Interview with Dev Anand
Srinivas Ganti
before its release.
SG.
http://www.screenindia.com/20010413/fcover.html
http://www.screenindia.com/20010413/fcover1.html
Cover Story
Dev Anand: Once More
"I have never had problems raising money"
Censor is finally ready. Today how do you feel about what you once described
as your "most challenging, controversial, enlightening and entertaining
film"?
I feel like an anxious father. These last few months have been dedicated to
bringing this baby into the world. Like any father I'll be thrilled if it
turns out to be a beautiful child, loved by everyone. But I won't go into
depression even if the baby turns out to be a disappointment. For me Censor
will always be the baby I conceived with a lot of love. A baby I was
responsible for till the day it took birth. Once it's entered the world it's
on its own. I'm already onto my next two films. The scripts are ready. I've
shot for one on New Year's day in New York. Censor is history. If it
succeeds it'll give me the energy to make 10 more films. But even if it
doesn't I'll still make 10 more films.
Why did you decide to risk making such a controversial film when other
film-makers are playing safe with escapist fare?
I've been thinking of making a film on censorship for a long time. I wanted
to tell the world what I thought about censors and of censorship in a free
and democratic country like India. My friends told me I was playing with
fire but I thought it was time I took up the issue. I've had my problems
with the censors so I had a fair idea of what the issue was all about.
Through this film I want to educate my countrymen about an issue that has
raised so many hackles in the past. It is a timely and topical subject. I'm
very optimistic!
Was the film the result of your bitterness and frustration with the censors?
What has been the industry's reaction to the film?
I have had my ups and downs with the censors. There have been some major
storms. I've refused to compromise so many times because I believe in what I
make and I will always fight people, whether its the censors or other higher
authorities, who want to crush my ideas. The subject of censors and
censorship has been haunting me for years but the film was not born from
bitterness and frustration. I don't believe in harbouring such negative
feelings. As for the industry, I don't really care what people have to say.
I make my films and leave them to the audience to judge. I know a few people
will talk. Logon ka kaam hai kehna. But why should I worry? I don't
plagiarise. I don't depend on Hollywood for my muses. I depend on only Dev
and Dev can go on without worrying about success or failure.
Did you expect the film to have such a smooth passage with the censors.
Reportedly the Central Board of Film Certification has passed the film with
a U/A certificate and just five minor cuts?
I've been familiar with the whims and fancies of the censor board for the
last 50 years, but I've made the film without any intentions of hurting
anyone. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised when the members of the censor
board afer the screening came out and congratulated me for making a
reasonable film. I'm happy they've passed the film with so few cuts. I'd
been prepared to put up a fight if they had mauled my film. I'd even been
prepared to move court because this film is very precious to me.
What was it like handling 30 stars?
Not too difficult. My film needed stars. If a newcomer said things about
censorship even if what he said made sense, few would listen to him. But if
a Raj Babbar, Amrish Puri, Rekha or Hema Malini said the same things I was
sure they'd get a hearing. I explained this to the stars when I approached
them for my film and they were ready to work in it. They came here to my
penthouse to meet me and were willing to do any role without even expecting
to be paid. Of course, I paid all of them. Even Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar
sang a song in my film for which she accepted only a token payment of Rs
51,000.
You are a star maker and have introduced several newcomers down the years.
What do you think of the newcomers who will be making their debut in Censor?
Can we hope to see another Zeenat Aman or Tina Munim?
It's unfortunate that few big filmmakers have the guts to make films with
newcomers. They count on stars everytime but tell me, what guarantee do you
have that these stars who demand crores will bringing in the audience? Many
of them can't even bring 30 people to the theatre on the first day. So isn't
it better to give a chance to newcomers craving for an opportunity to prove
themselves? In Censor I'm introducing four newcomers- Heeni, Mohini, Raja
and Vinay. They are good but they have a long way to go. They will have to
work very hard. I've done the best for them. Now it is all in their hands.
Why are you premiering your film in London?
I'm having two premieres in London and one each in Birmingham and
Leicestershire. My friends have been urging my to have a premiere in London
and this time I've decided to indulge them.
At a time when the industry's going through a cash crunch how do you manage
to find finance for your films so easily despite the fact that in recent
times you've haven't had a commercial hit?
Why don't people mind their own business but since you ask, I don't have
problems raising money because most of it is my own money. I don't spend on
other luxuries, whatever I earn I put back into my films. I don't charge for
my films and since I have my own studio where all the post-production work
is done, I can also cut back on expenses like sound recording and dubbing. I
don't usually borrow money but when I do I keep my promise and always return
the money on time. Perhaps that's why I have at least three financiers or
other money-lending agencies coming to my penthouse everyday to ask if I
need any kind of financial help. I usually say, "No, thanks."
What's your next release?
Jana Na Dil Se Door. I usually don't do outside films but this one is for my
brother, Goldie. I hope Goldie he returns to form with this film.
Navketan has just completed 50 years in show business. What do you think the
future holds for your banner?
Come hell or hell fire neither Navketan nor the film industry will come to
any harm as long as man craves for entertainment.
More On Dev
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Dev Anand: Once More
A film offer at Churchgate station
One day Dev Anand was dashing down Churchgate station, determined to jump
into the first class dabba of a local train that was leaving the station in
just a few minutes. He suddenly stopped short when he heard someone calling
out his name. That someone was Shaheed Lateef. He asked Dev what he was
doing. Dev who had just completed three films for Prabhat including his
debut film, Hum Ek Hain, none of which had done too well, confessed that he
wasn't doing much. Shaheed's wife, Ismat Chugtai who was sitting besides him
nudged him and told him to ask Dev to drop in at Bombay Talkies the next
day. Dev did and was immediately taken to the studio boss, Ashok Kumar who
was looking for someone to cast opposite Kamini Kaushal in Ziddi which
Lateef was directing. That somone turned out to be Dev Anand. The small,
black-and-white film released in 1948, was a superhit and put Dev on the
road to stardom.
Navketan was launched to launch Chetan Anand
For years Chetan Anand had been quite happy teaching English Literature at
Doon School. But eventually he tired of the job and moved from Dehradun to
Mumbai. He had the script for Afsar but who would give him a break. Dev
decided he would. After all it was his big brother who had brought him to
the city of dreams in '43 by Frontier Mail when he had told him he wanted to
be someone big, and introduced him to his friend, the famous novelist, Raja
Rao. It was through Raja Rao that Dev met Khwaja Ahmad Abbas who got him a
role in an IPTA play, Zubeida. For his screentest for Hum Ek Hain, Dev
rattled off some lines from Zubeida and landed himself his first film.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, Dev decided the time had come for him to
pay back his elder brother.
He signed two films with Madubala, Nadaan and Nirmala and with the Rs 10,000
that he got as advance he launched his own banner, Navketan. Nav meant new
and Ketan was banner and also the name of Chetan's first born. Navketan's
first production was Afsar starring Dev and Suraiyya. The film was the Anand
's first brush with the censors. They objected to one of the scenes where
Dev kisses Suraiyya's eyes. They insisted on the scene being scissored.
Chetan Anand objected vehemently and after a lot of deliberation the censors
gave in and the film was passed without any cuts. However, even the "kiss"
couldn't save the film and Afsar sank at the box-office.
Baazi was made to keep a promise to Guru Dutt
One day during the making of his first film, Hum Ek Hain Dev Anand walked
into Prabhat Studio and instantly spotted a young man wearing his shirt.
When he walked up to him and asked him about the shirt, the man confessed
that it was not his. His dhobi had delivered Dev's shirt to him that morning
and left his shirt at Dev's. This mix-up over the shirts lead to a
friendship that ended only with Guru Dutt's untimely demise.
Like Dev Anand Guru Dutt also started his career with Prabhat Films. He was
an assustant of Vishram Bedekar who made historicals. He also did bit roles
in Prabhat Films and choreographed some of the songs. The friends were
bonded by a common dream. Dev wanted to become an actor and Guru Dutt a
director. Dev promised him that if ever he made a film Guru Dutt would
direct it. And Guru Dutt promised Dev that if ever he made a film, Dev would
play the lead in it. After Afsar Dev decided to keep his promise to his
friend. He invited Guru Dutt to direct Navketan's next film, Baazi. This
Dev-Geeta Bali starrer based on a script written by Balraj Sahni, was a big
hit and established Navketan and made Guru Dutt a successful director. Guru
Dutt repaid the favour nad kept his side of the bargain too by casting Dev
in his first film as producer, CID. This film too set the cash counters
jingling.
Taxi Driver was the scene of a hush hush marriage
It was on the sets of Baazi that Dev Anand first met Mona (Kalpana Kartik).
Chetan Anand had spotted her at Simla's St. Peter's college. She was signed
for a parallel role in Baazi. Dev had just broken up with Suraiyya and was
heart-broken. He found a sympathetic friend in Mona and sometime during the
making of the film, friendship turned to love. It was a hush-hush romance
and not too many people knew that Dev was courting Mona. Even fewer knew of
their plans to marry during Taxi Driver. Even Chetan Anand who was directing
the film was kept in the dark. But his room was used to keep the registrar
waiting. While the lights were being set for a shot, Dev and Mona quietly
sneaked into the art directpr's room, called the registrar there, and signed
the papers making them man and wife.
Zeenat lit a cigarette for Dev and got Hare Rama Hare Krishna
When Dev Anand started working on Hare Rama Hare Krishna he toyed with the
idea of casting Mumtaz as his sister, Jasbir or Janice, in the film. Mumtaz
was appalled when he approached her with the role. "How can I play your
sister?" she argued. "After Tere Mere Sapne Will anyone accept us as brother
and sister?" Dev realised that she had a point and cast her as his Nepali
sweetheart in the film and started scouting around for a girl who could play
his sister.
He saw Zeenat at producer Amarjeet's party. She was Miss Asia and Dev was
immediately drawn to her. When the introductions were being made she offered
Dev a cigarette. When she lit it her eyes lit up too. And Dev immediately,
instinctively knew that he had found Janice. The rest is history