After 'Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai,' 'Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hai' and 'Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai,' my presence as a director will be felt. These three films have been very successful and 'Badhaai Ho Badhaai' is going to be the climax. My work is finally recognised.
'Tanu Weds Manu's brilliance lies in the fact that it makes the middle class want to be aspirational.
If I look like a six-pack replete warrior in 'Tanu Weds Manu,' viewers are not going accept me.
I had a couple of releases including Dil Ka Rishta,' Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai,' Madhoshi,' and Julie,' but they were badly released and went unnoticed.
I had built my body to look like a boxer, then I lost it completely for 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns.' It was really tough gaining weight, building muscles, and then losing it completely for another film.
Bhojpuri cine fans watch good films. They watch Salman Khan's entertainers and can also watch 'Tanu Weds Manu' type of films too.
I realised after doing 'Tanu Weds Manu' that I had become fat and was not performing to the mark. I realised that I had become a terrible actor. I did 'Jodi Breakers,' which did not do well. So, I moved away from the film industry and lived with the common man to know where I was lacking and what do they want from an actor.
I was shooting for two Balaji shows, Kayamath' and Kis Desh Mein Hai Mera Dil,' in Mumbai. I was tired working round the clock.
I was very focused when I wanted to make 'Dil Chahta Hai,' though it was difficult for me to convince people that I know how to make films and I will be able to direct and put a film together.
People have this misconception that people with six-pack abs can deliver hits, but that's not the case. Had I built six-pack abs for 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns,' I wouldn't have been able to justify myself.
'Dil Chahta Hai' was too raw. We only thought about the film. We never thought where the film was going to go. We wanted to make a film on our own terms.
I have grown up watching films like 'Dil To Pagal Hai,' and 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,' where all the leading characters had a substantial part to play.
'Dil Chahta Hai' is not the first film about friendship. 'Lakshya' is not the first film about war and coming of age.
Everything I do is gauged under the shadow of 'Dil Chahta Hai.' Even 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' and 'Rock On,' which are very urban films. So I am always seen through that lens.
Dil Raju's first film 'Dil' was with me and we were supposed to work together after that, but it didn't happen. Now, after 15 years we are working together and Dil Raju's passion for cinema is still intact.
If there are no stars in your film, nobody will look at you. If you have Sunny Leone in the film you will get hundreds of dollars but if you have a honest story to tell it's difficult to find producers.