Rohan Sippy’s resistance theory

Filmmaking is known to be a team effort and is never complete without some differences. Differences with father Ramesh Sippy on Dum Maaro Dum helped son Rohan understand cinema better.

Filmmaking is known to be a team effort and is never complete without some differences. But when the producer is veteran Ramesh Sippy, known for many blockbusters including the epic Sholay (1975), then it would seem to be a little hard to argue with him. However, son and director Rohan Sippy concedes that he had a hundreds of differences with his dad during the making of Dum Maaro Dum.

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“Hats off to him for allowing me to have my say. He has great respect for the position of the director,” says Rohan, adding that Sippy senior gave him a lot of advice and feedback on the script. “He didn’t come for the shoot, but his insights after seeing the rough cut were very valuable.”

According to Rohan, his father and him would keep having discussions with the writer, editor and cinematographer. “Some times I’m a little resistant to his suggestions, maybe because he’s my dad. But a few hours later I realise he is right,” admits the director.

So do comparisons and expectations worry him? “Practical comparisons are those that are made with peers making and releasing films in the same week as yours. Not that I’m worried about new talent, but I’ll be judged against my contemporaries.”

Predictably, every son is expected to carry forward his father’s legacy. But he doesn’t want to remake any of his father’s blockbusters. While he argues it’s great to do remakes, he feels it’s essential to be convinced that he can do it better. “I think a director should bring that much ego into the project and the ambition that he can do better. But there’s not a chance in hell I can do that,” he smiles.