Even after decades in cinema, filmmaker Priyadarshan admits the anxiety of a Friday release has never quite left him. Speaking to India Today about the evolving filmmaking landscape and his former assistant Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar films, the veteran director reflected on risk, conviction, and the art of learning on the job.
“Every time a film releases, I have tension for two days because the first two days are your test, whether you are right or wrong. Even after 40 or 50 years, I have the same tension for every release. I just want to know how people will accept it,” he said, referring to his upcoming film Bhooth Bangla, which is due to release on April 10.
Backing conviction over formulae
Priyadarshan pointed out that some filmmakers today are willing to push boundaries, even when it defies industry logic.
“Some people have guts. I’ve seen both kinds of people. One is Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who made Animal, and another is Aditya Dhar. I asked them, ‘What gives you the confidence to work on a four-hour film?’ They said, ‘It will work, sir.’ It’s against all the theory of a hit film. No producer will ever allow you to make a four-hour film, but the conviction of the director is the ultimate thing.”
“I never taught Aditya anything”
Reflecting on Dhar’s journey from assistant to director, Priyadarshan was candid about his role in shaping the filmmaker. Dhar had earlier assisted him on films such as Aakrosh and Tezz.
“I never taught Aditya anything, but he learned. That is the only way we can make films. I never went to any school, I just watched films and learned from masters. In the same way, Aditya I don’t know if I taught him anything, but by being with me, he learned by himself.”
What stands out is the filmmaker’s rare admission of both pride and humility. “He did things better than me, and that’s how Dhurandhar happened,” he added.
Dhurandhar 2 is currently smashing box office records across India. The film stars Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt and Rakesh Bedi in pivotal roles.
