Jaipur, Aug 31: Ram Gopal Varma`s film ‘Aag’, which
has made rounds of courts for infringing the rights of the
blockbuster ‘Sholay’, opened up to a mixed response on Friday.
Talking about this much anticipated film, Ramu makes no qualms to say that his film is not a copy of the cult-classic `Sholay`.
"I always make films on ideas I like and I believe. I
think every filmmaker should do this. Aag is not the copy of
Sholay," Varma told reporters here.
"I made ‘Aag’ because I have tremendous respect for
‘Sholay’. But, in my film everything is original and different
from ‘Sholay’, be it is its characters, storyline, dialogues or
the sequences, said the producer-director.
Inspite of a number of problems faced by the unit in making the
Film, including the title of the film which had to be changed owing to a legal row, Varma managed to complete it. "I believed in this film
and I have made it," Varma said proudly.
On `Aag` having only two saleable names Amitabh Bachchan, who plays gangster Babban Singh and Ajay Devgan who plays Heero, Varma quipped, "tell me how many saleable names I had in my
film ‘Satya’ or even in ‘Company’, still these films clicked. So,
saleable names are only there to woo the distributors to sell
the film. But if your story telling is nice, never mind you
have a star or super star in the film, you will get
appreciation.”
Backing newcomer Prashant Raj, who plays Raj, a character originally played by Amitabh Bachhan in ‘Sholay’, Varma said “I think this boy
who played the character of Raj has done a superb job and I
hope his character would be remembered for a long time.
Despite the fact that he has shared camera with Amitabh
Bachchan and Ajay Devgan, still he has effortlessly enacted
his role.”
Talking about the character of Gabbar Singh played by late Amjad Khan in the original, Varma admits that Khan had performed it very well and his role was
more than excellent.
Yet Varma feels Amitabh Bachchan as Babban Singh has done a
great job, especially if it is compared with the technology available in
today`s films, make-up and performance. “If you ask me as a
normal cinema goer who had now watched both films, I would say
Bachchan as Babban Singh is good. No other actor could do this
role except him", said Varma.
Discussing the unforgettable dialogues of ‘Sholay’, Varma said that he feels his film ‘Aag’ also has a “few” lines which would be remembered for a long time.
While most people like to believe that Varma does not
care what response his films get at the box office or what critics say about his film, in context of ‘Aag’, Varma admits box office is important.
"Some of my films got rave reviews but did not do well at
the box office. In cinema a big money is involved from a
producer, a distributor, a cinema hall to a cinegoer... it is a
chain. I have tried my level best to get good response," Varma said
Looking at his last film ‘Nishabd’ which bombed at the box office, it seems this time Varma is keeping his fingers crossed. “No filmmaker can ensure in advance that his film
would do well, all what he can do is make a film, rest all
depends on the audience,” he added.
Meanwhile, Varma is also looking forward to `Sarkar 2` which stars Bachchan trio Amitabh-Abhishek-Aishwarya.
Bureau Report
