Many credit Anurag Kashyap for revolutionising the current moviemaking culture, but actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt says her father Mahesh Bhatt’s films were ‘way more ahead’ than what the Gangs of Wasseypur director is known for creating.
“Some of the films are new, but most of them are old as hell and packaged in beautiful bottles,” Pooja said when asked about her views on the new wave in the Indian film industry. “I have grown up seeing my father’s movies. I think the movies that Shekhar Kapur and my father made in those days were far more forward looking than some of Anurag Kashyap’s movies of today, even if he is known as the new age king.”
“I am not an expert, but I know that there is a lot more talk happening than [there is ] substance. They (the filmmakers) are packaging it pretty well with the same old thing repeatedly,” she added. Mahesh Bhatt is known for crafting meaningful cinemas such as Arth, Saraansh, Naam, Kaash and Daddy. Pooja, his eldest daughter, stepped into the film industry first as an actor and then followed his footsteps by directing and producing films. She made an impressive debut in 1989 with Daddy and continued to wow with films like Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Sadak, Sir, Zakhm and Tamanna. In 2004, she stepped behind the camera to direct Paap, followed by Dhokha, Kajraa Re and Jism 2.
“When I look back at my own career, I was far bolder than most of the so-called bold girls today. I have done it all without even talking about it. I believe that if you don’t feel vulgar, you can’t look vulgar and it’s the first lesson I learnt from my father when I was doing Sadak. I followed it in my life too. I never wore a swimsuit on the screen because I can’t control the camera angles, but I posed in a swimsuit during a photo-shoot. I trusted the photographer and I trusted myself,” she said.
“My father believes that we create stars and then others cast those stars. I don’t make projects, I make films. I am in competition only with my father and my uncle (Mukesh Bhatt) because they taught me what I know today. I only believe in making movies with integrity,” she said.
When asked if she had any plans to work with half-sister Alia Bhatt, Pooja said, “If we get the right script, why not? Otherwise neither am I dependent on her nor is she dependent on me. We are very proud of each other. For us, the relationship that we share is more important than any film that we make together.
Pooja is currently busy with her next directorial venture Cabaret in which Richa Chadda plays the lead along with former cricketer Sreesanth. Apart from that, she is also working on her acting comeback with Reema Kagti’s Mr Chaalu! expected to come out next year.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2014.
Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.