Article Updated 05 December, 2002 10:24:14 PM IST   Interview: Rahul Dholakia, Director, Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar By Sanjay Shah, Tubur Media World ©2002 Bollyvista.com   From ads, award-winning documentaries like Teenage Parents and New York Taxi Drivers, Rahul Dholakia has come a long way in a fairly fast span. And that also includes the geographical distance. For, until now, his life's focal point was the US of A. He is a non-resident Indian and at the age of 35, he is making foray in the Bollywood. Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar (inspired by Meet The Parents) is his first full-length film and also the first Hindi film shot entirely in America. Presently, Rahul is in Mumbai overseeing his film's release. Bollyvista.com met the young maker at his Mumbai residence to know more about his film and future plans. Excerpts from an interview... What motivated you to make a Hindi film? I had a script and wanted to make a bilingual film in Hindi and English that required both Indian and American artistes. When I spoke about this to my producers, they suggested that, as we would be making a movie for the first time, better go for a subject that demands low budget. They asked if we could make a movie from this subject (of Meet the Parents) and I felt positive. And about making a Hindi film, though I was far away from India and Bollywood, they are never away from NRIs as they naturally miss India and our culture. I had contacts with Indian film personalities and all So, making a Hindi film was not an out of the way thing for me. How did you shape up things? Once the subject was selected, we started detailing the narrative. It was easy for us to create the character of Roger Patel (a motel owner Patel, played by Paresh Rawal) because we have many people like him in our surrounding in the US. I came to India in November 2000 and met my writer Raman Bhardwaj through my friend Jatin Rajguru. For two months, we worked day and night on the script before the first draft was ready. Then we started approaching people. I knew Paresh and when I narrated him the character, he immediately agreed to play it. After that, Jimmy Shergill, Kim Sharma and others were signed. What about the music? How Jatin-Lalit were roped in? As we were making a soft love story, we needed to go safe. Jatin introduced me to them. I was a bit nervous when we went to meet them. After all, they are in the industry since years. But my nervousness was evaporated the moment they welcomed me in their home. They agreed to compose the music and Sameer was signed afterwards. Interestingly, Jatin-Lalit have done even the background score for the movie, which they rarely do. You started your shooting on September 9, two days before the attack on WTC... Yeah. That day, we were shooting in Brooklyn at Mike Tyson's erstwhile house and someone came and said that a plane has pierced into the WTC. Initially, we did not know the gravity of it but once we saw on the television what has happened, we were all shocked. Some of us had their friends and relatives working there in the vicinity. Our morale was totally down and nobody wanted to work. But I ordered to keep the shooting on for the simple reason that there was no chance of stopping and going anywhere out. Also, I believe that involvement in the work always reduces tension. Nobody liked my say initially but then, things settled and people even complimented me for taking the right decision. Any specific reason for selecting Tyson's house as Roger's house? We were looking for some expansive and lavish kind of house to show it as Roger's house. One of my line operators suggested this house to me. We saw it and shot some scene there. The result was good and so we chose it. It was more expensive than what we had in mind. Though we had to follow many regulations there, it was a great experience. We had to cover the whole floor with cardboard all the time. We used to remove cardboards only from the specific part where the shoot was on. Throwing cigarette butts and eating in the bungalow was not allowed so we raised tents outside. How do you feel about India and its work culture...you have worked with Indian now... So far as my film is concerned, I was never troubled by any of my team member. We had got bulk dates and everything was pre-decided. Things really moved smooth till the end. But for India, I feel that the lack of commitment level is one big problem that hurts our prospects. For example, since I am living here, barring a couple of exceptions, nobody has met me on time. Not only that but people don't care to inform or apologise about delay. Without discipline, how can you expect to make it big for yourself or your country? We talk of Geeta's mantra Karmaney Waadhi Karastey but in practical, we behave like a big zero. There in America, people work hard for weekdays and party hard in weekends. Here, people work for even days a week and they party while working. That's not done. And I feel that Americans are not ruthless people the way world feels about them. By and large, they are emotional at heart and they give the due respect to all aspects of life. We have to adopt such qualities if we want to prospect. What kind of strategy being developed to market your movie? Marketing is not my cup of tea. But Sony is heavily involved in the marketing of the film. We have 25 DVDs of trailers for the film's promotion. We have also assigned PR work to a couple of PROs. And of the cast, we are going to promote Paresh Rawal more to attract viewers. The company Glamour is taking care of all kind of literatures and I must say they are the most professional people I have met here. When are you planning to release the film? Originally, we wanted to release it on June 14 but now we will see the market equations and the release of other films before deciding the final date. I feel that having find a right gap between two biggies or a clean Friday will help my film's box-office collection. And while even major films are collapsing at a blink, the release date plays a crucial role for any film. Would you like to say something to the viewers about your movie...like be why they should see it? I have made a movie from heart. From my servants to friends and family members, I have shown it to many people. Most of them have liked it and even said that it is an entertaining film. It's not a too brilliant or revolutionary in any way, but it is a feel-good, see-enjoy-love kind of movie. Picture dekhne ke baad achchha lagtaa hai, if that's what the viewer says, I will think two years' hard work for KHDBB has paid off. And finally, where Rahul is going post-KHDBB? Want to make more movies...but I don't know when and where. I have done my job. The other day my friend Sajid (Nadiadwala) was telling me, "Teri film jaldi dikha de...kyon ki film hit ho gayi to tu nahin milega aur flop ho gayi to main nahi milunga." (laughs)...Jokes apart, I don't know what I am going to make after this movie but I want to be in Bollywood. Who would like to leave it after investing two years in the business? Presently, I am working on a script but that's in a very primary stage. Then that bilingual script is also there. Let's see where the time takes me. For the moment, I am busy overlooking my film's pre-release matters. And that's it.   close   Print this Article http://www.bollyvista.com   http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/34/91