SPECIAL INTERVIEW: “I have let my acting talent take a backseat and devote my time and bloom more as a writer and director” Says KARAN RAZDAN

In this exclusive interview for bollyy.com and Mayapuri, writer-director-actor KARAN RAZDAN tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that he would love to show his latest film Hindutva not only to our beloved Prime Minister Modiji but also our MLAs and MP’s, because he is confident that he will make everyone who watches it become very proud of being a core Indian at heart.

Can you describe what exactly your latest film Hindutva is all about?

I’d say that my latest film Hindutva is a story of today’s youth. It sets out to explore the depths of Hinduism through its principal characters. In short it is an entertaining film on friendship, love and also student politics.

Are you skeptical and worried that your film will create controversies?

What is the harm if I title my film Hindutva? I feel that every film, whether dead or alive, will create controversy. If it hurts the viewer by questioning his beliefs, I will succeed in creating injury and thus invite controversy. It depends on what you sow. If you sow a seed, it will flower and if you sow a bomb, it will explode.

What is the star cast of your film Hindutva?

My film Hindutva stars Bharat Shastri, Sonarika Bhadoria, SameerSiddique, Dipika Chikhlia, Anup Jalota, Govind Namdeo, Surmeet, Agast Anand and last but not the least Ghulam Rasool.

What message do you want to drive home though your film?

Till today, most of the people have only exploited and politicize the word Hindutva. They say Hindutva seeks to harm people. If someone says that he is a Hindu, people question his secular credentials?

Why do they not question a guy from a minority religion similarly? Are Hindus radicals? In short, my film is also a love triangle story and has a pertinent message of its own

Like Vivek Agnihotri titled his film The Kashmir Files, did you not register your film’s title as The Hindu Files?

I titled my film as Hindutva way back three years ago with the IMPPA. Why should I have title my film a The Hindu Files?

This is only the first part of my franchise; because Hindutva is too long to be condensed into one single chapter and my film will not be compete with just one part

Would you like to show your film to political leaders like our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi?

I would love to show my film not only to our beloved Prime Minister Modiji but also our MLA sand MP’s, because I am confident that my film will make everyone who watches it very proud of being a core Indian at heart.

Your good old actor friends Anupam Kher and Satish Kaushik have been a part of almost every film directed by you till date. How come both do not figure anywhere in the star cast of your latest film Hindutva?

Unfortunately there was no big role that I could ask my dear friend Anupam to play in my film. As far as Satish Kaushik is concerned, I felt that because of the age factor, he would not fit into the film as he just does not suit any of the characters that we have.

Though you are an actor on your own right, with TV serials like Rajni way back in the 80’s, why are you not acting in your film Hindutva?

I am in my comfort zone as a writer and director and acting does not at all figure in the scheme of things. I thought if only my singer Master Saleem did not report for the shooting of his song, I’d take his part and act in it but then he did turn up for the shoot in time and hence I did not face the camera for my film.

OK, Karan. Why did you let your acting talent take a backseat and bloom more as a writer and director in the first place?

As an actor, I did not feel complete and had left acting a long time ago. I will give you one example.

If you have a restaurant where you sell vada and pao, you should not offer to the customers also Chinese dishes at the same time because there is bound to be a clash of interests and your business will also end up suffering a lot.

How many films have you made till date?

Till date, I have made as many as 50 films out of which 25 are incomplete and lying still in the cans. I ended up directing only 6 films.

Which are your five vest films out of the lot?

Roshni was one of my best films till date not only as a director but also as a writer but due to a dispute between the producers the film has not yet been released.

Then there is my film Mittal Vs Mittal which is perhaps the only film made in India on marital rape till date. Then comes Girl Friend, followed by Bhatti Aur Chutti and last but not the least my latest Hindutva.

Which are the filmmakers who have impressed you a lot over the years?

I’d say that I had grown up watching the films made by Subhash Ghai and Goldie saab who have left an indelible impression on me as filmmakers. I have also been greatly inspired by a filmmaker like Manoj Kumar.

I have also been impressed a lot by directors who have taken on my scripts, like Shekhar Kapoor, Harry Baweja and last bit not the least the late Mukul S. Anand.