‘Cinema is like religion’

Manpriya Singh

“How many of the films that made it to the 100-crore club or more do you even remember?” Before his statement is misinterpreted, director and writer Abhishek Sharma clarifies that in no way does he undermine the significance of the 100-crore club. But then that barometer must be taken as it is supposed to be, “Which is how many people turned up at the ticket counters and came to watch the movie.” What’s profitable may not be prestigious and what’s popular may not be forever!

On casting Diljit Dosanjh

About including Diljit Dosanjh in the cast, Abhishek says,“My casting director Shruti Mahajan convinced me on going for a known face this time. Diljit is among the best newcomers we have and I had already seen him in Udta Punjab, while Good Newzz was yet to be released when we cast him. He plays Suraj in Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, a character in which he fits like the proverbial hand in glove.”

“Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron will be watched and remembered by every generation of cinema-lovers because people are only going to remember quality. Ultimately, for me it is about what is the longevity of your film.” In fact, the director, who will soon be out with his next film Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, need not look far for instances. For a reference point he can go right back to his own debut, Tere Bin Laden; a film ahead of its time when it hit theatres in 2010. “I am happy about my journey in Bollywood. I am still making movies, trying to learn. The idea is to do what you feel, do what attracts you.”

That is what explains the debut, which he followed up with films like The Shaukeens, Tere Bin Laden 2, The Zoya Factor and Parmanu. “By the way, Parmanu—The story of Pokhran, had it been able to do the usual four weeks, would have definitely crossed Rs 100-crore.” Despite the fact that it clashed with Veere De Wedding at the box-office!

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Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari he says is set in the age of innocence. “The film is set in the Nineties. I call it the age of innocence because there were no mobile phones, no social media back then, which I why it’s a genre-defining, clean family comedy. Those were the days when the prospective grooms would have

background checks by private detectives.”

While the movie was conceived in the pre-Covid era, its platform is yet to be locked upon. “We saw it coming in the first quarter of this year. Fortunately the team put in extra hours and finished the film in time, which is how it is now at post-production stage.” Like he said, you have to be happy with what you get! “There is no regret about the timing, only hope because cinema is like religion and theatres are like temples.”

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