The Chopras have churned out the maximum remakes

Is your new film Akhir an autobiographical account?It’s kind of inspired by the incidents in my life. It’s safe to say that it&#14...

Is your new film Akhir an autobiographical account?
It’s kind of inspired by the incidents in my life. It’s safe to say that it’s a fictionalised account of my life.

Does it have anything to do with your relationship with Sushmita Sen?
Well, everyone knows that I was in a marriage that didn’t work out. Then I was in a relationship with her. When I think about those times, a wave of feelings engulfs me. The film is based on those feelings.

Sushmita Sen says that if you go ahead with this film then you’re not the man she knew.
What can I say? She’s entitled to what she thinks and feels.

Story continues below this ad

What’s the big casting controversy in the film?
Initially, another producer was backing the film. Things went wrong at that end, so I went to Pritish Nandy Communications. They heard the story, liked it and put it on the floor in less than a month. They requested a few changes in the cast. I had to agree and so now, Aftab Shivdasani, Esha Deol and Amisha Patel are acting in the film.

Do you think working on many films at the same time resulted in burnout?

You can never plan everything on paper. Stuff happens and schedules go for a toss. But now I’m conscious about doing one film at a time.

How do you analyse the slump in your career after Ghulam and Kasoor?
It’s all a phase. When I entered the industry, they said I couldn’t make a film. Then they said I couldn’t make a hit film. These days, they’re saying I’ve lost it. It’s all cyclic. Soon they’ll say that I’ve found it again. Nobody makes hits all the time.

Story continues below this ad

But you have to admit that all your films are rip-offs of Hollywood films.
Unfortunately, the media has slotted some directors as remake specialists. Nobody says that Black was a copy of Miracle Worker or that Salaam Namaste is a blatant rip-off of Nine Months. Hum Tum was When Harry Met Sally, in Hindi, and Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hain was My Best Friend’s Wedding. By that logic the Chopras have churned out the maximum remakes. But nobody dares to call them that. That’s the way this industry works.

You sound very angry and bitter.
No, I’m a realist. Nothing succeeds like success and everybody always wants to be on the good side of successful people.

Any plans for a movie with Aamir Khan?
I don’t know. Ask him.

You don’t have many friends in the industry.
I don’t socialise, period. I don’t believe that you can have friends in this industry. I have a small group of people I interact with and they aren’t from the film industry.

Story continues below this ad

There are rumours of a break up with Amisha Patel.
I’m at a stage where nothing written about me bothers me. Everything has been said and done. As it is, whatever was written about me is already forgotten. I don’t care how people perceive me as long as they watch my films.

You didn’t say anything about Amisha Patel.
What’s to say? She is a part of my life.

Harneet Singh