FILM INTERVIEW: IMRAN KHAN

 

“Cinema is no more a wholesome family entertainer. Just like television has always had different segments according to their feel and storyline, now segmentation is happening in the film industry,” Mr. Khan told the Indian press. “The segmentation may be on the basis of adult or children, rural or urban, commercial or offbeat cinema. All these segments have been overlapping for years but have never been defined as clearly as they are now.”

 

The nephew of Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan, who made a name for himself as a child artiste in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Mr. Khan says Bollywood is essentially in a golden era.

 

“In my opinion, we are in the best time that the Hindi film industry has ever had, because there has been nothing like this in the past. It is growing by leaps and bounds,” the Jaane Tu …Ya Jaane Na actor told the media. “In the last couple of years, we have set a new record for box-office, collected more money than anybody could have ever thought the Indian film industry could. Our market is growing, our cash turnover is growing. It is exploding.”

 

The explosion has sent a direct message to the cookie-cutter production houses and old guards of Bollywood, many of whom essentially put out recycled or stale films, hoping a superstar actor would carry the day. It was always a case of whose face was on the poster instead of whether the film was well-acted or well-written.

 

”They were so desperate to have a star that they were just throwing money without asking about the script or the budget. They were happily signing on paychecks of Rs.200 to Rs.400 million without having any knowledge about it,” Mr. Khan told the press. “It took the industry time to understand that it was not helping, but degrading the standards.”

 

Maintaining the integrity of his observations of Indian cinema, Mr. Khan pointed out that he is doing his part to help move Bollywood along, both creatively and financially.

 

“I am very particular about the recovery of my business. I charge less money than most of my contemporaries. I don’t like to burden my film upfront. I tend to take a share in the profit of the film. It’s a risk, as you are gambling on the success of your film,” he told the press. “I am basically investing in the future because, by keeping my budget low, I am ensuring a better opportunity for my film to perform. If it does well, I will earn more money, but if it doesn’t, I will lose money along with the film.”

 

Win or lose, Mr. Khan said Bollywood is ultimately a hard, long, arduous journey, and those who ultimately make it are the ones who were patient enough to endure.

 

“It takes that much time to build up that kind of fan-following. It can’t happen in two years. You have to consistently build an audience,” he candidly told the media. “Salman, Shah Rukh, Aamir – they are like legends now. They have been here for more than 20 years.”

 

Maybe 20 years from now, some fresh young actor will say the same thing about Imran Khan. Until then, the big buzz will be of his stellar performance in Delhi Belly and how the film is redefining how audiences watch Indian cinema.