Six and the single man

Director Sanjay Gupta talks to Nilufer Qureshi about his plans to rock showbiz.

He’s home alone, right now. And homes is a fabulous villa spread at Versova. In his early 40s, Sanjay Gupta, has found his place in the tinsel sun.

He may be accused of being a DVD maaro director, yet not even his toughest critics deny that he’s techno-savvy. Currently, in tandem with his long-time buddy, Sanjay Dutt, he is producing six films. Four of them have been farmed out to Apoorva Lakhia, Hansal Mehta, Meghna Gulzar and Shyam Benegal. To find out about this six appeal, I ask.  

How come you’re launching half a dozen films in a bunch?
I’ve stopped being lazy. Usually, I take a month and a half to complete a film, the rest of the year I  spend gallivanting. The chairman of White Feather Films, Mr Sanjay Dutt, pulled my ears and told me to stop being a kaamchor. So we’ve launched six films. Over the last four films, we have posted profits. Entertainment is booming, you need many more films to fill the multiplexes.

But your earlier production Plan tanked majorly.
Hriday Shetty is a dear friend, he had assisted me for 12 years. I had to give him a break and a free hand with Plan. Around then, I was badly injured in a road accident, I also fell in love which didn’t last forever.. Plan went haywire but it’s still my most profitable movie yet. Hriday made me the kind of money I haven’t been able to make myself.

Not all the directors you’ve signed have had a decent run at the box-office.
Trade types may not have great confidence in them.  But I’ve been to hell and back too. I had a couple of dismal failures before I bounced back. If a director is focused, there’s no stopping him. 

In any case, which director is happening commercially? Anees Bazmee? With due respect to him, I can’t relate to his kind of cinema.  I want to learn something from every director we have signed, I want to be a parasite. I know what I’m doing. I love my homes, cars and bikes too much to loose them.

Why have you signed a partnership deal with Ekta Kapoor?
For some of my films, the funding will be from Balaji. Ekta and I may seem like chalk and cheese but she is one person I bond with.  

Do you get upset when you are ignored at the awards?
Of course, I get very upset. The press goes after me, saying Zinda was a copy of Oldboy. But no one says Black was inspired by The Miracle Worker. Black is a damn good film but so is Zinda. Never mind, the media has made me what I am. They have created this monster, now they have to deal with it. I’ll be looking for nominations for Zinda this year.

Why did you replace Vivek Oberoi with Sikander Kher in Woodstock Villa?
We did think of Vivek and other actors. Some had their issues. I had belief in my director (Hansal Mehta), so I stood by  him.

Do you get an ego boost when actors call you, asking to cast them?
Yes, I do get calls from some actors. After all, who presents men better than I do? I’m a very guy’s guy director. Frankly, it’s only the wannabes who come with egos.
The upstarts want to wear burqas at the airports. Believe me, Kareena Kapoor doesn’t need to wear one. Salman Khan has no ego even if you put him up in a small hotel. Sanjay Dutt will spend money out of his own pocket if he wants a better room. He drives a Ferrari or an S class, so I get him one on an outdoor schedule.

But I can’t stand guys who drive a Corolla here and want an S class when they come on outdoor locations. What I’m saying is when you reach a certain stage in your life, your ego flies out of the window. 

When did you first feel successful?
When I was making Kaante, I was living hand to mouth. I didn’t have money to run my kitchen. Kaante gave me everything but it took away what was most precious to me, my marriage. It was said that my marriage hit the rocks because of another woman. Trust me, I was divorced before I met someone else. Today,  life is uncomplicated and happy.

There’s no one in your life?
No.

What about Anupama Varma?
She’s just a friend. We hang out at each other’s homes at times... There are so many people I hang out with. It’s nothing but a rumour.

Don’t you miss a woman in your life?
I’m not going to rush into a relationship. I miss a woman. I miss a family. I stay alone in a huge house. Sometimes, I get scared walking from room to room. After work, returning to an empty house is a downer. I’m certainly not looking for a relationship within the film industry.

Lucky Ali had several complaints against you after Kaante.
Lucky is an idiot. He’s juvenile. He doesn’t have the guts to speak out against the guy who’s really to blame. I was the sitting target. When Kaante was in trouble, Mr Bachchan, Suniel (Shetty) and Sanju (Dutt) let go off their remuneration. I didn’t get a single rupee. Otherwise, the film would not have seen the light of day.

Ironically, the idea of not taking remuneration was suggested by Lucky. He says he sold his car to me. What he forgets to add is that after selling his car to me, he bought a car twice the size for himself.

q_nilufer@dnaindia.net