David Dhawan celebrates his birthday today. Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to him a day before to find out about his plans and a lot more. The director, as expected, warmly picked up the call. He jokingly asked, “Mere birthday pe kya baat karni hai?”. This writer informed that a filmmaker of his calibre deserves to be talked about and celebrated, especially on his big day. This writer also reminded him of our interview held a day after the release of his comic caper Chashme Baddoor (2013). His eyes lit up on hearing the name of the Taapsee Pannu-starrer. He said, “Chashme Baddoor is one of my favourite films. I enjoyed so much working on that film that I have no words.”
When asked about his birthday plans, he replied, “I’ll be with my family, with my grandson and granddaughter. Unke saath mazaa hi alag aata hai!”
What are his childhood memories of celebrating his birthday? He said, “My father used to get me a cake on my birthday. Even my mother and my brothers would celebrate my birthday heartily.”
Do his sons, actor Varun Dhawan and brother Rohit Dhawan, give any gifts to him on his birthdays? David Dhawan smiled and answered, “They themselves are my biggest gifts. Woh gifts dete hi rehte hai. And you won’t believe, I’ve specifically told them that ‘Now, no more gifts. You guys have given me enough gifts’. I’ll cut a cake. And meri jo granddaughter hai, uska haath pakadke cake katwata hoon main (smiles). She has to be there for the cake cutting.”
It’s pretty evident that David Dhawan’s family dotes on him. David Dhawan once said in an interview, “Varun is after my life when it comes to health”. David said, “Yes, he is. He’s very cautious. The whole family is. But thank God that I am perfectly okay. I am hale and hearty. My family’s taken care of me a lot. Dekho thoda bahut toh hota hi hai na health ke baare mein.”
Since he’s in the pink of his health, it’ll be interesting to see him announce his next film. The director revealed, “For the last 5-6 months, I am working on a script. I’ll take 4-5 months and start further work.” He added, “I am continuously working. Without work, main reh hi nahin sakta. I have only worked for 40 years. I have directed 45 films and edited more than 50 films before that. Toh mujhe kabhi time hi nahin mila.”
In a 2019 interview, David Dhawan famously said, “I have made 45 films in 30 years and I want to make 50 more.” David laughed, “Woh toh aise hi kaha tha maine. You know, how difficult today it is to make films? During those days, actors used to work in 6-8 or even 10 films at a time. Ab actors ek film karne se bhi ghabra jaate hai!”
But in the 90s, films also used to take a year or 2 for completion. David Dhawan replied, “That was okay. Actors at least worked in double shifts then. So, they were able to shoot 2 films in a day. Everyone used to do it. Now, the whole scenario has changed. It’s different. Now, before the film goes on floors, the release date is already announced.”
He is, however, happy with the way business has picked up once again, “Now, viewers are thronging the cinemas and how. This is a good sign.” He’s also glad to see a comedy in successful films, “You need humour in your films. Or else, films become dry. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani had so much humour. And it also had one of the best dialogues.”
A conversation with a filmmaker this week is incomplete without the mention of the blockbuster Gadar 2, “Look at how Gadar 2 is performing. Emotion kitna hai. Rula deti hai film. Feel-good bhi hai. Mazedaar film hai. I am so happy for Sunny Deol. He’s been such a big star and he has come back in a big way. He has got what he deserves. He has that factor jo hamare hero mein hona chahiye!”
He continued, “Jahaan gaav mein theatres bandh ho gaye the, woh shuru ho gaye thanks to Gadar 2. It’s a good sign for people working in the cinema industry. And we don’t know where this film’s business will end. Mujhe khushi hoti hai ki hum log ke filmon ka business itna ho sakta hai.”
Gadar 2 is a pure massy film, the kind of cinema that David Dhawan is known for. He stated, “I believe in mass cinema completely. In the 90s, I remember that in the morning, the press would slam my film but from the next show onwards, it would be declared a hit! The reviews would be like ‘Kya hai yeh film mein’. Lekin theatres house full hote the! This happened in almost all my films. Govinda and I had that track record. We make films for the audience. If the audience loves it, what more can we ask for?”
David Dhawan is a rare director who worked with almost all major stars. He almost collaborated with Shah Rukh Khan but that failed to materialize. He sighed, “That film didn’t happen. But I don’t regret it. I worked with so many actors like Bachchan saab (Amitabh Bachchan), Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor etc.”
With the sequel to a 22-year-old film becoming a hit, talks are going around that the second part of many 90s hits might also be announced. When asked if he’s planning a sequel to say Aankhen (1993), David Dhawan laughed and answered, “No. People ask for it. A lot of moviegoers even tell me, ‘Raja Babu 2 bana do aap’! I would tell them, ‘Kahan yeh sab sequels banaoonga main’.” He made it clear that he is focusing on making an original film.
But he has no plans of turning producer, “Let’s see. Thankfully, I have a lot of producer friends. I am 70% through with my script. Casting will come later.”
At this point, he emphasized the importance of music, which he feels is lacking nowadays, “We need good songs. If you have just 2 songs, aapki film ko bahut farak padta hai. It’s ok if you have fewer songs. You can have 3 or 4 songs. But songs should be there in films.”
In a previous interview with Bollywood Hungama, David Dhawan revealed that at times, songs used to act as roadblocks in films, prompting moviegoers to take a ‘bidi break’. He agreed, “It’s difficult. For me, songs are indispensable. And I always keep the mukhda of the song strong. The beginning line has to be entertaining. Kuch baat honi chahiye usme.” No wonder his songs had catchy lines ‘Kisi Disco Mein Jaaye’ or ‘What Is Mobile Number’ to name a few!
In an interview in May 2023, David Dhawan spoke highly of his favourite actor Govinda. To quote David Dhawan, “He did not get enough credit for the kind of work he did. People love and remember him even today, but jo credit use milna chahiye, woh nahin mila. He deserves to be called a superstar.”
On this, David Dhawan exulted, “Uska koi muqabla nahin hai. He can do anything on screen. He can even do action, emotion and drama. He’s a complete actor.”
It’ll be a dream come true moment for many fans to see David Dhawan and Govinda joining hands again. David Dhawan replied, “You never know! And it’s so easy to work with him. I am sure we’ll take it from where we left off.”
He cited the example of Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999) and how Govinda cracked the mannerisms while pretending to be Sanjay Dutt’s uncle, “We had no planning. We just had an idea. On the set, he showed it to me and asked, ‘Yeh kaisa lag raha hai?’. I replied, ‘Fantastic. Chal shoot karte hai’! Unka God-gifted talent. And we both made a team. Look how many hits we gave!”
More Pages: Raja Babu Box Office Collection
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