10 minutes agoAuthor: Ashish Tiwari/Virendra Mishra
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Today Subhash Ghai is celebrating his 80th birthday. On this occasion he talked to Dainik Bhaskar.
When Subhash Ghai came to Bollywood, he did not know that one day he would become the second ‘showman’ of cinema after Raj Kapoor. Subhash Ghai had tried his hand in acting before becoming a director. He participated in the United Producers Filmfare Talent Contest, in which apart from Rajesh Khanna and Dheeraj Kumar, Subhash Ghai was selected out of 5000 contestants.
Rajesh Khanna immediately got work in films, whereas Subhash faced many difficulties, but he did not give up. Subhash Ghai has given highest priority to his work in his career. Even after his father’s death, he continued shooting.
Today Subhash Ghai is celebrating his 80th birthday. On this occasion he talked to Dainik Bhaskar.
Read the story of Subhash Ghai in his own words…

After Raj Kapoor, Subhash Ghai became the second ‘showman’ of cinema.
Entry was not given in the studio
When I came after doing an acting course from FTI, people did not allow me to enter the studios. It was said that one can become an actor only through training. I was also asked to stand outside the studio. People used to say that I don’t have a film background, no one knows me. In those days I used to travel by train and bus. Used to wait for hours outside the producer’s office to meet him. There was a different struggle at that time.

The struggle in life never ends
There will be struggles at every step in your life. There were different types of struggles in the beginning of my career and today’s struggles are different. Today our struggle is to talk to the media. Life is a new battle at every step. When you start loving the struggle, the struggle will embrace you. Struggle will become habit and nature. Can win it easily.
Starting with a small role in the industry
When he came into the industry, he started his career with small roles. Did some big roles in ‘Aradhana’ and ‘Umang’. Also became a hero in 5-6 films. When I was acting, I realized the lines I was saying. That was written by someone else. The director is presenting me. Lighting, makeup and costumes are done by other people. Someone else is singing the song, I am just lip-syncing. I am being called a star. I am living in my illusion. I am just a part of that whole creation.
I was getting bored of acting
Performing art is a very big art. He also gets credit for this. I was always sad that why am I not in this creation side? Gradually he started getting bored with acting. Started writing his stories. I wrote 6-7 scripts. Gave scripts to top directors on which films were made. The 7th script was of the film ‘Kalicharan’. No one was liking that script. A producer liked it and asked why don’t you direct it yourself.

Even after becoming a director, Subhash Ghai was often seen in a glimpse in his films.
This is how I started in direction
I was waiting for this opportunity. I directed ‘Kaalicharan’. This film was technically and commercially a hit. From there a new career started as Subhash Ghai, but the kind of films I wanted to make were made only for festivals. I like Satyajit Ray’s films very much.
Then chose commercial film
After making ‘Kalicharan’, I was wondering what kind of films I should make – art or commercial. I thought that whatever films I do, I should do them with passion. I thought only about commercial cinema. I have tried to show art through that. For 30 years I have been going to the Cannes Film Festival every year. I watch festival films every time. My inspiration are great directors. I use his good words in my commercial films.
Even after success, market pressure remains
Even after making a successful film like ‘Kalicharan’, when I made ‘Karz’, there was market pressure. People were not able to understand what film had been made. ‘Karz’ did not last for two weeks. My friends used to say that this film is 10-15 years ahead. However later this film did well.

Wrote the story of ‘Jogger Park’ after coming from FTI
I wrote the story of the film ‘Jogger Park’ after coming from FTI. At that time art cinema was on my mind. A 65 year old retired judge falls in love with a 22 year old modern girl. At that time this thing was very shocking, but when the film was made in 2003, people liked it. I did not direct that film. I called FTI boy Anant Balani and gave him the film to direct. Similarly, the film ‘Rahul’ was given to Prakash Jha to direct. There were many subjects which I never directed myself.
Khalnayak was initially going to be made with a negative name.
The plot of ‘Khalnayak’ was initially ‘negative’. Initially I wanted to make this film with the title ‘Negative’. I was in America at that time. One of my friends Ashok Amit Raj advised me to make it in English. When I started working there, I realized that I could not work within the American system. I came back to India and thought of making it like art cinema.
Nana Patekar was approached for the film
Approached Nana Patekar for art cinema. At that time the story of the film was on the journey between Pune and Mumbai. The narrative of that story was different, but it did not have songs and music. There was only one song in the background. It was a very simple film in itself. When I narrated the story to the writer, he inspired me to make a commercial film.
Many stars wanted to play the role of villain
Many stars had shown interest in Sanjay Dutt’s character in ‘Khalnayak’. I wanted to cast someone who had the look of a lover, a murderer, a terrorist. I believe that the real acting of an actor comes out when he remains silent and his eyes tell everything. I could see all that in Sanjay Dutt, that’s why I chose him.
During the shooting, Sanjay Dutt even asked me why he chose me? I said that because this face is absolutely that of a villain. Remember, villain has both a hero and a villain.
People develop misconceptions without watching the film.
When ‘Khalnayak’ was released, a section of the society opposed it a lot. People started saying that Subhash Ghai was promoting terrorism. People called the song ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ obscene, but when the film was released, this song was called a classic song of Indian cinema. Even today this song is played extensively in many functions. Some people develop misconceptions without watching the film.

After 32 years, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar worked together in the film ‘Saudagar’. Before this, both were seen in the film ‘Paigam’ in 1959.
Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar were seen in ‘Saudagar’, people started saying that the film will not be made.
Hindi cinema’s legendary actors Dilip Kumar and Rajkumar were seen in the film ‘Paigam’ in 1959. In this film, Rajkumar played the role of elder brother and Dilip Kumar played the role of younger brother. In a scene of the film, Raj Kumar, being the elder brother, had to slap the younger brother Dilip Kumar.
During the shooting, Raj Kumar gave Dilip Kumar such a strong hand that Dilip Kumar became stunned. The shooting stopped. Dilip Kumar was so angry not with the injury but with Raj Kumar’s actions that he vowed never to work with Raj Kumar after this film.
32 years of enmity turned into friendship
When Subhash Ghai cast Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar together in the film ‘Saudagar’, people started saying that this film would not be made. Many filmmakers tried to bring Raj Kumar and Dilip Kumar together, but were never successful. Subhash Ghai said- I completed the shooting in 9 months and released the film on 9 August 1991. Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar had trust after hearing the story of my film. The two became friends during the shooting of this film.

Kept shooting even after father’s death
During the Indian Idol show, Subhash Ghai had told that even after his father’s death, he continued shooting. Actually, during the shooting of the song ‘Zindagi Har Ghadi Ek Nayi Jung Hai’ from the film ‘Meri Jung’, Subhash Ghai came to know that his father was unwell. When he reached the hospital, he came to know that his father had passed away. Even after this Subhash Ghai did not stop shooting. He reached the set again the next day to shoot the same song.
There was a rift with Shahrukh abroad
After the film ‘Trimurti’, Shahrukh Khan worked with Subhash Ghai in the film ‘Pardesh’. Subhash Ghai talked about Shahrukh Khan in Arbaaz Khan’s talk show ‘The Invincibles Season 2’. Subhash Ghai had said- I worked with Shahrukh Khan in ‘Pardes’. There was a rift between him and me. Our ‘tu-tu-main-main’ kept going on. After this film we never worked together again.
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