By 3 pm, aapko apnifilm ka fate pata chal jayega.

The film is releasing just a week before the IPL, and your last few films have also released during this time. Is this a lucky phase for you?

No, not really. My cinema is popcorn entertainment. They are entertainers, larger-than-life masalacomedies. They are apt for a summer blockbuster. I don't know how it would have turned out if I released the Housefull series during Diwali. I always think summer.

But how important is the right release date?

The right release date is important because it has a great impact on the opening. But besides the opening, you have to think about the closing also, na? That is, when will the film close? Will it close in its first week or will it run for ten weeks? But coming back to your question, the IPL doesn't scare me. I have proved the theory about films not being able to compete with the IPL wrong, twice. Jisko TVdekhna hoga, they will watch TV, and those who want to watch films will do that. Some people even do both!

Will you ever release a film during Diwali?

I don't know. Right now, I have already started planning the release of my film with Saif (Ali Khan) and that will also be a summer release.

Are you talking about Judwaa 2?

No, I am not doing that film. I had initially signed on to do Judwaa 2 but I returned the signing money. I am doing another film with Saif, which I will start in July. It's an out-and-out romantic comedy and you will see Saif in it like never before. It also features Riteish Deshmukh and the film is being produced by Vashu Bhagnani. It is not, I repeat, not Judwaa 2. That film too will be a summer film, maybe March or April but definitely not May. For me, summer starts mid-March. India mein toh summer February end mein aa jaata hai. (Laughs)

Unlike your past releases, this is your first film without Akshay Kumar. Will he be doing a cameo at least?

I didn't want to cast Akshay merely because I have a good rapport with him and I have access to him. I will probably make a two-hero film with Akshay and Ajay some day. This is Ajay's film and I doubt any other hero would have suited this role. The way I have presented Ajay, certain directors have presented Mr Bachchan or Vinod Khanna in the '70s and the '80s. Mark my words; this is the best way a hero has been presented after Phool Aur Kaante. Many readers of Box Office India will have to agree that what excites the audience about a hero is his entry in the film. It is one of the most crucial elements. In the history of hero's entry scenes, Himmatwala will rank among the top three. Because I have been designing it for the last ten years! (Laughs)

There's often buzz in the trade about you predicting the business of a film.

Yes, I do that.

So what are your predictions for Himmatwala?

I know it is going to be a huge hit. One, for the fact that I will not make a flop. No director ever wants to make a flop. No audience wants to watch a flop. But I don't make a film from the point of view of a director. I make a film from the point of view of what the audience would want to watch. I have proved people right and some people wrong three times.Every film comes with expectations and a certain potential. The reputation of a filmmaker or perhaps an actor colours our perception of a film. There are two reasons the audience wants to watch a film. One, for the hero and the other, for the director. And these are the two people that are impacted most by the film's success or failure. So I don't perceive myself as a filmmaker; I perceive myself as part of the audience. That's why I come across as being confident but some of my colleagues think I am arrogant. But I am not arrogant. I am the first to admit that there are many, many directors who are far more gifted and talented than I am who know the craft better. But I am better than they are at story-telling. Films are about stories, and arguably the best director we have is the best story-teller and that is Rajkumar Hirani. His films are simple but very interesting and they touch a chord.

Business-wise, what are your predictions for Himmatwala?

It can be anything. Rs 125 crore or Rs 130 crore. I hope it crosses Rs 150 crore.

Why only this much? Why not the same business as your favourite director Rajkumar Hirani's record of 3 Idiots – Rs 202 crore?

No, I don't think so. The kind of films I make will never get that kind of respect. Rajkumar Hirani makes respectful films. I make successful, pop culture entertainers. I don't see myself ever winning a Best Director award. Not that these awards have any value. Look at Manmohan Desai. He never received any respect during his career. The respect went to Raj Kapoor. So I don't see myself getting any respect for my films but I will always make sure the audience, the producers and the actors who work with me have a good time.

When will we see you making Housefull 3?

I don't see myself making Housefull 3 for at least three years because of my current assignment. I will start with Saif's film, then I have to make another film. I don't know what I will work on after that. I may have two films and I have been signed by people but they don't know what I am going to make next and what they will make in turn. But they know I am not a producers' director, I am an audience's director. And they know I will not make a flop film.