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People who have time in hand and want publicity, they talk about Nepotism : Anil Sharma on Nepotism debate
Pallabi Dey Purkashata | August 20,2018
The director of the iconic Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'.Anil Sharma is now set to launch his son Utkarsh who played Sunny Deol's son in Gadar.He explains why his movies are a reflection of his personality and why he loathes people who tarnish the reputation of the industry with debates on Nepotism.
How did you zero in on a concept like Genius' to launch your son Utkarsh in Bollywood?
I did not write this film for Utkarsh. I was in the US, holidaying for months and then I thought it's high time I made a film. I decided to make something that would revolve around the youth. Somehow, the word genius' came to my mind and I thought let's go and register the title first. Usually, we think of a genius as someone who is a little offbeat, like someone who has long hair, at least that's the picture that Hollywood has painted for us. But genius is not essentially someone who has invented something. Genius toh woh hai joh life ki har ladai ladta hai.' Any individual, and there are millions of them, who fights for his survival and emerges victorious is a genius and my story is about that. Whenever I make films, I keep my country in mind. I don't try to inculcate that in me; it is innate and that's what (a sense of patriotism) reflects in my films. Jaisa hoon, waise hi filmein banaunga.' And my biggest problem is that I have never remade films because I just cannot do that. I have never lifted any story, not even a single song, because I have come to this industry not to copy others but to narrate my own stories. People adapt great stories; nothing wrong with that, but I cannot bring myself to do the same. In fact, Godfather' (1972) was an adaptation and so were 3 Idiots' (2009) and Mother India' (1957). But, when I try to do that, my heart doesn't permit it. I tell myself, Nahin yaar... main apni kuchh kahaani banauga...Achhi hai, buri hai, jaisi bhi hai, meri hai.'
When did you decide that you would launch Utkarsh in Bollywood?
As a father, it was my responsibility to launch my son and when I went to his university in the US and saw him bag an award for his short film I thought about giving him his first break. He assured me that he was ready for it and that's when I thought I would make Genius' for him, once he comes back to India.
Although Gadar' is cult classic, some people have accused you of having a jingoistic approach towards writing your films. What do you have to say about that?
(Laughs!) See, even Krishna and Lord Rama were not spared and I am just a human being. Trolling people has become a common occurrence these days and a daily habit. Internet pe baitho aur kuch bhi ulta seedha bolo, purane zamane main bhi yahin hota tha'.
A few days back you commented on the nepotism debate, where you said something to the effect of, we'll ask this question to Kangana, when she has her own kids'. You went on to add that she got work in this industry despite being an outsider. What is your opinion on this entire discussion?
I wasn't upset, I was asked a question and so I answered. Maine mazaak main bol diya tha.' Nepotism is that tiny black stain on this industry that we have blown out of proportion. When I started making films, do you think I did not struggle? Those who talk about nepotism came from small towns and villages and still made it big in showbiz, right? Ours is the only industry that gives you a chance solely on the basis of your talent. Actors have to face the camera and filmmakers have to run a thousand errands behind it. You have to do it all, by yourself. Acting is a profession where you cannot survive without talent. There are so many filmmakers whose kids have not been able to make it in the industry, because they had no or very little talent. Likewise, there are so many kids from outside who have made it big in the industry by virtue of their talent alone.
In Genius', I have given 18-year-old Ishita Chauhan a break. She has no godfather in the industry but she still got work right? How did she get it? Agar koi ladki bolti hain ki nepotism ke wajah se role milta hain, toh yahaan kahaan nepotism hain?' I have launched seven to eight actresses from Priyanka Chopra to Urvashi Rautela and Divya Khoslaji too. They had no one in the industry but they still got to work because they had the talent. If you have it in you, you will rise and shine. Faltu log jinke paas time hain, yah joh log bematlab ki publicity chahte hain, woh iss tarah ki baatein karte hain.'
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