"Box Office is not a good friend" - Rajkumar Santoshi 
By Devansh Patel, January 14, 2008 - 17:43 IST
Rang De Basanti, Chak De India and the more recent Taare Zameen Par are one of those very few films churned out from our Indian
film industry which have not only changed the way we make our films, but have also brought about a new revolution in the hearts and the minds of
the aam janta. Will Halla Bol, 2008’s first big release succeed, in creating the same impact? Will the film win more awards than just
rewards? And will the film work in the overseas market? Were just a few of the many rapid fire questions, I asked the fiery director Raj Kumar
Santoshi after he walked out of the star studded Mumbai premiere. So, after a major box office disappointment of his earlier film, Family - Ties of
Blood, in 2006, the director who is known to make bold and gutsy cinema is now back with a vengeance and is ready to Halla Bol.
Chak De India, Rang De Basanti and Taare Zameen Par have raised their voices against certain issues existing in the real life. Do you
think Halla Bol will also follow the same path?
Yes. The film really means 'to raise ones voice' or 'to protest'. Halla Bol is actually talking about raising of a conscience in the people to wake
up and see as to what's happening around them. To raise one’s voice is the major tool to fight against all the odds. Through Halla Bol, you can
protest and make the change happen.
Through Halla Bol, you can protest and make the change happen
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Did you face any fear, opposition or interference while making such a bold film?
Not really. The concept of this film isn't controversial but the truth, as they say cannot be stopped, it just has to be heard.
Sunny Deol's name will always crop up whenever your name is mentioned. Your first film Ghayal, then Damini and then Ghatak
were super hit films with him. Do you miss working with him?
I definitely miss Sunny. He is a good actor and a good friend. In the near future, there is a plan of doing a film with him.
What made you cast Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan in Halla Bol?
In our film industry, the only intense actor who could have done justice to this role was Ajay Devgan. He plays a simpleton from a small town who
struggles and becomes a major super-star. For that, his personality suited the role. We did not want a glamorous face and the moment we think of
that, Ajay's name comes first. The good thing about Vidya Balan is that after a long time in Bollywood, we have a face which looks like a traditional
middle class woman. Her role in the film is of a middle class woman who falls in love with a small town man and then becomes a wife of a superstar.
Vidya doesn't look like a girl next door but a woman next door and she was the undisputed choice for the role.
You are known for making films targeting the aam janata while not making the family entertainers. And with such co-incidence, your last
film Family - Ties of Blood did not work at the Box Office. To whom is Halla Bol targeted at?
Halla Bol is a film for the entire family. It's a family drama and a family story. The film talks about people and it's not an action film like my
earlier films. It's a very intense film which entertains and at the same time, highlights certain issues.
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The film talks about people and it's not an action film like my earlier films
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The overseas market totally depends on the Box Office results, no matter how good or bad the film is. Even the rating of individual films is given
top priority. Do you then make a film bearing in mind the overseas audience or the Indian audience?
The idea is to make a film for one and all. It is entirely up to the people to decide whether they like the film or not. Some prefer family dramas; others
prefer action, some romance, etc. I make films in which I believe in and have always made films which have brought about some kind of an issue in
front of the common public. Yes, Box Office results do matter for everybody. It helps you to make better films and gives you the motivation if your
film does well. Box Office, though, is not a good friend. It will only stand by you only in good times, not in bad ones.
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Box Office, though, is not a good friend. It will only stand by you only in good times, not in bad
ones.
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Andaz Apna Apna was a benchmark film in terms of its excellent one liners and quality humour used. So when are we going to see the
funny side of Raj Kumar Santoshi?
Hopefully very soon. There are some ideas which I'm working on and by the end of next year; I'll start working on the film.
What's next in the pipeline?
There is London Dreams which is on hold at the moment. Then there is a film on King Ashoka called Ashok - The Great, where Ajay is
playing the principal role of King Ashok and Bipasha is cast opposite him. And then I'm making Ramayan, where Kajol is playing Sita and Ajay
Devgan is playing Lord Ram.
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Awards are only encouraging if given by a good and an effective organization
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Do you believe in awards or rewards?
I believe in both. Rewards are the fact but awards are only encouraging if given by a good and an effective organisation which has some kind of
integrity and honesty in them.
Any message for today's youngsters who want to become tomorrow's super-stars?
I will tell them to listen to their conscience and not sell it.
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