Anurag Kashyap's Interview - Very interesting points about Sushant - Page 8

Originally posted by: Sashay01

I think this is interesting. it is only natural that SSR would want to do a YRF or Dharma film. For outsiders it's like the "final marker" of having made it. I remember Juhi Chawla saying once that working with Yash Chopra for any new comer is like a badge of honour. Im sure it was the same for SSR who was an ambitious guy. The thing was, he wanted to be a star- not the next Naseer or Irfan but the next SRK or Hrithik. And he was fast becoming it too because he was so charming- but there is a darker side to being an A lister- the bad press, the vindictive PR of rivals, deals gone awry, fall outs like with Adi Chopra. And you have to be almost superhuman and emotionally switched off not to crack.

The thing that strikes me about SSR was that he was a nice, sensitive guy - which was good because that made him a very good actor- but he wouldve needed someone real and supportive by his side- I dont mean necessarily as a partner but a friend, a support system, anyone to just ground him in such a fickle world. Ankita seemed to be that but after her, he just seemed lost and alone.

If you look at all successful outsiders, they have all had a solid support system in Mumbai with them- Ayushman had Tahira, AB Sr actually had his parents with him and SRK had Gauri.

Who did SSR have by the end? Kriti and Rhea seemed to be in the same boat as him- outsiders trying to find a foothold and younger than him to boot. Can you imagine dealing with the MeToo allegations all by himself? Just tragic and such a loss of a true gem!

Also, Amitabh’s gf at the time was Jaya who recommended him to Hrishikesh (jaya was hrishi da’s fav) and rest his history. He came out of 14 flops (?) to deliver hits with Hrishi da.

Originally posted by: zaroonkashaf

If your point is that he was seeking validation from certain insiders or certain big names then you were a big name yourself by then Anurag. May be he just preferred a Shudh Desi Romance over HTP. Maybe a Drive excited him more than HTP at that point. It is about choices....right? I can't even remember as to how many times Anurag has talked about wanting to work with Shahrukh. They go way back yet haven't agreed on a single thing they want to work on together yet. So would he hold that against him? Like what even.

And if the implication here was that he became arrogant after Dhoni and stopped taking your calls then that's a stretch since there are plenty of actors out there that one can name that literally start avoiding folks when they don't want to work with them for whatever the reason might be.

Anurag wasn't saying anything bad about him. He was saying Sushant was no different from everyone else in that they want to work with big names like YRF and Dharma. He chose Drive himself. It's the same way all actresses want to work with Bhansali or Yash Chopra because of the way he presents them. He had no grudges towards him for that.

Sushant was just a regular guy working hard and trying to make it big. He chose the path that he thought would work for him. Signing a contract with YRF, saying yes to a Dharma film, dumping his TV girlfriend and dating starlets like Kriti Sanon, etc. It's the typical path everyone follows. There is nothing wrong in it. But there's no need to create this narrative of him being some kind of saintly person whom the entire world was against.

True.. every outsider who managed to make it had a strong emotional support.. That was majorly missing in Sushant's life..

Originally posted by: Logical-Indian

I don't think it's that simple. Destroying a career means somehow making sure that the person does not get any work in the industry. They can stop working with that actor but can they really force EVERY other producer to not cast the actor too? Why will all the producers obey a Dharma or YRF?? Lets not forget the producers are all competing with each other too.

Coming to big films, I don't think Dharma and YRF are the ONLY production houses making big films. There are plenty of other big production houses, UTV, FOX, Sony,Sajid Nadiadwala, Ronnie Screwwala, Excel, Zee, Balaji to name a few. Just because 1-2 production houses stop working with an actor does not mean their career is destroyed. Other than SRK, Alia, Sid M, Rani , Anushka, Ranveer, Parinitee-- Which other main stream actor's success can be attributed to these 2 production houses? Most of the actors went on the work with these 2 production houses after they already became famous. Unless ALL the big producers somehow blacklisted an actor, there would be no significant impact on an actors career. The only way that would happen is if the actor antagonized EVERYONE. Even then they could still get work with smaller producers..case in point Kangana. So I don't think "destroying" someone's career is that easy.

Thank you - you worded my same point in much better words.

Originally posted by: Scarlet.ferro

So he kept changing his numbers just because he was unstable and thought someone was after me?

There is a possibility of him being in depression but things don't add up . Certainly not what rhea said over the time with different statements and certainly not how Sushant behaved.

Or was he having selective instability which only was visible to rhea. .or if that was so , how thoughtful of her to leave him in his lowest.

Over what.. a fight ? Yes that's she said.

🙄

FYI it was an article by Bhatt's spokesperson. Rhea didn't say it.

Originally posted by: HugeScarcity

That being said, marketing and networking play a big role in getting yourself more prime opportunities. It's terrible how the media slandered him with unethical reporting and maybe that's why he retreated but that's why every major star has a PR team today. Like it or not, you have to build a brand/image because that lingers in people's minds. Media kept hitting him with negativity and he was not fighting back with much positivity so the negativity took over and stuck. Regardless, it clearly had little impact on the audience so the acceptance and work was still flowing.

100% agree. His PR team were just...nowhere on the scene when MeToo happened. He ultimately had to put out the chats because there was no response from Sanjana- why didnt they guide him and come up with an ace strategy? They should have fought back hard!

Hell even someone like Varun Grover managed to combat the fake allegations against him with ease

The MeToo thing makes me really sad and he was quite clearly not the same again after that- and I dont blame him.

Yes mental health needs to be put at forefront. But do all depressed people commit suicide?

I just don't understand this self assumptions everyone is after. His depression reports were found so *obviously* he killed himself because of that.. 🤷 what utter crap!

He wasn't a saint. He was a regular small town boy who did big. Yes he must be having his share of negatives like all others but what's been said about him now has no validation whatsoever.. this guys is not going to defend himself. He is no longer here to do it.

Originally posted by: zaroonkashaf

I'm listening to Anurag and just shaking my head here and I'm not even half way done with the interview. Will have to watch the rest tomorrow.

The whole spiel about the audience has power. And how the industry is more inclusive now. Really? You basically want to absolve your industry of the part it has played in keeping the system as it is.

You just had an Avinash Tiwari stating the other day as to how the opportunities given to outsiders are far less as compared to insiders. Look at the struggle a whole lot of the outsiders have to go through to first get a project and then to maintain some sort of relevance so that you keep getting work.

An Alia can get a Highway despite giving the performance she did in SOTY. Would that sort of luxury really be provided to an outsider? They would probably be written off. A Ranbir can give a whole lot of flops in a row and his market value would still see no difference and neither would he have dearth of opportunities. I'm citing these two examples precsiely because they are who at least I consider good actors. So I'm coming from a perspective where I'm acknowledging their craft. That doesn't mean they have worked hard to get the roles they eventually have played. It literally was given to them on a platter. Be it because of their access, be it because of the lobbying. The same issues then reflect in every other aspect this industry.

Nothing is going to change. These people are so set in their ways then even an actor passing the way it did has no impacted them to the point where they should want to make the changes that are needed to make the industry. Instead you have folks taking petty potshots at each other trying to prove who is "better" at the circus they have created.

The main question is SSR and Ranveer both signed contracts with YRF. Why Ranveer allowed to do movies with SLB and not SSR. What happened to Paani for which SSR had to reject so many other movies? Why was Drive not released? Kjo said he was convinced it would flop after M.S. Dhoni. How ironic after his fallout with Aditya Chopra his best friend Kjo came to SSR to offer him crap like Drive and then he didn't end up releasing it. What about all the defaming and maligning articles? Those weren't an effort to sabatoge him? We def know YRF had boycotted him. It is pretty obvious Dharma was doing fishy things. He became successful because he was talented and hardworking. Those combination in any capitalist society get you far. Clearly he could have made it further than he did. If it was someone else not as talented and driven as Sushant they would have been over done deal. How convenient to blame the audience who are busy putting food on the table for not seeing films that done have the money for promotions like YRF or Dharma. In USA no one I knew had heard of Sonachiriya until now.

Originally posted by: TakingAStand2

I did like Anurag saying let’s keep mental health at the forefront. And that’s true- we can’t forget that sushant was suffering, and probably went thru hell emotionally before committing suicide. To think there are so many more like him, suffering silently, it’s definitely heartbreaking.

Sushant wasn’t perfect, and because he died, putting him on that pedestal isn’t right and is a disservice to him.

That said, I agree and disagree with a lot of what anurag said. I definitely think the whole Tapsee Kangana rivalry has its roots pre SSR debate, but that’s their problem. There is so much hurt/angst in what Kangana does, I really wish she would take time out and just.....breathe!! But, anurag is also friends with Karan and gang, so I think he is also baised to them. And like he said, he has tasted success ( I’d say more than Sushant, or Kangana) so people who have had their highs obviously have that perception bias.
The reality, is likely somewhere in the middle. By wanting to work with big firms, the newcomers are likely seeking validation but also from a practical standpoint, want to ensure their movies will release. Funnily enough, varun sobti spoke about the fact that when a small filmmaker makes a movie, the struggle goes on until your movie hits the screen. His debut “small” movie, he didn’t even know how many screens/ where the movie was playing. Didn’t one of Tilotama’s movie Sir not release in India until 2 years after it released in film festivals?

Now, that’s typically not the case when you work with a Yrf or a fox. And thats the same with regular folks. You’d rather intern or have your first job with JP Morgan than a boutique firm. So, I do understand why a sushant would pick YRf over Hassee, but I don’t support that he ditched the film. We can’t verify sushant side of whether he called back Anurag for Mukkabaaz, so that’s that.

I do agree with his thinking that’s it’s the Audience validation is what finally matters, but his perception is skewed when he says Karan or adi cant break you. By choosing to not work with said actor or taking replacing a person in projects that the director initially wanted you in, or using underhanded tactics (blinds, smear campaigns) you are harming their career.

BW as an industry needs to change, start taking risks- by producing better content, not copy what Hollywood already did, or south remakes, that’s when stories will meet actors.

i def feel that sushant tried to tell stories that needed a voice, he tried to remain an actor, and not a star, so he probably didn’t see the appreciation he would have liked, and being super ambitious, lack of validation on a movie like sonchirya from audience and film awards ( I don’t believe he didn’t get a award), it can shake best of actors.

it sucks, We will never know what drove sushant to commit suicide, but I hope people stop using his name to further their agendas. ❤️❤️

@Bold - Karan and Adi and can choose not to work with an actor but can they stop other producers from working with them? Like Anurag said, he is not going to call Karan and ask his permission before casting someone. Shradha reportedly had a tiff with YRF but her career is going well. Ayushman has never worked with them and is doing well as well. Working with Dharma and YRF is not the be all and end all.

They can definitely spread blinds or gossip about an actor. That can definitely have an impact of the audience perception of the actor and on the actor's mental state. However, has blinds or gossip ever destroyed a career of a successful actor? Sushant himself had 2 back to back hits in Kedarnath and Chichore after the MeToo blinds came out. Salman and Sanjay Dutt have gone to jail and are still super stars. I think the audience has short term memory and don't care about these blinds and gossip other than dinner time conversations.

Rest I agree with what you said.