Anil Sharma on the low opening of Vanvaas, “Collections will gradually grow”

By Subhash K. Jha -

December 23, 2024 - 11:56 AM IST

Anil Sharma’s Gadar: Ek Prem Katha has become the Sholay of his career. He is not allowed to think beyond his career-defining blockbuster. “I can’t keep making Gadar Part 3, 4, 5, etc. Right now as we speak, I am just preparing for my next, right now me and my son Utkarsh we were sitting and discussing the same thing with my wife when you called us. We are thinking of what to start next, how should we do it.

Anil Sharma on the low opening of Vanvaas, “Collections will gradually grow”

He added, “I want to make a love story. It has been in my mind for a long time that I want to make a love story. A love story in which there is not even a slap. So, we are thinking of starting that first. I have two-three action subjects also, plus Gadar 3. I will decide in a few days. I will decide in the first week of January. I want to take ten days to decide because once I have decided, then the next one and a half years of my life is going to be that film only.”

Speaking of Vanvaas, which is currently showing in theatres, Anil Sharma said, “There are many such cases of children being cruel to their parents. When I lost my father two years ago and before that my mother, a strange vacuum had come in my life. I felt whatever I did in my life, I did nothing for my parents. When Gadar 2 became a hit, I used to think that if only they were here today, what would have been better than this. Then I had read and seen an incident during Gadar. It used to pain me a lot. I thought, Gadar has given me so much. Now as a director, my job is to make a family film which I can give to the audience.”

Sharma said, “While I was thinking of making Vanvaas, I also got a call from Nana asking, ‘Now you will do this film, or you will start some big action film?’. I told him, I will do it and with Nana Sir only, because I feel like doing it with him. We had already talked about it during Gadar 2. So, I just wanted to make Vanvaas at this point in my life. Some films like Gadar you make for the public. Once in a while you make Vanvaas for yourself. Now, people are liking it, I am so happy.”

Anil is not deterred by the low opening. “The opening is low, but it will gradually grow,” he said. “I think in a few days, yes, I am absolutely confident because those who are watching it are liking it a lot. Now more people will go to watch it. I have already experienced the impact of a blockbuster (Gadar). So, I was very well aware of what we up against (Pushpa 2) when we released Vanvaas. I am confident it will find its audience.”

About working with Nana for the first time Anil said, “When we were thinking of whom to cast, Nana's name came up. We felt that Nana has gone into Vanvaas (exile) and he should be brought out and because people have not seen him for a long time. He had done a film called Natsamrat, which was also children failing their parents. People liked seeing this side of him and that is why I called Nana sir and went to Nana sir, then in the first sitting he said yes.”

The movie business seems to be in a ferocious grip of a franchise fever. But Anil Sharma isn’t biting the bait. “I will make films in my own way and will keep making them how I want to,” he said. “Just because Gadar is a blockbuster it doesn’t mean I will keep making Gadar. I am not one of those filmmakers. I make films from my heart and soul. God has kept me here as a filmmaker for forty years. The actors themselves, the so-called A-listers do not have any value. Earlier actors used to make or break films. The audience used to come in the name of those actors. The actor is no longer a star, the film is a star, that's why people come for the film.”

About casting his son Utkarsh in the lead in Vanvaas, Anil said, “Children of big people, children of industrialists become industrialist, daughters of doctors become doctors. I mean what is there in this, what is the big deal in this? They grow up at home since childhood in a particular atmosphere. If my son is an actor, it is because cinema is in his genes. This industry is an open shop, every industry is an open shop, the whole of Kurukshetra is a field. Whoever wants to come should try their luck they will be selected here.”

Also Read: Anil Sharma shares news about Vanvaas teaser release, film stars Nana Patekar and Utkarsh Sharma: “An early Diwali gift to all fans”