“Jackky is here to earn respect and do quality work” – Vashu Bhagnani

By Devansh Patel -

September 5, 2012 - 2:06 AM IST

So, let me clear the air. What's the definition of a 'Producer'? Let's break it down, shall we? 80% of the people may think that he's a heavy weight guy loaded with money

“Jackky is here to earn respect and do quality work” – Vashu Bhagnani

who can buy a car every month or buy a villa each in Europe or the U.S. 90% of the people may think he's a guy with a bank balance so high that he can even try calling

Tom Cruise for a cameo, and 100% of the people definitely think that he's a guy who carries cheque book with him so he can sign actors and directors at will. Now, on

Teachers Day, let me give you some 'gyaan'. A Hindi Film Producer is much more than just having crores of rupees that need investing in a movie. The most essential

thing is goodwill amongst fellow celebrities. Yes, that's what Vashu Bhagnani's forte lies in - in putting together a strong team of director/actor and technicians. Money is

secondary! Since the mid 90s, this man has produced some of Bollywood's biggest movies. We can go in the repeat mode even today when we watch Biwi No 1, Coolie

No 1, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, etc. Last year F.A.L.T.U triumphed at the box office and marked his son Jackky Bhagnani's first hit. It's 2012 and come

October 24, the father and son duo are confident that they will follow it up with their next titled Ajab Gazabb Love. In a rare interview, Vashu Bhagnani opens up

about the changing times as a producer and the expected fate of his latest release.

'Boom Boom' is booming soon. We can't wait to hear the full track.
'Boom Boom' is yet another chartbuster track coming out this year from the makers of 'Chaar Baj Gaye Lekin Party Abhi Baaki Hai'. This week we are

going to open the entire song. Jackky has put his entire dancing experience in this song. I mean, when you see the making, you can sense the hard work that's gone into

creating 'Boom Boom'. The film is out during the Dusshera week, October 24, and you will only see it booming at the box office.

Will Ajab Gazabb Love be a single release?
We are mostly coming out with Prakash Jha's Chakravyuh. Let me tell you that both the films are miles apart in its genre. While one is a full on rom-com, the other

is a serious drama. Both are commercial in their own way. In fact, I've got my friend who's like a family to me in Chakravyuh - Arjun Rampal. Guess what? He's in

Ajab Gazabb Love too. People will see three Arjun Rampals in one day. He plays a double role in Ajab Gazabb Love (laughs). There is no competition here.

You've entertained us in the mid 90s so much with your association with Govinda. Has the definition of 'entertainment' changed over the years?
I feel audiences were on an entertainment high in the past. I've done so comedies in the past, few with Govinda too and people loved it. People see them on the television

even today. It was unadulterated entertainment. But now it's become difficult. To entertain people isn't anyone's cup of tea. Youth have become smart and talk sense and

the humor too has. So we need to keep today's youth in mind and make a film with the right sense of comedy.

Any special promotions to kick start Ajab Gazabb Love?
We have already released the teaser and the making of our hit track 'Boom Boom' and now we are going to start a promotion in ten days saying that second life is more

important than the first life you are living. It's what the main protagonist, Jackky Bhagnani goes through in the film and we all go through in our real lives. How I look at it

is that second life is always happiness. Your first life is born out of sheer helplessness and is boring. But your second life is the one you choose yourself. It's your wish. It's

that change. Ajab Gazabb Love is about that change.

What change have you seen in your own son Jackky Bhagnani?
Let me be honest and say this that Jackky's first film did not do well at the box office. It was a failure and we shouldn't be pointing fingers as to who was responsible for it.

But last year, Jackky jumped back with his first big hit F.A.L.T.U. He proved he was a talented actor too. The music of that film was a rage amongst the youth.

What's changed Jackky is his hunger for acting. His failure, his success and his experience put together makes him more responsible now. He has learnt from Sanjay

Gadhvi a lot, he has learnt from Priyadarshan too in Rangrez. It's about him being accepted by the audience. It's the directors who will take his true potential out at

the end of the day. Add to that, he is a fantastic dancer. His dancing has also improved. So a lot has changed for him.

But it's strange that Jackky has only worked with debutant actresses. Do we see him work with the likes of top actresses in the industry?
Of course yes, why not? He will eventually. Today people have become very cautious of the pairings. Too much and too little isn't good with anyone. After

F.A.L.T.U and the teaser of 'Boom Boom', the calls to cast Jackky opposite top actresses have started to come in. I have planned Jackky's fourth movie

too. But it can only happen after Priyadarshan's movie is finished, then starts Ajab Gazabb Love 2 and F.A.L.T.U 2. This will take a year in pre-production.

Jackky isn't here to just earn money. He is here to earn respect and do quality work.

With so much change in content too, do we see Puja Films come out with a surprise in their forthcoming announcements?
F.A.L.T.U was unexpected content coming out of Puja Films. With all new comers, it was a runaway success at the box office. No matter who is playing the lead or

what the content is, our true heroes is the audience. Every director has a script that they think is Sholay but it is only audience that makes it big. Jackky is my son

and I will make sure that content takes a front seat in his films. And I want to tell you that he is so serious about his work that as a father, I tell him to take it easy for a bit

but he is hell bent on treading his own path. I like that about him.

Sanjay Gadhvi is known as a director who loves action, thrillers, etc. This is his first comic outing. It's strange!
When I narrated Ajab Gazabb Love to Sanjay Gadhvi, he told me that he already had five scripts he was planning on developing. But he wanted to start Ajab

Gazabb Love first. He knew this would be the right time to make such a film, of course, besides being a South Indian remake, it's still niche in its own way. All my life I

have been inspired by South Indian Films. I made Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, Coolie No 1, Jeena Sirf Tere Liye. It's too early to say but I am remaking two more

South Indian Films into Hindi. Sanjay Gadhvi's strength lies in creating a whole new world in Hindi and it's actually tough to interpret the plot or the setting of any South

Indian Film in Hindi. Ajab Gazabb Love is something special for Sanjay Gadhvi and he knows that.