This year marks 45 years since Karz directed by Subhash Ghai, starring late Rishi Kapoor, Simi Garewal and Tina Ambani released. The film was screened and celebrated at Bookmyshow's 2nd edition of the Red Lorry film festival.
The Quint spoke to the director about the films' low box opening when it released, his friendship with the late Rishi Kapoor, the effect of corporate culture on the industry, responsibility of filmmakers, need for the industry to treat films as a passion and not just as business, and more.
Ghai recalls attending late Rishi Kapoor's wedding to Neetu Kapoor and spoke about his friendship with the actor, "Rishi was very fond of me and so was I. In his last days, he said to me, 'I've done enough now it's time for me to go.' When I asked him why he said that, he replied that he knew it was his time to go.'"
"He respected relationships. If a film didn't work, he didn't let that affect his relationship. I don't remember him ever being late on sets or refusing to shot extra hours when requested," the filmmaker said.
When asked about what the industry could do to reinvent, the Taal director said, 'the industry must respect writers', "Making a film is a passion, but today making a film is a business. The communication that needs to exist between a filmmaker and the audience is missing today."
Talking about the way filmmaking has changed as an art, he said, "There needs to be a communication between the filmmaker and their audience. That is absent these days."
"Knowledge and information are easily available; there's no time to create something new. If you want to make a painting, or write a story, or make a song, there's AI. Earlier we would look at nature and let the music come from there. You need make technology a tool and not become a tool to technology. Your passion is business now, it needs to be art."Subhash Ghai, Filmmaker
Speaking of actors, the director said, "Actors are more interested in money today than the script. Earlier a superstar like Dilip Kumar would day, 'keep money aside and give me a good script' but today it's the opposite.
Watch the video for the complete interview.