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After Effects
Our guest tonight is a man who started from scratch… and is still scratching. For many struggling actors and spot boys, he is their friend, philosopher and guide who gives them needless advice! For the media he is the master of quotable quotes!
So far he is given 33,456 quotes to usually the same seven or eight newspapers and TV channels on topics ranging from extra-marital affairs to LPG cylinders! And he also makes movies!!! So, presenting the man who gave a new Arth to Bollywood and makes movies on Woh Lamhe from his exciting past! Mahesh Bhatt!
BHATT: Thank you for that wonderful introduction. I think it is a psychological manifestation of a physiological resuscitation of an emotional reverberation which is a representation of…
Bhattsaab…
BHATT: Yes?
Just tell us why did you decide to be a filmmaker?
BHATT: When I was a small child I saw a film that changed my life.
‘Mughal-e-Azam’? Do Bigha Zameen? Alam Ara?
BHATT: No, it was an angrezi film dubbed in Hindi. The English title was ‘The Lady In The Car With Glasses And A Gun’. In Hindi it was called ‘Ladki Gaadi Mein, Bandook Saadi Mein!’ That’s when I decided that I wanted to be a filmmaker.
And you titled your first film ‘Manzilen Aur Bhi Hain’!
BHATT: No, that’s what my critics and audiences told me after they saw my first film!
But ‘Arth’ was the turning point in your career and based on your life, right?
BHATT: No. Arth was actually about a painting in my bedroom and how two women interpreted the meaning of that painting differently. It was originally titled ART, but some idiot made a spelling mistake while making the poster and added an H at the end!
Are you telling me your films like ‘Arth’ and ‘Woh Lamhe’ are not based on your life?
BHATT: No, the movies that are actually based on my life are ‘Lahu Ke Do Rang’ and ‘Duplicate’!
Oh, Come on, tell me how do you spot talent?
BHATT: I usually find them standing outside my office. I just call them one by one and give them a film to direct. Once my daughter Pooja walked into my office and I gave her a film to direct. It was called ‘Holiday’. Yesterday, she walked in again and I gave her another film to direct. It will be called Vacation.