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Mahesh Bhatt: ‘Since Raaz, we’ve primarily worked with new actors’
Updated On: 30 July, 2024 06:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Having presented Avika Gor of Balika Vadhu fame in a different light in Bloody Ishq, producer Mahesh Bhatt on why he doesn’t rely on star power to deliver a success
Avika Gor (right) features in Mahesh, Vikram and Krishna Bhatt’s film
Considering the fact that web releases are consumed by cinewatchers at a time that’s most convenient to them, the OTT boom has eased the stress related to a ‘Friday box-office performance’. But the day of his film’s release is still a euphoric one for Mahesh Bhatt, who has spent decades keeping tabs on the opening numbers of his movies. Bhatt’s Disney+ Hotstar production Bloody Ishq, which aired on the platform on Friday, opened to mixed reviews. What makes the offering particularly special, however, is that it marks a prominent commercial release for actor Avika Gor, who acquired immense fame as a child actor for her role in the teleshow, Balika Vadhu.
The casting, though unusual, is not a surprising move, given the fact that Bhatt has consistently invested in actors instead of ‘stars’. “[Late producer] Rajkumar Barjatya told me something vital during [the filming of] Saaransh [1984]. I was in search of a producer for the film. Sanjeev Kumar was a dear friend. People had assumed that Sanjeev would lead the film while Anupam [Kher] would be the second lead. But Anupam insisted that he lead it. He [spoke with] passion, and I agreed. When Sanjeev saw the film, he admitted that he wouldn’t have been able to do what Anupam did. Mr Barjatya told me, ‘You pick the actor you believe in, kyunki, ultimately, chalti toh picture hi hai’. Today, Anupam has done 500 movies, and Saaransh was a defining one for him. Since the release of Raaz, we have predominantly worked with new people. When the hoopla passes, the movie stays with you,” says Bhatt, lamenting that today, producers choose to invest in stars to make a project “safe”. Calling the new breed of movie-makers “risk averse”, he says, “Moneybags know that star power makes a project safe. But, I don’t want to rely on the star to do well. I want our story to hold people’s attention.”
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