Success and failure are a part of filmmaking.
— Vijay Krishna Acharya
I like to direct what I write.
It irritates me to see people aping superstars.
Doing a remake is an open admission that, ‘boss, I don't have anything of my own.'
‘Dhoom' is a franchise that has a certain expectation from it.
In 2003, when I wrote the first 'Dhoom,' we were at the end of the curve of a certain kind of Hindi film, which was quite plastic. 'Dhoom' was unconventional then.
In 'Guru,' the business aspect is more of a layer and sub-text… to me, Harshad Mehta's story is a tragedy, a classic Greek tragedy, where the greed of a lot of people got attached to him.
We are a nation of film lovers, and films have often been a cultural glue that binds us all in a way that transcends geography.
Box office success is pertinent but the story has to have a life beyond the two hours.
Your film really needs to call audiences to theatres.
When you read the book, you paint the picture but when you adapt a book then the audience will, by and large, say the book was better and every filmmaker knows this.
I cannot make a superhero film.
If you are a part of a family, that family does not treat you badly when you are down, it supports you to revive.
I really miss Kanpur. I am very fond of the rasgullas of Ghosh Sweets. I miss strolling in Naveen Market and on Mall Road.
I want to do a comedy film.
Tashan' is not for the lily-livered.
I hoped 'Tashan' would be a clutter-breaker.
Commerce is in no one's hand and that should not be the only reason to make a film ever.
The pursuit system is an ideal way to shoot action sequences. It enhances the picturisation and captures the scene so well that the audience can feel the thrilling speed of the chase sequence in the film. 'Dhoom 3' is the first Hindi film to use this technique.
I come from theatre and I like the audition process.
My first film was more of a light-hearted chor-police drama. 'Dhoom 2' focused more on the love story of two unconventional people. 'Dhoom 3' too is different, I hope.
When we made the original 'Dhoom,' we wanted to make a film that would not bore us and wanted it to be just a breezy cool film.
For an Indian audience a double role promises twice the entertainment with somebody they enjoy watching on screen.
We are thrilled to see that audiences across age groups, across India are loving 'Thugs of Hindostan' and have made our film a part of their Diwali plans.
There could be more 'Dhooms' every couple of years. There are chances of 'Dhoom: 4' and 'Dhoom: 5,' if people want it.
You can't think of a franchise from day one. It starts with the audience accepting the idea.
I always like to give and present my actors in a different look.
I don't want to make a perfect film because perfect films are boring and cold.
I'm a hardcore reality lover. I love characters that people can relate with and yet a tinge of grey shade.
You come back with an actor for the second time only when you had a successful and creatively satisfying experience the first time round.
In 1986 I went to study at the Delhi University and that's where I took up theatre seriously.
I think Malta is great for a song. It's got very nice and narrow roads with beaches. So if you personally ask me, I would shoot action there. It can be very exciting since there's water all around and there can be boat chases. Even travel films like 'Before Sunset' can be shot there.
I remember cycling down in my hometown Kanpur twice in two days for eight kilometres to see 'Ardh Satya.' I loved its rawness at a time when everyone was doing potboilers.
I find it easier to tell someone what's in my head once it's on paper, rather than write with someone in mind.
As a filmmaker what you can hope to do is doing what drives you.
Many people want to be a part of this industry only because of its glamour. What they have to understand is that it takes hard work to make it big. Imitation and bootlicking won't get you through.
I am uncomfortable judging people, as we - members of the film fraternity - are judged more than anybody else.
Gandhi protested against restrictive policies. So did 'Guru.'
In an action film, you think of things that are almost impossible to do and yet you have to manage to show them as being possible on film.
Thugs Of Hindostan' involved a lot of prep to be able to make the character look effortless.
Thugs of Hindostan' is the quintessential Hindi movie that we love to watch with our friends and families.
I used Malta as a location to shoot a lot of my action sequences, and that's because we don't have the kind of setup that Malta Film Studios does. They have a world-class facility.
Attention spans are so limited and ticket prices so high. We're anyway in a business of manipulating emotions. But each film needs to be positioned truthfully so that people don't feel cheated.
Godfather' is based on a book and it is one of the best films.
People go to theatres to see newer things. Content should be the king.
I loved 'The Dark Knight.'
People seldom get the right platform or direction. I have seen a lot of people who did not get the right place to showcase their talent.
I always wanted to be in Bollywood and the first step towards that was by participating in school plays. I would get awards for my acting and that motivated me to get into Bollywood.
I like travelling a lot so in all my films, I take the location very seriously.
I'm a huge film buff. If it wasn't for Martin Scorcese, Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani, I wouldn't be here.
