Raaj Shaandilyaa is open to any criticism that helps him improve
Raaj Shaandilyaa, who started off as a writer, is elated with the response his directorial debut, Dream Girl, has received. But he admits that he didn’t expect this kind of response, as the Ayushmann Khurranastarrer has earned over ₹131crore at the box office so far. “I was confident about the script and knew it would do well. But I didn’t expect this kind of response from the audience,” says Raaj. Excerpts from an interview.
While the audience liked Ayushmann’s performance, some critics singled out that there was scope for improvement in the narrative...
There is always scope for improvement because there is no such thing as a perfect narrative. A joke that’s funny today may not be funny after a few years. We wanted to make a film that a family could watch together without feeling uncomfortable, because they were our target audience. We could have taken it a notch higher, but we chose not to. This film will remain funny even after a few years because our jokes are humorous and relatable.
Do you like to read reviews?
I am always open to constructive criticism — doesn’t matter where it comes from. We live in the age of social media where everything is shared online, so it’s hard not to read anything. Everyone has their own opinion and they’re entitled to it. Praise is hard to get and criticism is hard to forget. So, I choose to remember constructive criticism that helps me broaden my understanding.
What do you consider your strength as a director?
My strength is getting the best out of any actor. Every actor has his or her own quality. So far, I’ve mostly done comedy as it’s my comfort zone. I’d like to explore other genres.
Do you enjoy writing over direction?
I enjoy both. Writing allows me to make new characters and direction gives me the opportunity to envision them. Also, in 2013, I held the record in the Limca Book of Records for having written 625 comedy scripts.
How have things changed for writers in the industry in terms of publicity, remuneration, etc.?
I have always believed that whoever they are, they deserve their fair share of credit and remuneration. I’ve made sure that my writers are credited and get paid well.
I have always made sure that my writers are credited and get paid well. RAAJ SHAANDILYAA ACTOR