![Ram Gopal Varma](20ram.jpg)
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'I will not direct 20th Century Fox film'
Though Ram Gopal Varma produces the Urmila starrer.
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Subhash K Jha
One of the country's most adventurous and inventive director Ram Gopal Varma, is in love. "I love every frame of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas," he sighs. "The audience may not see the brilliant lighting and camera movement. But as a filmmaker, I can see the passion that underlines Bhansali’s work. I can say, unhesitatingly, that he is a far superior filmmaker than me."
Varma has quite a few developments in his career. "My production house has tied up with 20th Century Fox. But contrary to what was reported in the press, I am not directing the film. It will be directed by Sridhar Raghavan who, let me tell you, is really good, " says Varma.
Varma has cut a three-picture deal with 20th Century Fox. " I am the creative superviser while they deal with financing and marketing. I like the professional attitude of these guys, so I decided to collaborate with them."
Varma sees the corportization of the Hindi film industry as the next logical step towards the growth of the Mumbai film industry. "A corporate company like 20th Century Fox has inside knowledge about the workings of Hollywood. That makes them more professional and organized in their approach to filmmaking than us. At least, that is what I hope."
The director, who is currently busy with his next directorial venture, Bhoot starring Rekha, Ajay Devgan and Urmila Matondkar, thinks Mumbai's independent film producer would finally buckle under the corporate culture in filmmaking. "Between the star and the product, the producer is just a mediator raising money from various traditional sources. Today, 80 per cent of the films are released in deficit. Corporate houses are far more answerable to their investors. So their responsibility towards a film and a director would be far higher than an independent producer."
Incidentally, Varma is the first Indian producer to be approached by 20th Century Fox. Says the filmmaker, "They plan to make the Indian films that suit their image and palate. So far, their Indian branch has been releasing Hollywood films. Now, they are looking at Indian filmmakers who can make films on an international level. But that comes later. For now, I think their Indian films are for the Indian market."
Varma's film for 20th Century Fox is called Ek Haseena Thi (Once There Was A Girl). "Raghavan came to me with a script which had a terrific role for the female lead (Urmila Matondkar). Saif Ali Khan plays the male lead. It also stars Seema Biswas. It is an urban thriller. Raghavan is a very capable director. He made a 45-minute film on the serial killer Raman Raghav featuring Raghuvir Yadav. He has also directed some television serials."
Earlier, Varma offered Raghavan a chance to direct the Manoj Bajpai-Raveena Tandon starrer Shool but the newcomer turned it down, saying the subject was too cliched. Says Varma, "At that time, I was very upset with him. But I was impressed by his honesty and frankness. After Shool, I realised he was right. Apart from a great performance by Bajpai, I think it was completely cliched . Even Company... I wonder how it did as well as it did. I guess I do not stand by my films. I tend to stab all my films in the back."
When Raghavan came up with the idea for Ek Haseena Thi, Varma was all for it. "The film goes into production next month," he states.