Heyy Babyy! Here’s the man who makes cinema halls run ‘Housefull’ with his masaledaar entertainers and now is all set to his present his new generation ‘Himmatwala’... Blockbuster Director Sajid Khan opens up on everything with IndiaGlitz - his movies, his lead hero Ajay Devgn, action genre, direction and lots more...

Is remaking a film easier than making a new film altogether?

Himmatwala is one of my top five favourite Bollywood films and I’m very fortunate that my name is associated with the movie. The film is a rewrite and not a remake. The essence of the original Himmatwala is there in my version, but my treatment is completely different. The three most important aspects of the film, which are the opening act, the centre act and the finale, are completely different. The scenes and the characters in my version of the film are completely different. I am sure the makers of the 1983 musical blockbuster will also enjoy my film.

Why did you decide to rewrite Himmatwala?

When I sat down to write this film I realised that these kinds of films were prevalent only during the 1980s. There was over-the- top heroism, the protective brother, a mother giving fiery dialogues to the villain... That kind of film hasn’t been made in many years. The number one dramatic scene was between Amitabh Bachchan and Nirupa Roy in Dewaar, which was made way back in 1975. We don’t see such scenes. This is why I decided on making this film.

Since you say the film is a rewrite and not a remake, was it necessary for you to buy the rights of the old Himmatwala?

I realised after I finished my first draft that it wasn’t necessary. But the producers of the film had already purchased it.

How did you decide on the changes to be made in the original film?

The basic essence of the film is the same; at the same time I have added my style of comedy, action and drama. My film’s hero is white and the villain is black. There are no shades of grey. It’s almost like a fairy tale. I have added some nuances like slightly over-the-top acting, typical filmy scenes between mother and son, which today’s youth would not have experienced. There is also saas-bahu kind of drama, which I have attempted for the first time. I like action but not violence in my films. I don’t add things to sensationalise my films. I don’t even put anyone into a costume that shows cleavage if it is not required. I make films that all members of the family can watch together. My films are like role model films for the censors.

You say that at times the humour in your films is very stupid; how do you feel when you read the comments made by the critics?

I’ve not read a single comment or review of any of my films. I’m not on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking site. It’s not because I’m scared; it’s just that I don’t want critics to tell me what they feel about my film unless I have asked their opinion. I only believe in one thing: that if my film is good, the box office collections are going to speak for it. Truth and fact are two different things. Most of the time truth is manipulated in our industry. There are so many times that things that you read in the newspapers are all PR (public relations) tactics to make people believe in something. Fact will always remain fact. My films fetch good money and at the same time people say that they enjoy watching my films, and that’s a fact!

Do you think the audience today wants to watch the kind of melodramatic films that were made in the 1980s?

Thanks to Ekta Kapoor, melodrama has been kept alive. It has only moved from films to television. I am sure it will work in films if it is shown right. Hindi films are all about storytelling. Arguably the greatest living director today is Rajkumar Hirani. His storytelling is so simple. Films like Kahaani or Vicky Donor were simply all about storytelling.

Sridevi, who acted in the original film, said in an interview that Himmatwala shouldn’t be remade as it is not a Mughal-E-Azam.

Sridevi became a star because of Himmatwala. I think that Himmatwala is no less than Mughal-E-Azam for her. It made her household name. At the same time, it is her point of view and she has every right to say what she feels about the remake.

Did you speak to Jeetendra or Sridevi before you started shooting?

I personally don’t know Sridevi so I didn’t speak with her. I had a word with Jeetuji (Jeetendra) two days before I started shooting the film. He was glad to know that I’m directing the film and said that I was the right person to make the film as according to him I understand this genre very well. He also blessed me.

Chashme Baddoor is another film that has been remade. Rakesh Bedi, who was part of the original film, recently said in an interview that the directors call their remakes a ‘tribute’, but he feels that they just don't have original content.

He is not completely wrong when he says that. To be frank, the industry doesn’t have any good writers. There are very few writers today who can write good scenes or a dialogue. Most writers today want to become directors, which is not wrong. The quality of writing prevalent in the ‘70s and ‘80s is certainly missing today.

Where are today’s Salim-Javed and Kader Khan? We still remember the dialogues of the films from the ‘70s and ‘80s?

I’m not saying that I am a great writer, but I am blessed that my experience of watching cinema and my understanding of it has helped me write some good stuff.

All your films have featured Akshay Kumar. Why did you decide to cast Ajay Devgn in this film?

You’ve not seen Ajay like this before. I’m 100 per cent confident that Ajay ki entry pe aapke ticket ka aadha paisa vasool ho jayega (on Ajay’s entry half the money spent on the ticket will be recovered). You don’t get to see a heroic entry like in the films that were made earlier. I think only Salman Khan gets a good entry today. If 80 per cent of the audience in a theatre don’t whistle and clap during Ajay’s entry, then I’ll change my name. It will be one of the top three hero entries in Hindi cinema.

And how did you decide to zero in on Tamanna as the leading lady?

There were certain things that I wanted to stay true to. I wanted someone like Sridevi, who back in 1983 was unknown all over India, but a big star down south. Tamanna was the perfect choice. I wanted only Amit Kumar to sing Naino Main Sapna or else I wouldn’t have recorded that song. I wanted to release the film in March because 30 years ago the original film was also released in March. I am also a little superstitious and my mahurat shot is a one-take shot which goes in the film.

After three back-to-back hits (Heyy Baby, Housefull and Housefull-2) is there pressure to deliver another hit?

Himmatwala will be a super hit and my next after that will also be a super hit. When I say my films will work at the box office, people feel I’ve lost it and bec