Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra recalls changing original cut of Delhi 6 for Indian release; admits he feels “the nation hasn’t evolved” yet

Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has once again stirred conversation around his 2009 film Delhi 6, revealing that the director’s original version of the film, which begins with the death of protagonist Roshan played by Abhishek Bachchan, remains unreleased because, in his view, “India hasn’t evolved” to accept it.

 

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra recalls changing original cut of Delhi 6 for Indian release; admits he feels “the nation hasn’t evolved” yet

 

In an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Mehra described the initial cut shown at the Venice Film Festival, where it was warmly received. “The original film opens with the ashes immersion of Abhishek’s character in the Ganges. And over that, a voiceover comes, in Abhishek’s voice, saying, ‘These are my ashes.’ That’s how the story begins, and in the very opening frame you are told that your hero is dead,” he explained.

 

Mehra said that international audiences responded positively: “They saw the film, they freaked out, they said ‘wow,’ and they gave it a lovely reception out there […] and Variety called it ‘(un)Bollywood’.”

 

However, when it came to releasing the film in India, the ending was altered to show Roshan surviving, giving the narrative a more hopeful tone. Mehra admitted that the change was influenced by early reactions and now considers it a misstep. “Out of foolishness. Sheer foolishness. We filmmakers are foolish people, mad, foolish, all of that… and I fell for it. I shouldn’t have,” he said, underscoring his belief that the original cut was truer to the story’s intent.

 

Addressing whether he might re-release the original version in the future, especially given current trends of restoring classic films, Mehra expressed uncertainty. “I don’t know, I really don’t. If I were to re-release, I still feel the time isn’t right. I still feel the nation hasn’t evolved; in fact, we have gone down the hole in many ways,” he stated. “Of course, we have progressed in many ways as well, but I don’t know how to define that progress.”

 

Released in 2009, Delhi 6 did not perform well commercially at the time. Over the years, however, it has garnered appreciation for its layered storytelling and thematic depth, with many cinephiles revisiting the film’s social commentary and musical score from composer A.R. Rahman.

 

Also Read: Kanguva press conference at Miraj IMAX Wadala: Suriya BREAKS silence on Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Karna: “It’s a film which needs a lot of time…”

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