I am nervous: Chopra
Movie mogul Yash Chopra, who gave many romantic hits, is as nervous as a newcomer about his film Veer-Zaara.
He is one of India's most successful filmmakers and has spawned any number of imitations of his dreamy romances. But Yash Chopra disarmingly says that he is as "nervous as a newcomer" about his latest Veer-Zaara.
The indefatigable movie mogul is ready with his first directorial effort in seven years after five decades of trend-setting hits like Dhool Ka Phool, Waqt, Kabhi Kabhie and Dil To Pagal Hai.
The mega director took time off to talk while putting finishing touches to his ambitious India-Pakistan love story to discuss the recipe for his abiding success.
From Dhool Ka Phool to Dhoom, there has never been a success like yours.
God is kind. I don't deserve all this success. There's no formula for success, except a pure soul. Look at Lata Mangeshkar, she's an example. Like her, I'm completely focused on my work. I've never looked back. I've always taken risks. When in 1995, my son directed Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, the overseas distributors started acting tough. So we opened our own offices abroad. Today we've our own overseas network all over the world.
God gave me so much money for Dilwale Dulhaniya... I decided to invest it in a dream studio. That dream, too, is on the verge of completion. Now I'm ready to release my first film in seven years, and I'm as nervous as a newcomer.
Why this long hiatus?
My son Aditya made Mohabbatein, which took a lot of time and energy. Then we started looking for a script for me to direct. Nothing seemed to excite us both. There's a complete bankruptcy of screenwriting in our cinema. I wanted a very earthy and Indian subject. I was tired of the promos on television. They all looked the same with semi-clad girls. Of course Dhoom has them too. But I'd personally not make a film like that.
With Veer-Zaara around the corner I'm as nervous as I was when I directed my first film Dhool Ka Phool. At that time I was judged as BR Chopra's younger brother. Then in 1973 I was again nervous as a schoolboy on his first day of school when I branched out on my own to produce and direct Daag. I knew I was doomed if it failed. I remember the first trial show 12 days before release. People praised me. But I could see the hesitation about the controversial subject - a man with two wives. And my leading man Rajesh Khanna had as many as eight flops prior to Daag. But to my relief, the film was a super hit on the first day.
Why this sense of secrecy about your new directorial venture?
Perhaps people are more curious than we're secretive (laughs)! Veer-Zaara is one of the most difficult films I've ever made. We had no time to think of anything else but how to complete the film. We needed to shoot in Punjab during a particular season. By the grace of God we got all the stars' dates. When we returned we completed the indoors shooting. So people presumed we were secretive about the project because of its sensitive (India-Pakistan) subject. But the fact is we didn't get time to make announcements.
