No one relies on the star cast value anymore, feels Jha
The last two years have been a clear indication that the audience is now more receptive to good content and does not even mind shunning films that have the industry’s heavyweights. And when we asked filmmaker Prakash Jha, who has worked with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, about this shift in dynamics, he only welcomes this change.
“People get stories, work on them, make it audiencefriendly and engaging. Sometimes, the subject will be centered around women, sometimes [it would be] something else. The good thing is that newer subjects are being made. Neither the audience nor the filmmakers are relying on ‘star cast’ value anymore. It’s good that there’s a window for every kind of film, to be exhibited,” shares Jha, who has directed films such as Apaharan (2005), Raajneeti (2010) and Aarakshan (2011).
So, is this the best time to experiment with contents especially for young filmmakers, who are coming up with new ideas? Jha says, “Of course. The scene is bursting with all kinds of content and there are also all kinds of platforms. Everybody is keeping busy with something or the other. Especially OTT platforms because there is freedom of expression and you can do all kinds of subject.”
The filmmaker’s (adopted) daughter Disha recently made her production debut with Fraud Saiyaan and the filmmaker says that he didn’t know of her plans to get into production until the last minute. “Meri baat koi sunnta hai kya? After school, she worked in every department [in films]. One day, I learned she is working in direction, then costume and then one day, I got to know that she was turning producer and has already built a company,” he quips. But Jha maintains that he will not go out of the way to help Disha in the industry. “Koi kissi ki zindagi bana thode sakta hai? Everyone has their own journey,” he signs off.