“Success doesn't teach you as much as failure does,” says Suneel Darshan. The filmmaker who gave many hits with Akshay Kumar and Sunny Deol is now going through a rough patch. “I worked as a producer, director and script writer but somehow I am not counted among big filmmakers,” rues Darshan, known for films such as “Lootere”, “Jaanwar” and “Ek Rishta”.
Darshan has a special bond with Akshay Kumar and that’s why he was in Delhi to celebrate Zee Cinema’s “Shanivar Ki Raat Akshay ke Saath” where the channel is celebrating the star’s 50th birthday by presenting his films every Saturday.
Excerpts:
On his passion for filmmaking
Before filmmaking, I worked in distribution and production. It was my passion that bought me here. I didn’t come here to make money. I worked honestly and learnt gradually. I was a focused filmmaker and I still am.
On his association with Akshay Kumar
I have worked with Akshay in seven films. I was lucky that my cinema captured Akshay’s dramatic side. Akshay was always handsome, but gradually he started doing performance oriented roles and some of those are in my films. I looked at Akshay from a different perspective.
When I decided to work with him in Jaanwar, I invited him to Bandra and took him to salon to get him a new hair style. So, that's how our journey started. After three-four flops, he came back with Jaanwar and it celebrated 100 days in over 100 cities in the country. It was such a pleasure to understand that I could communicate with this man who wasn’t wowed by the media or any trend. I believed in him and I had a burning desire to make cinema with him.
On a memorable scene with Akshay
When we were shooting for Jaanwar, there was an intense dramatic scene and Akshay had not done intense drama. When we started the shoot it took 25 retakes. It was a husband-wife scene and I knew I had to break the barrier which existed within him. I believed in him and he delivered.
On working with Akshay again and his perception of ₹100 crore club
We have a strong professional bond.
If there is a subject demanding Akshay, then I will definitely go to him. After all a filmmaker always wants to rope in good actors and if he gets a star then it is all the more better.
I think '100 crore club' is just a marketing gimmick. There are many films which do business of 100 crores but are still losing propositions.
On changes in filmmaking process in the last decade
Yes, there have been so many changes in the process with the corporates coming in. They brought big money; now actors are paid more than ever before. The quality of equipments has also improved.
However, if a movie is not remembered by people after its first run, then I don’t think it’s a success even if it makes money. I think films which are remembered by audience even after a long time are true success stories.