In 2010 Karan Johar produced a film called I Hate Luv Storys, so does that mean he actually hates love stories? Of course not! In fact, he’s someone who loves love stories.
I hate Bollywood as much as I love it! For every star who comes late for an interview there is a superstar who comes on time. For every actor who doesn’t answer my questions properly there is someone out there who answers them with full honesty and adds value to the interview. For every bore who is unwilling to give an interview there is an entertainer who is excited to do my interview. So I have enough reasons to love AND hate Bollywood!
Let me give you five reasons why I HATE Bollywood, to get the ball rolling:
1) Stars are always running late.
Why? I have no damn idea! And it’s not a one off case, most of them are always running late. Be it Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan – I have waited for hours to interview them. I have interviewed Hollywood stars and they are in the interview room before you’re in there yourself. I have interviewed stars down south as well and they are always on time. It’s the will to be on time that’s missing! If a star wants to reach a particular place on time I don’t think anything can stop them!
2) Critics don’t matter to me.
This obviously sounds like a BIG FAT LIE! Yes, they don’t matter when the reviews are bad but they do when a critic praises the film and the star’s performance. When the reviews are bad, only audience reaction matters to them. “We make a film for the people not for 10 critics!” We have heard that countless times!
3) Don’t talk about it …
Just before you are ready to record the interview you will be told by someone that the star will not talk about a particular issue and mostly that’s the news point. If they do not wish to talk about it, that’s fine but I feel the solution is quite simple if the star doesn’t want to talk about something they can just say it on camera, “I do not wish to talk about this.” Any decent journalist will back off, but why stop the journalist from doing their job in the first place? Aren’t they smart enough to handle one question they don’t wish to answer?
4) The One-sided relationship!
This happens with many stars – male and female. They are in touch with journalists, they reply to them but only when it works for them. They give interviews when their films release which I understand and of course it works for the media too, but that’s the time they want to speak. Try chasing a star for an interview at a time when YOU want to do an interview, and usually they’re busy. They won’t even have the courtesy to reply because at that point it doesn’t work for them. But when they want to talk about something I doubt a journalist will say no or not reply. Mutual respect is missing.
5) Self-Publicity.
Do stars and filmmakers need to pay for articles? Do they really have to lobby for awards? We may think they don’t have to do any of this but they do all of this for some reason best known to them. Some male and female stars will attend the award function only and only if they are getting an award. They may win the award in front of a huge crowd and then hold the trophy and give interviews but I wonder – when they go back home and keep the trophy in their room – does it look like a trophy that they have won?
Now Five things I absolutely LOVE about Bollywood!
1) Bollywood Stars are the first to stand up for a good cause in times of crisis.
Whether there is an earthquake or tsunami or medical help is needed where there is a situation, most Bollywood stars are always there to help. In fact they usually go out of their way to support a good cause.
2) A few stars like Amitabh Bachchan respect you, your profession and your time.
He comes on time, which is absolutely fantastic! If he agrees to do an interview with you then he will sit patiently and answer all your questions. Never has his manager walked up to me to tell me to not ask something nor has he lost his cool when I have asked him something he didn’t wish to answer.
Mr Bachchan agreed to launch my book. The time I was given was 8:30pm on 22nd January and he walked in at 8:20 p.m. spent 40 minutes altogether and even did a Q&A in front of a live audience.
3) One Big Family!
No I am not saying Bollywood is one big family, it’s not! A film unit is a big family and that’s lovely to see when you are on a set. Everyone has a responsibility and they do it from the bottom of their hearts. Be it a spot boy, light man or a star, they all love their jobs and they work together. The unity on most film sets is quite visible. In fact, filmmakers like Karan Johar, Rohit Shetty, Sooraj Barjatiya are known to take very good care of their cast and crew members. This is what Salman Khan once said about Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is known to lose his fuse on his sets, “I saw Sanjay Leela Bhansali yelling, and apparently he does that quite a lot. I had to tell him and I did – ‘Sanjay, you must hang around with Sooraj Barjatya. And just see how he directs’.” So clearly everyone likes love and harmony on set!
4) They appreciate genuine talent.
Rajkumar Hirani is the best example of this. Each and every filmmaker has gone on record to say how much they love Raju Hirani as a person and his films. No one wishes ill for this filmmaker. In fact, everyone praises him at any given opportunity.
5) Work Hard, Party Hard.
This is one clear mantra that everyone in the industry follows. Be it Eid or Diwali or just a success bash for a film, they don’t miss an opportunity to get with close buddies within the industry and have fun!