Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Live
‘I don’t believe in this concept of film franchises’
Bollywood film-makers are cashing in on the popularity of film franchises, with sequels and multiple offshoots, but senior actor Rishi Kapoor doesn’t seem to be a fan of the trend. He says he can’t understand why people make a big deal of a film franchise. “I don’t believe in this concept called ‘film franchise’, because it’s the never the same character or actor or story in continuation. They’re just taking the name of the film and adding a part two or a part three, which I think is very unfair. It’s absolutely humbug, because it’s just a similar title with a different story, and in most cases, even a different cast. It’s like making a fool of the public,” he retorts. However, the actor is quick to blame box office numbers, which have become the main concern for producers and actors. “When one part has worked, film-makers bite the bait and release subsequent parts because they want business. The gamble is too big and nobody wants to lose. So, the match part is always a concern,” says Kapoor, adding that he has never done “a part one or part two of a film” in his 45year career. He says, “I’ve done 150-odd films so far, I am yet to work in any franchise.” Talking about the fuss around the ₹100-crore club, Kapoor says it wasn’t that prevalent in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but even then, films were ultimately all about arithmetic. He elaborates, “Films are not about trying to salvage humanity or trying to talk about high morals. It’s all about business. Within the framework of business, if you can say something good, it’s fair enough. If you can’t, I totally agree that money remains the primary thing.”
He adds that for actors, making money from films is making a living. “You can’t overlook why this ₹100crore club has become such a big deal. After all, films are made to make money. If that wasn’t the case, people would just be watching Doordarshan [channel]. Entertainment is a business, so I understand the pressure that makers go through to make their films work.”