I'm done chasing stars: Sunil Darshan opens up on choosing newcomers

India Today

2 days ago

Veteran filmmaker Sunil Darshan, known for crafting several commercial blockbusters in the 90s and early 2000s, is now taking a bold step away from star-led projects. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the director opened up about his current mindset and why he prefers to bet on fresh talent.Known for launching and collaborating with major names like Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, among others, the director now feels more driven by the potential of actors rather than their fame.advertisement'Strangely, in my first film 'Inteqam', I cast Kimi Katkar, she was a relative newcomer, only done 'Tarzan' back then. There was initial hesitation, but when a filmmaker has conviction, people eventually believe in you. So somehow, I'm at a stage today where I'm not really looking to reach out to stars. Actors, yes. I am willing to bend down, lie down, and do a namaskar to them if there is an actor there,' he told us.
'But when you have to procrastinate before stars, I think I'm past that stage. That's why I, some time ago, I decided to make films with newcomers. Bring in new stars, new actors, give chances to people who don't usually get them,' he added.When asked if it's difficult to cast established actors, he said, "It was never easy, but it wasn't too difficult either. Back then, actors would speak directly with the filmmaker, with the director, with the producer. The team was about them. Now, it's not the producer, nor the director, nor the actor, it's a team of managers and PRs making decisions. And that's where it's falling short."A New Chapter with 'Andaaz 2'Currently gearing up for 'Andaaz 2', the sequel to his 2003 hit, Darshan is doing things his way, with fresh faces and a focus on storytelling. The film stars newcomers Ayush Kumar, Akaisha Vats, and Natasha Fernandes, all of whom he discovered through instinct.'Ayush came in to audition for a friend's role,' he recalls.'But I looked at him and thought, 'This isn't a friend.' He had warmth, vulnerability, innocence, and a powerful structure. Launching a new boy is hard, not just making the film, but playing the whole game. I faced it with Akshay Kumar too, he had seniors ahead of him.'As for the female leads, Darshan chose based on gut. 'Akaisha had done a few Punjabi videos. She wasn't working in films. Thirty seconds into speaking to her, I knew she was the one. It's instinctive,' he says. 'And Natasha—she's worked with me before, but I felt she deserved this particular role. It's a little unusual, but she fit like a glove.'Betting on the UnconventionalFor Darshan, the decision to work with newcomers wasn't just creative, it was philosophical. 'It's very difficult for a newcomer to get an opportunity today, especially with an established filmmaker,' he notes. 'Everyone wants to make a film. But is it really a film? The parameters have changed, commercial viability is everything. But real penetration isn't just featuring on the surface, it's about seeping through.'advertisementHaving worn multiple hats in the industry, from producer and director to distributor (he's distributed over 500 films)—Darshan feels it's his duty to give back. 'I want to share those experiences with this new lot—the new generation.'Interestingly, 'Andaaz 2' wasn't planned as a franchise sequel. 'Cinema isn't like a proposal—unless you run into a story that demands a triangular love plot and also has socially relevant issues. During Covid-19, I had time to sit, write, scrap, and this story was born then,' he shares.The filmmaker is equally excited about the music in the film. 'It has Nadeem of Nadeem–Shravan fame and Sameer writing lyrics. This time, we've slightly upgraded the format. People are so used to Nadeem's sound, so the soul is the same, but the presentation has evolved.''I Make Films Universally' No longer part of the corporate studio system, Darshan believes in staying true to his cinematic roots. 'I aspire to make my films that way, because I believe India has so much to offer. Our subjects must be oriental at heart,' he says. 'People ask if my film will work in high-end cinemas. I say, 'No, my film works universally.' That's my parameter.'advertisementHe also voices concern over the widening gap between actors and filmmakers today. 'One day I was a newcomer, and those actors believed in me, Karishma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Lara, Priyankathey, didn't even ask what the subject was. That belief in the filmmaker used to be so strong,' he reflects. 'Today, go-betweens have created a vacuum in communication. I wish that could be better.'Beyond the Box Office RaceIn a time when box office numbers often dictate the fate of a film, Darshan remains rooted in conviction. 'A good project isn't about just Friday–Saturday–Sunday,' he insists. 'A film may not take off on a Friday, but it can become a house full on Monday. Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit's Hum Aapke Hain Kaun released in a restricted number of cinemas and became the biggest blockbuster. That conviction of a filmmaker in his own ability—that's most important.''Today, people only look at the Friday figure. Yes, a star might give you Friday—but what about Saturday and Sunday?' he adds pointedly.'Andaaz 2'is set to release on 8th August.- Ends