Anubhav Sinha at ease with life after 'Dus'

New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Having climbed the ladder of success pretty fast, Bollywood filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who began his career as a music video director, is a happy man.

Sinha, whose original claim to fame was of a music video director with a Midas touch, has over the years done it all - written dialogues, directed films and has now turned producer.

"Making movies was my ultimate dream," Sinha told IANS.

"My first movie ('Tum Bin') was a hit, second ('Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai') wasn't, third ('Dus') was a hit and fourth ('Tathastu') wasn't. Fifth ('Cash') is under production and sixth is on paper. Seventh is being written and the eighth being ideated.

"I am happy. I am content as a director. There are ideas I would like to work on. I am putting the pieces together to make sure those ideas are translated into movies," Sinha said.

Apart from being creative, the director is using his business acumen to evolve full-proof programmes for his films.

"Yes, there are some tools that have been put into place - a production house, banking and presale infrastructure. Everything that it takes to make sure that the movie is 'made and seen'. And I agree that by the sound of it all, it appears that I have also turned a producer.

Sinha, an engineer, is known as a technical wizard like Mukul Anand in filmdom.

"Mukul has always been an inspiration. If anybody puts me in the same mould as Mukul, I feel extremely privileged, honoured and flattered. But honestly it is a learning process and will continue to be one.

"Yes, being an engineer does help. But very broadly on two counts - one, as an engineer your brain is formatted to think systematically. Two, you are not scared, apprehensive of new technology. Because as an engineer it is your job to create new technology."

Sinha says he doesn't give much importance to any genre, for him exploring and experimenting is essential.

"I started with film-based shows and soft love stories, went on to do an extremely dark story called 'Shikast' (TV series). After that I did a very 'Dus'-like show called 'Sea Hawks' (TV series), close to a hundred music videos and then 'Tum Bin'.

"Well, I don't know my forte. Right now I am in the process of exploring what I am good at. Exploring and being paid for it too."

Last year Sinha's multi-starrer "Dus" struck gold at the box office.

When asked if he expected the mind-boggling success of 'Dus', Sinha said: "It is a very strange feeling when you know your movie is going to be a hit and you are also praying that it becomes a hit. I mean a bizarre combination of conviction and the lack of it. Finally, god and the audience intervened and it was declared a success. I thank both for it."

Now, he is planning to make a sequel to "Dus" and part two is titled "Gyarah".

"Yes 'Gyarah' has been playing on my mind. Not because of the trend of sequels. But because it is a great business idea plus I have a story too.

His forthcoming film is "Cash" with Ajay Devgan, Riteish Deshmukh, Zayed Khan and Esha Deol.

"'Cash' is a comic book thriller. It is 'unrealistically real and realistically unreal'. It is fun. It is spectacular. It is a real popcorn movie. My expectation from the movie is that it is such a huge hit that I don't have to work after this."

Sinha admits he enjoys making multi-starrers.

"Surprisingly, my first movie was without a single star. Not because I didn't get one but because I never approached any. And today I have released a film with four stars, I am shooting one with four and planning one with six. Yes, I agree I do seem to like multi-starrers. It was never planned. It just happened. Such is life I guess.

"How do I manage it? I don't know yet. I just work hard and harder and the hardest and then if it goes wrong everyone knows that it was not my fault. It was God's design. And you don't meddle with that."

What is the difference in working with new-comers and the starry lot?

"'Starry lot' sounds slightly sarcastic. They are stars and they lead their lives in a certain manner. They demand it to be continuously like that. It is not important what they demand - it is how they demand that makes the difference between a good star and a 'starry sort'.

"Similarly, freshers are also of two kinds - easy ones and the difficult ones. I have dealt with both kinds in both categories. So, eventually, it boils down to the individual - fresher or star doesn't matter."

Sinha was planning to make a film with Bollywood's action hero Sunny Deol as a serial killer.

"Yes, I did narrate something like that to him - a serial killer and a cop. And I offered him the killer's role. Surprisingly, he got very excited. But then we did not take it further because we started working on another movie 'Airport'. It is a huge one so there is no mind-space to think of another one. But definitely in future."

Talking about his partnership with other production houses, Sinha said: "I am a part of two production houses. ASP White, which is run by my brother Anupam and me. And Seven Entertainment, which is owned by friend Anish and me.

"ASP White has a six movie deal with Percept Picture Company (PPC) and Que Sera Sera. It is an arrangement where Que Sera Sera and PPC will provide ASP White with financial and infrastructural support.

"While ASP White will be responsible to create the right projects with the right teams. The philosophy behind all these movies is driven by the joint conviction of all the three associates and are not driven by any traditional elements of marketing."

Will your production house focus on action thrillers or will it experiment with other genres too?

"The philosophy of both my production houses is - first, choose a story, second, choose a director and last but not the least - choose the right cast. There are no other considerations."

When asked about his future plans, Sinha said: "Six words and this will never change - 'Make Good Movies And Have Fun'."

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