Interview: Sunny Deol
By: Ashika Sengupta
Is there really no business like show business?
Despite all the clamor of entertainment-types being more creative and artistic as compared to the masses, it turns out Bollywood – and even Hollywood, for that matter – is no different from business as usual, as it, just like any other industry, boils down to the bottom line.
All one has to do is ask Bollywood actor Sunny Deol his thoughts on the matter, and he will frankly tell you Indian cinema is all about commercial viability.
On the one hand, he has starred in many critically acclaimed films, most of which featured him working alongside Rajkumar Santoshi. Indeed, both have won a National Award together for their film Ghayal.
Still, despite all the praise and respect, Deol says investors are not exactly beating down his door and urging him to plan his next project with Santoshi.
“Raj and I are planning but don’t know when it will happen. We may or may not work together,” the actor said in his chat with the media in India. “Investors feel Raj and I are not commercially viable; that is why projects are not coming in.”
Such is the new reality Deol – and Santoshi – must now deal with, the actor indicated. At heart of the issue, Deol feels, is the bottom line.
“The film industry is now market-driven,” Deol candidly said in a recent interview late last week with the media. “You need to be seen and talked about rather than known by the movies you make. Now actors have to be seen and written about.”
The acclaimed Bollywood actor went so far to say the economics of entertainment have trumped the one element that made public pastimes such a viable business to begin with – creativity.
“Everything is for money, and creativity has taken a backseat. Marketing has taken precedence over the content,” Deol told the media. “Old movies were ahead of their time. Earlier producers had a passion for movies, but nowadays it’s only about money.”
Even worse, the actor said while money has taken a front seat, pleasing moviegoers seems to no longer be a priority, especially with the escalating prices of cinema tickets.
“When ticket prices were less, there was a lot of turnover. Ticket prices have gone up and the number of audiences has reduced,” Deol humbly stated to the media. “Multiplexes have taken away the charm of the silver screen.”
Still, Deol is doing what he can to still maintain his career in entertainment, even though recent health problems have added to the list of issues keeping him from committing to show business with a full head of steam.
Making his cinematic debut in the 1983 film Betaab, Deol shifted to the director’s seat in 1999 with Dillagi.
Currently he is working on a film with his paternal family members.
“Our company, Vijeta Films, is starting our new film, Yamla, Pagla, Deewana, starring my father (Dharmendra), (brother) Bobby and me. It is going on floors next month,” Deol revealed during his interview with the media. “The film is directed by Sameer Karnik. It is out and out a comedy film.”
Deol added the recent economic downturn is slowing down the rejuvenation of Vijeta Films, fueling his statements of show business being more about the “business” than the “show.”
Still, the actor is doing what he can to remain active, including starring in an upcoming T-Series film alongside Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut, and is reportedly being directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru.
He is also slated to appear in next month’s release of Neeraj Pathak’s Right Ya Wrong.
Whether he is right or wrong about the current state of show business, there is one thing no one can be mistaken about – Sunny Deol has left his mark on Bollywood, and that mark is priceless.
