'I dont want to let SRK down'

Eight years ago, in the corridors of Yash Raj Films, the bushy tailed aspiring director earned' 10 minutes of private time with honcho Aditya Chopra. Young Maneesh Sharma pitched an idea of a film that he wished to direct, which took the Chopra scion by surprise. That film was what we know today as Fan with none other than superstar Shah Rukh Khan. "Adi agreed that this movie should definitely be made but it shouldn't be my first film." Maneesh went ahead and assisted on two films, Aajaa Nach Le and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Sometime later he approached Adi again with the proposal of Fan but got a similar reply. "Adi asked me to work on a concept, which wouldn't be a risk for the production house and me as a director," shares he. The dismissal on the rebound gave birth to his blockbuster debut Band Baaja Baaraat (BBB). After having proved himself as the interpreter of new age love with Shuddh Desi Romance (SDR), Maneesh not only got a nod from Adi to make Fan but was also made co-producer for YRF's Dum Laga Ke Haisha, a privilege few would enjoy... Over to the filmmaker who's realising his celluloid dreams one by one..."I can't let Shah Rukh down"I was an assistant on Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and today I'm getting to direct Shah Rukh Khan. It's a dream come true. I'm a big fan of hispowerhouse talent. Fan comes with a lot of responsibility. I have followed SRK's life since his Fauji days. There's no way I can let him down. People say that working with newcomers is easier as opposed to working with a big star. I've only worked with newcomers. They were at my disposal and inexperienced. But I guess everything comes with a price. Today, I'm getting to work with a huge star. The amount of inputs SRK will bring to Fan will be tremendously helpful.Stills from Band Baaja Baaraat, Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl and Shuddh Desi Romance (top to bottom)"My parents feared my career was over after SDR"Aditya Chopra, Jaideep (Sahni, writer) and I were clear that SDR was going to be a risqu subject. We hadn't even expected it to make money. But we wanted to make the film. If people haven't liked the film, it's not because of the subject but the treatment. I've heard people say bad things about SDR. We got terrible reactions after the first fewscreenings. Even my parent's didn't like it. They feared my career was over. But the audience loved the film because it did not hurt anyone's sentiments. It was told in a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek manner. Ironically, SDR is my biggest success in terms of box office collections."I want to match up to the standards of Anurag, Imtiaz and Hirani"On Koffee With Karan, Anurag Kashyap said that SDR was overrated. Maybe he didn't like the film. I love him for his honesty. But I can't forget that after BBB released, he was the first person to call me. We were on the phone for 45 minutes out of which, he spent 42 minutes praising my work. I respect people like Anurag, RajkumarHirani and Imtiaz Ali. I want to match up to their standards. If they can praise my work, they have all the right to criticize it too. For instance, even Sujoy Ghosh called me after SDR and said he didn't like the film but he loved what I did with my actors. I respect his opinion."Ladies vs Ricky Bahl disappointed a lot of people"I make youthful, contemporary films. And my focus is mainly to explore fresh content. My experiment worked with BBB but it failed with Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. It disappointed a lot of people but I haven't met anyone who hated the film. It had a big monkey on its back called BBB. Maybe if Ladies... was my debut film, people would've appreciated it. In fact, when I roped in Ranveer Singh for BBB, people believed I was making a mistake. But Adi stood by me. Every film at YRF, good or bad, has its own sensibility and is given equal amount of love and support."Turning producer for YRF is a win-win situation"Sharat Katariya (director of Dum Laga Ke Haisha) came up with this movie idea, which I loved. Adi asked me to produce it. Adi wants to create a business model where people take on bigger responsibilities. So he doesn't need to look into every detail of YRF films and has more time to direct. As for me, this is a win-win situation. I don't have to put in money and yet there's profit sharing. But I'll never let the films I direct suffer because of my productions. I'm supposed to be what Adi is to the directors at YRF - involved with the creative supervision and nurturing of a film. I can't afford to falter because people will lose their money."There's nothing between Parineeti and me"There are certain bonds you form with people whom you take your first steps with. Parineeti is one such person. When people say that I got her into the movies and that she's my muse, I don't know how to react. There's nothing happening between us. False talk never affects me. Parineeti used to get affected because she's an actor and readers tend to believe the untrue. But now even she doesn't care, which is good.

There's already a thread for Fan updates. It was posted there a few days ago.😳

I don't trust Maneesh to make a good film. He did well with BBB, but he did equally badly with SDR and LVRB. I hope SRK has read the script for fan, bas.

Originally posted by: Humsafar.

I don't trust Maneesh to make a good film. He did well with BBB, but he did equally badly with SDR and LVRB. I hope SRK has read the script for fan, bas.

Sorry I forgot to put it der.:-(

Originally posted by: AadatSeMajboor

Sorry I forgot to put it der.:-(

I'm not yet excited for this movie. I want Raees to happen before this one

i hate this ass licking...what is this turning down and all...business of movies is not in one's hands.

I want a movie where I want to see SRK the star disappear and the character emerge. I used to see that in his earlier films, now I don't. Perhaps it is his stardom, but I have come to think he just doesn't seem to put in the effort as before. However crappy the films are I can never let SRK go because I have grown up with him, but for once I want to go to a film for the film and not as a loyal fan. Fan and Raees are those. Hope SRK does not disappoint and I hope Maneesh does not too.