When Rohit Shetty told the story of a righteous cop in Singham (2011), little had he imagined that he would soon build a popular cop universe. After Simmba (2018) and Sooryavanshi (2021), the filmmaker is foraying into digital entertainment with Indian Police Force, another engaging story on the men in uniform. Stepping into the OTT world came naturally to the director, who believes in going with the flow.

He reasons, “You have to mould yourself according to the audience [preferences]. That is how people started [making projects] for television. So, if the audience is moving towards the web now, why not recreate the big-screen experience for the OTT audience?”

Shetty’s heroes have a larger-than-life aura to them. After Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar have established their characters in the cop universe, the baton has been passed to Sidharth Malhotra. The actor, who enjoyed a high last year with Shershaah (2021), will make his OTT debut with the Amazon Prime Video offering.

“When you see the series, you realize you need a young boy. We already have Ranveer Singh as Simba in my universe. The idea was to create something similar here, too. But I wanted someone with whom I have not worked previously, and who has not been part of any cop universe,” says the filmmaker.

What makes the upcoming series all the more exciting is that the director has made way for a female cop, essayed by Shilpa Shetty Kundra, in the testosterone-heavy world. “The character was already there in our minds. We have been writing it for almost three years. Who better than Shilpa [to essay the character]!” 

One would think developing an eight-part series is more demanding than making a film. But for Shetty, who is currently shooting for Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 12, the process doesn’t differ much. Known for his big-budget movies, the filmmaker has adopted the same approach for the web series. “The scale and canvas are big, similar to how we shoot a film. I think Indian Police Force will be one of the most expensive series made in the country.”

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; February 22, 2020)

His movies are known for power-packed action. And so, it’s not surprising that Rohit Shetty is hosting — for the fifth time — this season of the stunt-based reality show, Fear Factor — Khatron Ke Khiladi (KKK). The filmmaker tells BT how the 10th season of the show offers wholesome entertainment to family audiences. Excerpts:

If the promos are anything to go by, this season of KKK will showcase even more daring stunts. So, how different is the show going to be, this time around?
KKK is a family show and it’s especially popular among children and teenagers. They love watching reality shows and therefore, we have doubled the action this year. We have introduced a train sequence, included lions and there will also be more stunts involving choppers. This was our first visit to Bulgaria, so we had to work hard on deciding the kind of entertainment offered in each episode. The show might be based on action and adventure, but at the end of the day, it is not just about action, it also offers wholesome entertainment. Rohit Shetty alone cannot entertain, so it was also about the contestants and the humour they showcase. The show is not scripted, everything is spontaneous and that was challenging.

Like Salman Khan is the face of Bigg Boss, you have become the face of KKK, over the years. Do you still enjoy it as much as you did in the beginning?
My enjoyment depends on what new we are offering. When we are shooting films, there are many safety measures in place, apart from CGI and special effects. We have adhered to all safety norms in the show, too, but it is tougher. In movies, the animals shown are mostly not real and the stunts can also be done by body doubles, which is definitely not the case here. So, yes, I enjoy hosting the show because it is real. Also, the USP of the show lies in its contestants, and I enjoy helping them push the envelope.

In films, you have worked with Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn. On the other hand, you are working with TV stars in KKK. The mediums are also different. How would you compare both the experiences?
At the end of the day, we are all technicians and artistes — be it films or TV shows. Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn are superstars because of their body of work. Similarly, the contestants on the show also have a body of work behind them, whether it is Dharmesh Yelande, Adaa Khan or Karan Patel. I don’t see or feel any difference.

Have you ever tried doing the stunts that the contestants perform on the show?
From childhood, stunts have been a part of my life. It is something very common for me now.

As a host, what’s the level of discipline that you expect from each contestant?
Contestants need to be disciplined because this is an action-based show. However, they can’t prep because everything on this show is spontaneous. If the contestants are told about the stunts in advance, the surprise element will be lost.

Catch all the action from Darr Ki University, starting tonight every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm on Colors.

Rohit Shetty talks about working with Akshay Kumar in Sooryavanshi and how he wants to expand this cop universe
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 13, 2019)

It has been a week since Rohit Shetty kicked off the shoot of Akshay Kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi in Goa. "Twenty-seven years ago, I was an assistant director on Akshay's Suhaag [1992], and today, I am directing him. So, there is a sense of achievement. When he is on the set, he is immersed in his work," says the director. The actioner marks his third cop drama after Singham (2011) and Simmba (2018). Confirming Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh's presence in the climax of Sooryavanshi, the filmmaker adds, "Now, I want to expand this cop universe. We are writing a story in which all three heroes will appear together."

Shetty has often been criticised for etching female characters that have precious little to do in his films. Ask him if Katrina Kaif will enjoy a meatier role in Sooryavanshi, and he retorts, "Why don't people discuss Chennai Express [2013] or Dilwale [2015] when they are debating about the female characters in my films? I have my hero to do all the action, so I can't be making the actresses fight. When I make a lady cop film, they will fight villains. We are developing a film along those lines."

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; January 16, 2019)

The filmmaker has stepped on gas, he’s on a success run and there is no looking back now. Known for his larger-than-life potboilers, Rohit Shetty says that he’s fought hard to reach this coveted spot, and today, he beams with pride when we talk about the Rohit Shetty brand of cinema. Fuelled with excitement at the super success of his recent film Simmba, Rohit talks to us about his universe of cinema, how he’s never followed the tide and the fact that there is no success by fluke in this business. He’s on a roll, read on…

One success after another, it must be a kickass feeling. Does it take a while for the success of a film to sink in?
After so many years, yes, it takes some time to sink in. I feel at ease knowing that the film is doing good business and people are loving it, but I don’t enjoy success till it reaches a certain level. I have a rock solid team, who has been with me through thick and thin, and believe me, they are the ones who set targets for me. Even if I tell them to stop pushing me so hard, they don’t budge. They say, ‘Itna toh hona chahiye’.

In case of Simmba, the trailer gave us a clear hint of what to expect, and of course, it superseded those expectations. There was also a feeling amongst the audience before watching the film that this will this be another Singham…
(Cuts in) This happens with every film of mine. I am sure that when I am ready with Sooryavanshi, people will ask, ‘Aapne Singham bana liya, Simmba bana liya, ab Sooryavanshi, kyun?’ When we made Singham, people asked me, ‘Dabangg aai hai, toh aap Singham kyun bana rahe ho?’ You can’t compare Simmba to Singham. Yes, it is the cop universe, but the story and characters are far from each other. This thought of creating a cop universe happened when we started writing Simmba. I have been seeing the way kids love the Avengers series — not that I am comparing it to Avengers; that is too big — but they are ready for this now. There was also a lurking fear that it could be rejected, as I was bringing a hit brand into another one. But when you see the audience laugh, cry, whistle and clap in the movie, you know that you got it right.

Your actors totally believe in your brand of cinema. No wonder you could pull off three huge stars to appear in one movie — Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh. Will we see you attempting more such stunts in the future?
My world is a risky one where half the tide is against us, so the actors I work with have to truly believe in the world I create or else, they can’t be a part of my cinema. I have faced problems only once or twice, which made me realise that I should not work with actors who do not believe in my world. I know bringing three huge stars together is rare, but they all said ‘yes’ in one go. Ajay and Akshay go back a long way and they believe in this kind of cinema. They have done three-hero films in the past, so they have no sense of insecurity. That goes for Ranveer, too. A lot of stars do guest appearances for each other in their movies; that’s not new. I think what we need to do is create our own superheroes and bring them together in one film. We have to build characters, make them brands and bring them together. The idea is to get their characters together and not just the stars. We did it with Simmba and that’s what has worked.

Will we see women in uniform in your cop universe?
Yes, of course. That is how the universe will be complete and eventually, they all will come together.

It hasn’t been such a great year for full-on masala entertainers, but Simmba came right at the end of the year with a bang and left us stunned. So, it challenges this changing trend that people keep harping about — that such larger-than-life cinema is not finding favour with our audience. It’s ultimately about how well you make a film and package it, right?
I believe that now massy films have become parallel cinema. There are fewer people making commercial cinema of this scale now. If you see the commercial palette in 2018, there are probably only 10 full-on commercial films, out of which only Simmba and a few others did well. People have been telling me, ‘You have turned the multiplex into a single screen’. I have seen college kids whistling and cheering at a multiplex while watching Simmba. Today, massy is cool. I believe that if you get it right, the audience will watch a commercial film with as much enthusiasm as any other.

So, you are saying that making a commercial film today is far riskier business than making any other kind? And it needs far more guts, too?
Yes, making a full-on commercial film is the riskiest business as the stakes are too high. The budgets are high, and there is a set of audience, probably 25 per cent of them, who don’t like this kind of cinema, and there is nothing wrong with it. Yet, you go ahead and make such movies. People think that this is the easy way out, but all my films, whether it was Golmaal or Simmba, as a producer, if the film didn’t touch a certain number, I would have been at a loss. I had to fight to be where I am and have reached this far as I didn’t follow the tide. It takes guts to make a massy movie and it’s tougher, too. The kind of films that are working today are either hardcore content-driven films or commercial films with a solid story and performances. You can’t take the middle path. Films don’t become hits by fluke anymore.

A Rohit Shetty film plays to the gallery and we all expect that too, but the interesting point here is how well you know the pulse of the audience. Ranveer told me that during the edit, he asked you why you were holding a scene longer than required and you had said, ‘Claps padegi na yahan pe, so you have to accommodate that’. And well enough, there it was...
(Laughs!) I guess it is because I am perfectly tuned in with my world and my audience. I started working at 16, and I have been working for 28 years. I have closely observed the 90s’ evolution, all the way to the 2000s and the advent of the digital world. And all through, I have stayed true to what I love. It is not like I am trying to prove a point, but it is working. Today, Singham is a brand, but back in 2011, no raw action film was doing well, barring Dabangg. I didn’t want to be confident about just doing comedies, so I thought chalo, let’s make Singham. We also thought that if it doesn’t do well, we have films like Bol Bachchan and Chennai Express on our slate. My team and I were that scared. While doing every film, and even after 10 successful movies, in my mind I have this 10 per cent fear that a film could go wrong. And that fear makes me work harder. Today, I am sitting here and talking about the success of Simmba and my other hit films, but the moment I am done with this, I will be back to the zone where I was on my first film. I will be thinking, ‘yeh nahin chalegi toh kya hoga, aur kya kar sakte hain’. I cut myself off from success. It’s an unpredictable job that we are in, so you can’t take anything for granted. I understand that cinema is an art, passion and all that, but ultimately, someone is paying their hard earned money to watch what you have made. As a filmmaker, you have to value that and be damn sure of what you are doing.

Meena Iyer (DNA; January 7, 2019)

You can love or hate Rohit Shetty’s cinema, but you cannot be indifferent to it. That’s perhaps why, in a short span of 15-odd years, the masala filmmaker has made super success a way of life. He has an enviable box-office record and is a platinum member of the Rs 100-crore club. His latest cop drama, Simmba, is a certified superhit. But Rohit, of course, has no time to soak in the sun. On Saturday, he kick-started the new season of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi (KKK). This is the fourth time he is anchoring the reality show. And, he is deeply involved with his next project Sooryavanshi that has Akshay Kumar playing the lead. In a candid chat, he reveals why Ajay Devgn is like his elder brother, what prompted him to cast Sara Ali Khan in Simmba and how he plans to expand his production house in the future. Excerpts…

Ajay Devgn, Shah Rukh Khan or Ranveer Singh, who is your favourite?
No one can take Ajay’s place. He’s been a great support system to me. Whatever I’m today is because of him. Other than that, I’m working with a lot of people and making new friends. Ranveer is like a younger brother. But Ajay will always be special. It’s not about the kind of performer or the star that he is, it’s not a comparison between two stars or heroes. He is like my elder brother and that can never change.

You’re completely work-oriented. From the start of your film to its release, there’s no other life. You don’t party either. Now, since the last few years, you have been hosting KKK. Otherwise, you shoot, edit and do post-production simultaneously. What is your mindset?
I’ve started liking it, which is dangerous. Because for four-five months, you’re in that world; you start analysing and living with that character, which gives you a high. As we are working round the clock, everyone in the team is on the same page.

The ADs, who are young guys, look forward to it like a challenge. Ups and downs keep happening. We had to complete Simmba within six months. Then Ranveer hurt his shoulder, and we had five months to finish it. I had to do KKK in 40 days. But we pulled it off. Actually, it’s not right, but now we’ve started liking it because the movie is complete within five-six months (smiles). Till then, you’re in that world. You don’t disengage from it for even a day because of time restriction. But I think it works because you’re just eating, sleeping, thinking about that particular film and that character. It did with Simmba because we made a lot of changes as we were living with it every day. We didn’t take a break, we were like ‘do we require this?’ ‘we don’t require this’. For that matter, even Singham; we made the film in four months. And Simmba in five (laughs).

You seem to have set certain standards with making films in record time, in a way, setting records for  yourself.
When I was making Singham, everybody was saying it’s not possible to complete it in four months. Today, nobody says anything about the time in which I finish a film. Now, people know, ki agar yeh five months bol raha hai, toh yeh aayega hi aayega.

You also made Golmaal Again within a tight time frame.
Yes, we started Golmaal Again in March and released it in October. I think six months is enough to pull off a big film. I’ve been doing that.

So, working at this pace, you deliver a film every year.
Yes, I’ve been doing that. We started our production house some time back, that’s why we stopped. Otherwise, in the last 13 years, I’ve done one film every year.

Sooryavanshi with Akshay is your next?
Yes. We will finalise the script shortly. We’re working on another instalment of Golmaal and planning something else too. I’m juggling with three-four things. I will direct one while the rest will be our production. Three of my chief ADs will be launched as directors next year with their films. We’re also doing a series with Amazon, though that’s still in the pipeline, but it’s going to be on a big scale. There are other directors also who are still working on the script. So, I think by mid-2020, we’ll be a full-fledged production house, where outside directors will work with us and my team will also make films.

Your latest venture, Simmba, is rocking the box office!
The film is very close to my heart (smiles). It is something which I haven’t done earlier. The promos gave the impression that it was a ‘typical’ Rohit Shetty film. However, those who have watched it said that after the first 30-odd minutes, the journey starts and they agree it is something which I haven’t attempted before. It’s an emotional journey for me as a filmmaker. And I say it with humility that I’m proud of it.

A typical Rohit Shetty movie is larger than life. Do you agree?
It feels good, more than anything else. It makes me feel responsible that today people look up to your films because of a few ingredients. There are various movies made by various people. The family audiences, women and elderly people say, ‘Aapki filmein neat aur clean hoti hain’. Some like them because ‘unmein comedy hai’, ‘bachchon ko achhi lagti hai’, some feel my movies have colourful songs, they make them feel happy, some like the ‘larger-than-life’ quotient. So, different takes come together. I make a note that this is my audience and I cater to them within those parameters. Though Simmba deals with a heinous crime like rape, the issue has been sensitively dealt with. We’ve not shown anything gory or made it to shock the viewers. This film gives you the same high that Singham gave.

Are you partial to either Singham or Simmba?
That’s why I’ve brought both of them together (smiles). That’s the plan in the near future. People have loved Simmba as a character and as a film, too. This is the beginning of the new universe that we’ve created. The movie starts with Singham. He is the narrator and in the end, he again makes an appearance. So, we’re trying to create that universe, where Singham and Simmba are together.

Is it true that Sara Ali Khan came forward saying she wanted to work with you?
Yes, she sent me numerous messages. And I was like this kid doesn’t realise that she is doing Kedarnath. Unfortunately, it was going through a rough patch at that time and got stuck. I knew I could finish my film in five months. And I was like, I don’t want my movie to come first and Gattu (Abhishek Kapoor) to feel bad. Ethically, that wouldn’t be right. And the next call was from Gattu. He said if you want to cast Sara, you see her work in Kedarnath.

I told him that if I shoot and complete my film while his movie is on hold, then Simmba would end up releasing first. I felt it would be wrong on my part if that happened. He said that nonetheless, I should go ahead. So, it’s because of Gattu that I decided to cast Sara. Eventually, I was happy that Kedarnath released first. Somewhere, karma worked for Gattu also, he was ready to help a kid to move forward when things were going wrong, and I’m very happy with the end result. Sara used to always ask me if I’m going to put ‘Introducing Sara Ali Khan’ in the Simmba credits, and I told her that I’d never do that. Even if Simmba comes first, credit has to go to Gattu because he started such a big film with her.

Having worked with Ranveer, how would you describe him as an actor?
Ranveer is honest, simple and hard working. The biggest thing is to have that middle-class attitude and think for them as well as the poor. That is what enhances his performance. He understands people from all walks of life. That’s why he’s able to do a Gully Boy, an Alauddin Khilji and a Simmba. He is pure at heart and down-to-earth. He’s not fake, ke haath jodke khada hai. That’s what makes him a great performer. He is one of the biggest young stars we have today. But I’ve never seen him take his stardom for granted. He works extremely hard like he has to prove with every film. He’s dedicated and honest to a different level.

This year has seen some amazing films, from Padmaavat to AndhaDhun and Badhaai Ho. Which movies did you see?
I haven’t seen many because I didn’t get a chance to see them. I saw Padmaavat. Other than that, I’m yet to see AndhaDhun, Badhaai Ho and Stree. They are on my wish list. The last five months, I’ve been busy with Simmba.

So, a typical day in the life of Rohit Shetty is to wake up, go to the gym, then head to office, shoot…
And then, I go home and sleep (laughs). I feel privileged. When I step outside my house, I see it, my cars, and my office. When I see so much work and people loving a director, it’s rare. Like you see Karan Johar or Manmohan Desai. Because of TV, people know your face. So, I feel privileged. I think I owe them. What I can do is work harder and not take anything for granted. That’s exactly what I’m doing.

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; December 27, 2018)

Filmmaker Rohit Shetty is considered among the most successful directors in Bollywood. In the recent past, his films have hit the bull’s eye at the box office. He is all set to unleash the Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan-starrer, Simmba this week, which, in his own words, is a ‘Rohit Shetty film’, but also deals with a serious issue. In a freewheeling chat with BT, the director spoke about why he chose Ranveer among the newer crop of actors to play the lead in his film, and why he believes that spontaneity doesn’t always work on the set. Excerpts...

The title of your upcoming film, Simmba, reminds us of the popular animated film, The Lion King. The film’s poster is high on Bollywood kitsch. Does it have comic book elements to it as well?
It’s not a direct reference. My chief assistant director (AD) came up with the title. We wanted to come up with a name that would connect with Singham directly. We wondered what Singham’s son would be called, and during that process, we came up with the name, Simmba. The first 45 minutes is a typical Rohit Shetty film and then, it takes a serious turn. It is a massy film, but the issue we are addressing had to be dealt with seriousness.

You have worked with Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan in the past. And now, when it came to casting an actor from the current crop, what was your reason for choosing Ranveer Singh? You paired him up with Sara Ali Khan, who is fresh on the block ...
While Singham stands for morality, ethics and honesty, Simmba is the opposite. If this story didn’t take a different path, this film would have been about yet another honest cop fighting the system. He is essentially an anti-hero, but nevertheless loveable. I wanted to bring the two brands, Singham and Simmba, together and create a universe of their own. The sutradhar of the film is Ajay Devgn. It’s an action film, and men will lap it up, but Simmba caters to women as well. Ranveer brings a lot of energy on screen, and he has added a lot to the film. Also, nobody from the younger lot of actors has played a hard-core cop. Talking about Sara, we were thinking of casting a new girl and when she got to know about it, she texted me saying that she wants to do the film. But she was already shooting for Kedarnath and I was worried that my film will release before her debut movie.

But then, Abhishek Kapoor (Kedarnath’s director) called me and said that if I wanted to cast her, I should go ahead with it. He also said that I should see what they have shot for Kedarnath. I told him that I will finish Simmba in five months and I didn’t want to take the credit for launching her, as he had already taken on that responsibility. When I met her, she was down to earth and I could see that she had a hunger in her to work.

Considering the fact that Sara has bagged her second film even before the release of her debut, might have triggered talks about nepotism. However, the rave reviews that she garnered for Kedarnathputs the nepotism debate to rest. Isn’t it?
Nepotism is nothing but a spicy article. Why wouldn’t any father help his son or daughter? In fact, if he doesn’t do so, he might have to deal with being called a bad father. Also, all-star kids have not managed to be successful. Till this day, Saif Ali Khan or Amrita Singh have not called me. Amrita ji came on the set for two days and that too, on my insistence. Sara is fighting her own battle.

Be it Golmaal or the Singham franchise,or for that matter Chennai Express— all your films are out-and-out commercial entertainers. Your films cater to a particular segment of the audience...
There is segregation when you talk about the kind of audience who come to watch my films. That’s what makes me successful. When I start writing a script and shooting it, all I keep in my mind is my audience. The people who come to watch my films are the family audience. If I were trying to prove a point, I would not have been here. There are people who will dislike what I do, but I know that there is an audience that loves my cinema. So, you have to come to terms with the fact that a certain section of the audience might not love your films. One can only hope that they like your films at some point. I deal with the problems of the middle class and that’s why my films are termed massy. I can’t solve their problems, but at least, I can entertain them. What I find hypocritical is, when someone curses in English, it is considered cool and not massy. However, when the same curses are in Hindi, the ‘massy’ tag is promptly added. I don’t fear my film being a flop, but I do fear losing the audience that loves my cinema.

In an interview to BT, Ranveer said that you told him,“Tu apne mann se character bana, tu galat jaayega toh main bataoonga.” So, do you give your actors a certain sense of creative freedom on the set and create space for spontaneity?
I am very particular about how I want an actor to perform. The kind of films I make, it is very easy for actors to go overboard as far as comedy is concerned. From being lovable, they can easily become irritating if I don’t give them a certain frame to work within. So, in that sense, I control them. Also, my team of ADs is very strong because many of them are actors as well. Even the spot boy on my set will know the number of scenes that are going to be shot on a particular day and how many shots each scene has required. Everybody is on the same page and that’s why I can make a film in four-and-a-half or five months.

Does that also keep the budget under control?
Not in my case (laughs!). I grew up watching films made on a large scale, I want people to experience the same high that I did as a kid. I want the middle-class guy who spends 10% of his salary to watch films to have a good time.

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; December 25, 2018)

This is not the first time that the filmmaker Rohit Shetty is making a cop drama. This is his universe and a space that he is familiar with. The maker whose Simmba starring Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan releases this Friday, tells us that during the course of making these cop films, he has forged a relationship with the men-in-uniform, “I know a lot of cops, because I have already made two films, Singham (2011) and Singham Returns (2014) with a cop as the protagonist. In fact, for Singham Returns I had the luxury of shooting anywhere that I wanted because the police extended their help. They feel a strong connect with my films. Thier job is really tough and often it is thankless,” he adds.

Rohit stresses that police’s portrayal in cinema should be done senstitively. He says, “It’s compulsory for every traffic check post to have a lady cop. Have we ever thought where a lady cop will go in case she needs to visit the rest room? The lady cops also have kids, who have to go to school in the morning. But do we spare a thought for them? I work very closely with them so I understand their problems. I have been accused of showcasing them as heroes in my films, when the general perception is that corruption is rampant in their profession. But there are good and bad people in all professions. If the cops shut down their headquarters for a day, the city will become a jungle. The cops have already asked me about a trial show of Simmba. I will organise the show for the police force.” Shetty’s films have also added a sartorial influence on cop uniforms. He reveals, “There is something called the Singham fitting — lots of cops insist on their uniforms being well-cut like the ones that were worn by Ajay Devgn in the Singham films.” 

Shetty on how his latest cop is an ‘anti-hero’, and why Ranveer is perfect for role
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 20, 2018)

With his Singham franchise, Rohit Shetty has given Bollywood fans one of their favourite onscreen cops. Now, the filmmaker has made Ranveer Singh don the khaki uniform for his latest offering, Simmba. While comparisons are inevitable, Shetty insists the two protagonists are as different as chalk and cheese. “If I had to make just another cop film, I would have made Singham 3; after all, it is already a big brand. Hopefully, Simmba too, will become a brand. The character and universe of Simmba is completely different from that of Singham. Simmba is an anti-hero. He is dishonest, notorious and accepts bribes until circumstances change him.”

Shetty says the role of Sangram Bhalerao — complete with his cheeky attitude and quirks — is tailor-made for Singh. “When I had narrated the story line, Ranveer had loved it. He heard the final draft later. We were lucky that we had him on board right from the beginning so that we could mould the character in a particular way. Today when I see Simmba, I don’t think anyone else could have pulled it off,” says the filmmaker.

While Singh has expressed his admiration for the director on numerous occasions, Shetty too heaps praise on his leading man. “I haven’t seen a guy with so much positivity. Ranveer can keep the audience riveted with his performance.”

Not too long ago, he had announced the Ram Lakhan remake. However, it had to be put on the backburner as no two actors were apparently ready to share screen space. But Shetty is hopeful that his ambitious remake will be realised. “Karan [Johar] recently asked me about the Ram Lakhan remake. I told him that I will make it when I get the instinctive urge to do so. We have a draft ready and the day I feel, I will start. It has not been shelved. I haven’t decided what my next will be, but it won’t be a sequel to any of my previous films.”

Rohit Shetty on his new leading lady, working with Akshay Kumar, fearing Ajay Devgn and plans to launch his son
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 18, 2018)

Working on the post production of a film is a tedious task, and noone knows this better than Rohit Shetty. The director has been burning the midnight oil as he locks the final cut of his upcoming film, Simmba, to submit to the censors. That’s the reason he’s slightly late for interactions at a suburban five-star. Thanks to his all-black attire, the swagger of his walk and the entourage of security guards around him, he could easily be mistaken for a leading man. And in his own way, Rohit Shetty is one, given the excitement and attention his arrival invokes. Apologising profusely for the delay, he settles down in a ballroom to fend the googlis. Excerpts from the interview:

Do you feel burdened by expectations?
No, I feel like the chosen one because rarely does a director get so much love from the family audience. I’m never stressed about whether they’ll come to watch my film. The uppermost thought on my mind is whether they will like the film. They have made me, and I make my films for them.

Do you fear failures?
Yes, I do. You could get overconfident after just one hit; fear keeps you grounded. On the Friday of my release, you will find a nervous me sitting in a corner despite all the hits I’ve delivered over the years.

You’re being criticised for remaking a Telugu hit…
(Cuts in) So many remakes are being made, why target only me? Chennai Express, Dilwale, Golmaal Again and Singham Returns were not remakes. This is a one-off thing and it’s only a small section that has a problem, so I can laugh it off.

But not just Temper, comparisons are also being drawn between Simmba and other cop films like Singham and Dabangg…
And they will continue till the film opens. When we were promoting Singham, many were saying we had remade Dabangg. Such talk is only to stir up things.

But one sees a definite attempt to create a cop universe by bringing Simmba and Singham together in the same film.
Simmba is my best written film to date and if the audience feel the same way, I will start working on the next instalment sooner than expected. I’m not saying my next will be Singham and Simmba coming together, but yes, the idea is to create a cop universe. It would be difficult as something of this sort has never been attempted in India before. There is no story in mind, but the germ of an idea is in place.

The cop genre reached a stagnation point in the 2000s until its revival with Dabangg a decade later. What if it went out of fashion again?
That’s never going to happen. Forget cop films, not many action films were made at the turn of the millennium owing to the advent of multiplexes. The genre will never go out of fashion because every time a problem crops up, you need a cop to deal with it. Such films will always be about good versus evil though the ethics of film-making could change.

Won’t coming a week after Zero impact the screen count?
People are terming this a clash to spice up the scenario. There is a gap of one week between the two films, and seven days are enough to do great, more so because team Zero has the Christmas holiday to cash in on. There is no issue with screen distribution, plans are already in place.

Disappointed that Kedarnath and not Simbaa launched Sara Ali Khan?
No, I always wanted Kedarnath to come before Simmba because Gattu (Abhishek Kapoor) had signed Sara before me. In fact, he was the one who suggested her to me for Simmba. I’d be upset if he hadn’t got the credit for launching her.

Your debut film, Zameen, was a realistic thriller. Why haven’t you ventured into that space again?
I’d love to revisit the genre and I’m working on a few scripts. A thriller with real action, a film like that will happen soon. I would also love to direct a mature love story, revolving around a husband and wife. That would be an exciting new space to visit.

The DeepVeer wedding must add to the buzz surrounding Simmba since it’s Ranveer first film after tying the knot?
Ranveer is fed up of answering questions about his wedding. All these things don’t help the film, the hype is created by the trailer and music. A wedding is personal…

Since you have worked with both Ranveer and Deepika Padukone individually, is there a plan to now bring them together on screen?
I decide on the casting after finishing the script. If I get the right script, why not?

What’s happening with Golmaal 5?
Golmaal is a big brand and popular with the kids so it will happen soon for sure. I can’t give you an exact date since we don’t have a script in place.

And any plans for an All The Best or Bol Bachchan sequel?
I don’t see it happening at present because it gets difficult handling so many franchises but never say never.

With no clarity on franchise films, will your next directorial be a standalone film featuring Akshay Kumar?
I won’t deny that I am in talks with Akshay for a film, but we are yet to complete the formalities. I will be directing the film, but there is still time for it. We have just had two meetings so far.

Meanwhile, you will be back soon with season nine of your reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi. What can we expect?
More drama. Television has made me a brand and by that I don’t mean only reality shows but also my films. In a week, five films of mine are aired on television, and they all get good ratings.

Any plans to act?
Nahin yaar!

Is your son, Ishaan, showing an interest in following in your footsteps?
I can confidently say that Ishaan is going to be a part of the industry. He will either be an actor or a director, and I will train him to live out his dream.

Any plans to launch the winners of the talent hunt contest you judged with Karan Johar?
Star (the channel) is working on it, there will be an announcement in a few months.

Finally, how would you define your 28-year bond with Ajay Devgn?
People call us friends, but I’m still scared of Ajay, who is like an elder brother. You will never see me walking with my arm around his shoulder. I respect him too much. When approaching him for Simmba, I told him I wanted him to make an extended cameo as Bajirao Singham. He just nodded, “I’m there with you, go ahead.”

Hitmaker Rohit Shetty says Simmba will position Singh as the go-to actor for commercial potboilers
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 22, 2018)

In what was an otherwise dull year for the industry, Rohit Shetty took the box office by storm with Golmaal Again (2017) - the comic caper raked in over Rs 200 crore. The filmmaker, who is collaborating with Ranveer Singh for the first time on Simmba, hopes that their joint offering will outperform the runaway hit.

Speaking at the Jagran Cinema Summit in the city yesterday, Shetty said that though his lead actor has been previously seen in mainstream movies, the action-comedy will present Singh in a new light. "Ranveer is a fabulous new-age actor. With this film, he will be able to display his range as a commercial star. Simmba is his biggest out-and-out masala film and I have full faith in it," said the filmmaker.

While he is known to strike gold with his outings, the director has often faced flak for his wafer-thin plots. When pointed out how the Sara Ali Khan starrer is a remake of the Telugu hit Temper (2015), Shetty asserted that he has added his signature touch to it. "Though the movie is based on Temper, there are merely a few plot points which are similar. It's an entirely new story. It is my best written film till date."

The director further made a case for remakes as he said that reimagining a yesteryear film does not imply "lack of creativity. Mother India was remade from something that Mehboob saab had written before. There's no harm in creating remakes as the younger generation has probably not caught up with those old films."

Slated to open on December 28, the cop drama was to initially lock horns with Shah Rukh Khan's Zero on December 21. However, Shetty revealed that producer Karan Johar and Khan averted the clash. "Karan Johar and Shah Rukh discussed that if both films released on the same day, it would affect the business. So, we decided to come a week later."

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; April 12, 2018)

Little did Rohit Shetty imagine that his hero-cop Bajirao Singham essayed by Ajay Devgn in Singham (2011) would become so iconic that three years after the release of its sequel Singham Returns (2014), there will be an animated series called Little Singham for kids. “The first Singham became so popular with children and cops that we made a sequel. And, now there is going to be a 156-episode animated series for the tiny tots, and I can’t wait to see their reaction,” beams Rohit, who has co-produced it. Here, he talks about the idea behind it, his desire to make more such series, and his next outing.

When did you conceptualise Little Singham?
A year ago. We have an animation company in Pune, which merged with Reliance Animation. They came up with the idea of making Little Singham. We started working on the story and made a short episode. That’s when Discovery came on board and it became exciting as a project.

Creatively, did you contribute to how the character will look and behave?
More than me, it was the animators who had the idea about how he should be. I was only following them but keeping an eye on what is right and wrong. I was just worried about the language and the treatment, which I looked into. The traits were given by the animators. I didn’t want the cinematic touch, but purely a cartoon. This Singham is totally different from the adult version. Obviously, he has the ‘Aata majhi satakli’ moment when he becomes powerful, the lion tattoo brightens up, and he starts beating up the baddies, which is like in any series where kids wait for that particular moment. 

What kind of stunts will Little Singham do?
Singham himself is larger-than-life and in animation, there is no rok-tok. He will do all kinds of stunts. When we were small, we would love to see over-the-top, larger-than-life visuals, so this one will be doing 100 times more than what Singham did in the film. What happens in animation is that you can incorporate whatever you think of, make him as macho as you want to, something that kids will enjoy. 

Has Ajay Devgn seen any episode of the series?
We have spoken about it. He was in Paris on a holiday, but now that he is back, he will see it.

This is an animation series. What about doing a film for kids?
If I get a good subject, I will definitely do it because I want to experiment with a kids’ film starring children. In fact, we were planning one, but it did not turn out well.

Have you thought of making a film with a lady cop?
Yes, at some point, I want to make a film with lady Singham. I will be working on the script, but it will take a lot of time. We are planning to create a universe where there is a lady cop. In fact, in Little Singham, there is a girl cop.

Whether it is the Golmaal series or Singham, your films are liked by kids. Do you factor that in when you are making them?
Yes, it is important to me, especially while making a Golmaal or a Singham. I see to it that a large chunk of family audiences like it. I know kids will be coming to watch movies, so as filmmakers, we definitely know that responsibility towards the audiences. We do take care of that while scripting as well as shooting.

While there is a lot of humour in Little Singham, even the film raised a lot of laughs, especially Prakash Raj’s character despite him being the villain... 
Yes, we tried to make it lighter. We didn’t want it to go dark. In the climax scene, there are too many cops, and they have come to kill a person. It could have been gory and gruesome. It was a big risk to make it humorous, but that worked more than a normal blood-and-action scene.

Besides Singham, which other film character do you think can lend itself to an animated series?
There are a lot of characters in different movies, but it is up to the director which one he wants to take forward. If they want to do so, my company is there (laughs). Talking about my films, I think all the characters of Golmaal have those traits required for an animated series. Even in the live action film, they are lively, loud and over-the-top, almost like animated characters!

Coming to films, when do you start shooting for Simmba?
We are currently doing the pre-production and will go on floors by the end of next month.

What prompted you to cast Sara Ali Khan opposite Ranveer Singh?
They make a good pair! Sara is a sweet girl and when she came to meet me, I could picture her in the role; she fit it perfectly. This will be her second film — I don’t know if this will be her first release — but she is a hardcore commercial heroine. She is very clear she wants to do all kinds of films — a solo-heroine, a two-heroine, love story, a commercial film — she is just starting her career, her energy is right, and she is in the right space. 

On TV, you have just finished judging India’s Next Superstars. What next?
I will be shooting for the next season of Khatron Ke Khiladi in July for a month ­— the place is yet to be decided, as recce is going on. I come back and shoot Simmba. KKK is close to my heart — it is a lot of hard work, every day there is a new challenge, a new stunt, which is exciting. 

After Simmba, there is buzz that you will be shooting Singham 3...
I will be collaborating with Ajay after Simmba, but we haven’t decided if it will be for Singham 3 or the next instalment of Golmaal. Let’s see, we are working on the script and will take a call after that.

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; November 19, 2017)

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 16, 2017)

Fresh off the success of his comic caper, the Rs 200 crore grosser Golmaal Again, filmmaker Rohit Shetty has already kicked-off work on his next, a remake of Junior NTR’s South film, Temper (2015). But, even though his film is yet to go on floors, Shetty finds himself battling speculations, the most recent one being the casting of Janhvi Kapoor as the female lead.

"I don't know where this news came from,” he says, after previously shunning speculations that Singham (2011) actor Kajal Aggarwal had been selected for the part. “I have not finalised the leading lady. The cast will be decided only when the final draft is ready early next year,” Shetty says. Given that he had announced that Ranveer Singh would play the lead in his actioner, Shetty questions assumptions that he would keep news about his leading lady under wraps.

Singh’s casting, Shetty says, is fitting, given that the actor is suited for the energetic performance of a corrupt police official. “The script is best suited for Ranveer. It is an out-and-out action masala entertainer, a kind that he hasn’t attempted before. We will include amazing action sequences, and given the kind of energy and enthusiasm that Ranveer has, I’m sure he’ll do justice to the part.”

Although Shetty has purchased the rights for his outing, he asserts, yet again, that his film will only borrow from the original. “Around 20 per cent of the original story will be retained; the rest will be amended.”

While the film will mark the first Bollywood collaboration between Shetty and Singh, the duo has previously worked on a commercial for a brand of noodles, also creating an extended short film as part of the brand promotions.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 13, 2017)

Rohit Shetty is a relieved man. In an interview preceding his last directorial, the Diwali release Golmaal Again, the filmmaker had told Mirror (September 7), "Recent films haven't worked, so all the pressure is now on my film. I hope it works for the industry." A little over three weeks since its release, the ensemble comedy, headlined by Shetty's long-time hero and Golmaal regular Ajay Devgn, has crossed the Rs 200-crore mark at the box office, the first Hindi film to do so in a year dotted with big disappointments. Excerpts from an interview with the filmmaker:

How does it feel to break the jinx?
It is insane! When you make a film that is turning out well, you realise how much business it can do and if people will like it after a certain point. All that analysis happens with every commercial film because nobody can predict this kind of a business. Right now, Golmaal Again is among the top 10 films in Bollywood lists. The audience is returning to the theatres to watch it and I'm a happy man.

How do you plan to celebrate this success?
I've been in touch with all the team members. Ajay (Devgn) is shooting in Lucknow and Parineeti (Chopra) is in Delhi. We have been celebrating ever since the film released but once everyone is back, we will have a proper bash.

Does the success of films like Judwaa 2 and Golmaal Again bring relief to the industry?
Yes, I'm happy not just for myself but for the industry as well. Judwaa 2 has done well, now Padmavati is looking good and so is Tiger Zinda Hai. By the time we end the year, the industry should be in a better position.

What do you have to say about your hit pairing with Ajay Devgn? More films together on the cards?
Ajay and I never take our success for granted. There's never been a day when Ajay has said, "Koi farq nahi padta, dekhi jaayegi" and it's the same with me. I think that is what works for us.

Tell us about your next with Ranveer Singh?
It's a hardcore commercial action film that neither Ranveer nor I have done before. We are working on the final draft at the moment and it goes on the floors by mid next year. We have bought the rights of the South film Temper from which our film is inspired.

You will soon start shooting for the reality show, India's Next Superstar, with Karan Johar. How did that collaboration happen?
It's a new format for Karan and me. We have just shot the teaser and are yet to start shooting.

From what we know, Karan and you will be hunting for new talent on the show?
The concept is still being finalised.

Is a film with Karan on the cards as well?
We will definitely do something together. Everything is in the planning stage at the moment.

Do we see another Golmaal in the making?
We will definitely make another Golmaal. We just want the euphoria to settle down. You should not make decisions when you are extremely happy; you run the risk of going wrong. I don't know what the story will be and when it will release. I will start from scratch again, and decide after a month or so.

BOMBAY TIMES (November 3, 2017)

Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 25, 2017)

A humble exchange of pleasantries quickly escalates into incomprehensible chatter as the sprightly unit of Golmaal Again steals a few moments to converse among themselves before tackling our questions. Nothing productive distills from the minutes that ensue, as Shreyas Talpade pulls off an abrupt impersonation, Rohit Shetty and Kunal Kemmu refer to a second visit to Bandra’s Gaiety Galaxy, and Tabu attempts to construct a sentence through assorted words muttered between uncontrollable giggles. These gibberish exchanges make as much sense to us as Tusshar Kapoor’s phonetics in the film. Yet, the unit of five has no trouble understanding one another.

Shetty inevitably emerges as the captain of this ship, and enjoys the unwavering adulation of his actors. “How many times will Rohit Shetty save us,” jokes Talpade, as Kapoor confesses to having his hopes pinned on the film after a bleak 2016. Their affection is met with warmth as Shetty says, “I want this team with me whenever I make a Golmaal outing.”

The filmmaker shakes his head in denial when we attempt to put a number on the installments that may follow. “There will be many [installments]. This is our FD [fixed deposit]. We’ll keep it going.”

Shetty, however, promises that while part four returned after a seven-year hiatus, the next one will release soon. “I don’t have a plan in mind for the fifth part, and am not even certain of the genre, but, it will be bigger than this one.”

That Shetty is a fan of extended storylines is evident, given that he also helms the acclaimed Singham franchise. “I think people will joke about how Golmaal 5 will be followed by Singham 4,” Shetty laughs, as Kapoor suggests that he can explore the creation of a cinematic universe that’s entirely his. “Let Ajay play a double role,” he suggests as Shetty listens with childlike enthusiasm. “Make Singham meet Golmaal’s Gopal [Ajay] and take it from there; make it like the Avengers,” Kapoor adds.

The conspicuous dramatisation involving the blowing up of cars that’s synonymous with Shetty’s outings was missing from this instalment. He admits he got tired of critics pointing at certain scenes repeatedly. While he acknowledges that this change was spurred by critics’ response, he says reviews don’t inspire his decisions. “My films are not critic-friendly. Everybody has a point of view, but that won’t change mine. Critics also have an audience. For all you know, people may dislike a [particular] critic for appreciating Golmaal.”

Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; October 18, 2017)

Rohit Shetty has worked till 5 am the previous night but is looking as fresh as someone who has just returned from a vacay. Which is what happens when you love what you do, as much as Rohit does. The recluse has decided not to do any pre release interviews. But when he speaks, it’s no holds barred. He doesn’t shy away from admitting his last film didn’t work. He has analysed the reasons why it failed, better than the audience or the critics. This man knows the pulse of his audience and that’s why he has delivered more 100 crore films than any other director. Read on for excerpts from our chat....

Horror comedy is the flavour of the season, how was your experience of making one?
Actually we planned it seven years ago, after Golmaal 3. After Golmaal 3, when we were making Singham, we decided that if we make another Golmaal, it will be a horror comedy and we cracked the story then. But it didn’t reach to a level I wanted. Then we got busy with Bol Bachchan, Chennai Express etc. During Singham Returns we started again three years ago and then we cracked the script.

Have you ever had a ghostly experience?
(Laughs) Every morning I see the mirror I do have one, otherwise, no.

Golmaal is one of the biggest franchises today. Did you imagine that, while making the first?
No. Honestly, when I made my first Golmaal, it was for survival. Comedies were doing really well and I thought at least it will be an average to a good film. Even when we were making it we knew where it would land, and my career will be safe.

At what point did you plan the sequel?
I think after three to four months. I was making something else… Hera Pheri and Munna Bhai had done sequels by then and sequels were just starting off. Yunus (writer) came up with some story and I thought can be made into a sequel and that is how it happened.

For Golmaal Aagain, you’ve changed the entire crew from cameraman to production designer. Why?
Actually most of them have been working with me. Like my art director was an assistant art director earlier… The whole look of this film is different. We hardly shot in Goa. We just went to Goa because of ‘I want to go to Goa.’ It was not there in the script of the film. It is a hill station based film. I wanted a total different look for this Golmaal.

Why is that?
Because I think we are done with that kind of a look and I thought let’s not just cash in on the title or the franchise of Golmaal. We have to give the audience something new. This is the costliest film I have made. Costlier than Chennai Express and Singham Returns. If you see the film, the grandness and scale and how we have shot, CGI, you will realise that. Not costlier than Dilwale for sure. The budget of Golmaal Again is almost double of Golmaal 3. I wanted to do that so that the audience gets that kind of an experience, like a comic book experience. We shot the film in five months but the whole planning went on for a year. It’s the first time, it’s happened this way.

So you’ve plunged into Golmaal immediately after Dilwale, which received a lukewarm response at the box office. What were the lessons you learnt?
We know where we went wrong in Dilwale. My mother said, ‘Teri nazar utar gayi’ and I told her, ‘bohot mehengi nazar utri’(Laughs).

You said that you know where you went wrong…
From my first film till Dilwale, we never changed our script. If I narrate the original script, you will fall down laughing and it was a typical Rohit Shetty film. But after Kajol came on board, and because Shah Rukh and Kajol coming together is so big, we started catering to that audience. And then the whole 40 minutes of the chunk, which was not there in the original script was added. It is my fault. Nobody told me to do that, to be very honest.

Golmaal 3 was supposed to be the only release this Diwali but now Secret Superstar has also joined in. Does it spoil the party?
Every Diwali, in future, will have two releases. I am happy that the films belong to two different genres; if the genres were the same, it would have been difficult for us and them. We once had a similar Diwali with Golmaal Returns and Fashion and both films did well.

Secret Superstar was considered a niche film. Now, Aamir is going all out to promote it as his film. Does that bother you?
No, not really. It is only about business. Theirs is going to be a critically-acclaimed film and this is going to be an entertainer. Business-wise, what will happen, neither of us knows. But where the media is concerned, and where critical acclaim is concerned, it’s all going to go to Secret Superstar.

Are you worried about critical acclaim?
No. I do not have the recipe for that and I’m not worried about that part. So that’s sorted in my head.

Golmaal is tracking at a phenomenal figure of Rs 28 crore on the first day, are those expectations scary?
During Dilwale, I was scared because I had gone off track, away from the script and away from my audience and catering to Shah Rukh-Kajol audience. This time, I do not know how big it will be and whether it will be a blockbuster, but the audience will come out satisfied, that’s for sure.

In this Golmaal, you took a long time to decide who the actress would be. Why? Were you waiting for Kareena Kapoor?
I never said why Bebo was not in the film. Or we would have revealed the story. But now, it is in the trailer so I can tell you that we needed an age difference between Ajay and the lead actress. When you see the film, you will know why we didn’t take Bebo.

The surprise factor of this film is Tabu. What made you think she would do comedy well?
It was not a sudden plan. I worked with Tabu 25 years ago in a film called Haqeeqat where I was an assistant director. We know each other from those days and she has seen my growth. Then for last five-seven years, whenever we met, Tabu used to say, ‘I want to do a commercial film and I am going to do it with you.’ When we were writing Golmaal, I called her. We narrated the script to her and she loved it.

You’re a director and producer and host of a reality show; what do you enjoy the most?
It is direction. Hosting is fine. I enjoy hosting if it is my genre. Other than that, I get bored. But directing, obviously.

You do not take much of a break between movies. After Golmaal Again, you get on to your next film with Ranveer Singh. The title is My Name is Lakhan?
No, we haven’t finalised the title yet. We’re still working on the final draft. I will be getting time in between because my dates are in May as per now. So I still have time. I will go for a holiday.

You, a workaholic, are going on a holiday!
Yes, I always go. It is just that I do not inform the media so they aren’t at the airport to click pictures.

Are you on Instagram? You can put your holiday pictures.
No, I am happy like this only.

What are your plans for Diwali?
I will be at home.

When are you not at home?
(Smiles) I will be home with family. The film releases the next day. So I’ll be sleeping in the morning and do not want to get up and take the stress. Jo ho gaya, ho gaya.

You have always been very chilled before release.
I do get nervous; it is human nature. I’m pretty chilled out. Jo ho gaya woh ho gaya, main kya badal dunga.

What do you think of the ban on crackers by SC in Delhi? Do you think this should be in Mumbai?
I do not like crackers. I guess it goes with age. I think we have to find a way where kids can enjoy and there’s no pollution. Maybe some Indian company should come up with an idea. If they do, I will take a copyright.

Do you have an all time favourite ghost comedy?
No. There are a lot of black and white films that are not exactly ghost-related but you feel there’s a ghost. There was a movie of Mehmood and R D Burman, Bhoot Bangla. It is quite an interesting film. I feel like a commercial multi-starrer horror film works. For that matter, even Bhool Bhulaiyya works.

Critics haven’t ever been appreciative of the Golmaal franchise. Did that bother you initially?
Initially, it did. But now everybody has come to terms with it. So it is fine now. We are all in a good space. We have mutual respect for each other.

As a director, are you ever tempted to step out of your comfort zone and do a romantic film?
Dilwale, all said and done, reached out to a level. It is still the highest grosser of Shah Rukh overseas, which had great music and won an award for it, too. I get scared. If I do (make an experimental movie), then I will make a very small film. Tomorrow, if it doesn’t work, then what?

There is a popular belief among younger actors that the audience doesn’t want to see mass entertainers anymore, but the numbers speak a different story. Why do you think there is a disconnect?
Social media. There needs to be a lot of homework. Like the BARC has come. If you see the ratings of what films are doing well, things will change. It’s just that people are saying commercial films are not doing well, but for the last one-and-a-half years; we didn’t have a commercial release. Name one hardcore commercial film other than Judwaa 2? It is just a phase which comes and goes; reading the history of cinema is also important. I have always said that. When Manmohan Desai was making Amar Akbar Anthony, Basu Chatterjee was making Rajnigandha and Chit Chor and Amol Palekar was also a star and Amitabh Bachchan was also a star. Then came Farooq Sheikh and then Om Puri with Ardh Satya. Commercial films co-existed and were not looked down upon.

That is happening even now. For every Shah Rukh Khan, there is an Irrfan Khan...
It has always been there and will always be there. Newton with Rajkummar Rao is also doing well as is Judwaa 2 with Varun. Social media is scary. It is better to keep the phone away and live like a tiger. A star should behave like a star, then everything will be fine.

Do you agree that commercial cinema does not get the respect it deserves?
Yes, 110 per cent.

Who do you blame for that?
I don’t know... Commercial films are not easy to make. A lot of hard work goes into it. It is all about perception. I think the only way to change the perception is if we stop saying the film made Rs 200 crore and start saying 10 crore people or 10 lakh people saw this film, then things will change. It is not about Rs 200 crore, it’s about how many people saw it. That is the kind of cinema people want to see. Ultimately, you are making a film for the audience. If you are not, then it is fine.

It is such a shame that Hindi cinema looks down upon pan-India films when the South is making Baahubali. The south is doing so well. Films from Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are doing well because they are catering to an Indian audience. Here, we are confused about what to do. Pan-India film is the way ahead. It’s not that it will not do well. Look at Judwaa 2.

Speaking of sequels...What about Singham 3?
We will be making it but I do not have the right script right now. We know what space to go in, though.

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; September 28, 2017)