Star Prices have gone through the sky! It is a fact. But given the fact that they bring in the crowds, it is fair for them to demand their price? Who suffers when the film doesn't work? Should the star take responsibility and return some of that heft account? The industry bigwigs are in discussion over star prices.
Subhash Ghai condemns the blind dependence on a handful of A-listers to carry a film to the box-office. "For 70 years I've been hearing that the story and treatment are all that matters. Unfortunately, the whole trade seems to be controlled by stars rather than the story. Then there's this new trend of Rs100-crore and Rs200-crore clubs. Finally though the producer gets just 10-20% of the profits," he says.
Ghai says he is in regular touch with his contemporaries over the issue of stars and budgets. "Whether it's Abbas-Mustan or Ashutosh Growariker hum log bahot pyar se milte hain. We directors are very transparent about one another's work. It has always been like that. Even in the 1990s Mahesh Bhatt, JP Dutta and 10 others directors including me had formed a directors' forum. It is very important for us to come to some unanimity regarding film budgets and star prices. Every filmmaker talks about working with new actors. But when it comes to the actual film they go back to the same stars, because no financier or distributor is willing to back a film with newcomers. I've suffered first-hand. No one backed me financially on my last film Kaanchi."
Ghai reveals he had a huge row with his financiers over the casting of Kaanchi. "I am aware that making and selling Kaanchi with Kareena, Priyanka or Katrina would've been much easier for me. There was a heated debate in my office. I was told to think it over. But I very clearly told financiers and distributors that I want a new girl to play Kaanchi."
He has made the careers of many actresses from Mahima Chaudhary, Manisha Koirala and Madhuri Dixit. Ask Ghai how many of his discoveries have stayed connected with him , and the mentor grows silent. He finally says, "Shall I tell you the truth? Not one of them has kept in touch with me. I don't blame them. Everyone grows in life and moves on. I'm happy to have given the film industry these talented actresses. I am that school teacher whose students leave him after Class 10. But yes, I do feel bad when I try to meet my actresses for a role and they refuse to meet me."
Curiously, Ghai says his male actors have stayed connected with him. "Whether it is Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan or Sanjay Dutt... they've stayed in touch. The male actors have given me respect, the female actors have not. Women are emotionally equipped to move to indifference very fast. Aap dekhenge bidaai ke waqt ladkiyaan khoob roti hain. Ek hafte baad woh apne maa-baap ko bhool jati hain."
The Showman says the show will again go on. "If my films become successful they'll all come back. But I will never look back. I have never seen my own films after they were premiered. Even if they are telecast I turn away. My whole creative process is about the quest for the new. No, I won't watch the remakes of my Hero and Ram Lakhan."
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