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'Khoobsurat is a clean entertainer'

After showing immense potential with his writing skills in Rangeela, Yes Boss, Daud and Kachche Dhaage, Sanjay Chhel decided to turn director with Khoobsurat which released recently.

Though the film has come under criticism from certain quarters, the director believes he has made a breezy, romantic comedy. Critics, however, say it is a poor copy of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Bawarchi and the more recent Hero No 1.

In an interview with Sukanya Verma, Chhel denies the charges. Anyway, he is now looking forward to Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, for which he has written the dialogues.

Critics feel that Khoobsurat is a remake of Bawarchi. Do you agree?

It isn’t true at all. If at all I have been inspired, then it is from a famous play called Rainmaker. The story of Bawarchi was also lifted from this play. Khoobsurat is not a remake. Not a single scene or dialogue has been copied from Bawarchi.

I am very disappointed with the English Press. They are trying to sabotage my film. Instead of appreciating my efforts for making a light, clean film, they are trying to run it down. My film is a clean entertainer unlike the vulgar films that David Dhawan makes.

Okay, tell us how entered the film industry.

I used to write short stories in Gujarati, and was also involved in theatre. There I met a few people like Paresh Rawal, Shafi Inamdar and so on. That's how I made my contacts. Later I assisted Pamela Rourkes and Ramesh Talwar. While working with Rameshji, I met Sanjay Dutt. I wrote the dialogues for Pehla Nasha. Then I met Aziz Mirza and scripted Yes Boss' for him.

At the same time, I was writing TV sitcoms like Filmi Chakkar and Naya Nukkad. Rangeela, Daud, Yes Boss, Halo and Kachche Dhaage followed in quick succession and I became a known name.

How did Khoobsurat happen?

I approached Sanjay Dutt who I knew from the Sahibaan days. I met him again during Daud. I was making a light entertainer and not an intense action film. I did not want to cast Sanjay in the usual action role. In this film, he plays a flamboyant playful character, something he hasn't really done before. He gave me a break and took a chance on me when I was a nobody. It's thanks to Sanjay that I am a director today.

What inspired you to write this story?

I see a lot of girls in India, especially in middle-class society, who suffer from an identity crisis. But I didn't want to make a soppy story. I am a witty writer, I wanted to present this story in a light manner. The idea of a flamboyant guy coming across a shy, awkward girl seemed interesting to me. I worked on this basic idea and put loads of humour in it and voila! Khoobsurat is now for everyone to see (smiles).

Why did you choose Sanjay and Urmila for the lead roles?

I did not choose them. It were they who chose me. So I think the right person to answer this question will be Sanjay and Urmila. I am fortunate that they agreed to do work with me. In fact, I kept joking that whatever is the outcome of Khoobsurat, Sanju is to be blamed since he is the one responsible for me becoming a director (laughs)!

Did you always want to be a director?

Yes. From the time I was born, I wanted to be a director. When children are small, they are asked what they want to be when they grow up. And they come up with answers like astronaut, doctor, engineer etc. But I always said, 'director.'

How different is direction from writing?

Writing for someone else's film is like doing the interior decoration of someone else's house. When I am directing and writing my own film, the vision remains the same. It is a coherent process. I have more liberty and freedom. To avoid the writer in me from getting carried away, I consult my artistes and assistants -- to find out if I am on the right path. If you have a good script, 90 per cent of your job is done.

All the characters you have created so far -- whether it is Munna and Mili of Rangeela, Rahul and Seema of Yes Boss and now Shivani of Khoobsurat -- they have a down-to-earth quality about them. Is this deliberate?

(Smiles) I am that way. I'm a guy from the streets. From being a regional screenwriter to a director, I have had a long, colourful journey. Someone who sees life, identifies life, will always create his own characters. Each of these characters you have mentioned has a part of me in them. I have a funny approach towards life and that is reflected in my characters. They are just as ordinary as I am. In fact, one can put them as an over-simplification of my character. I am not aping Raj Kapoor, Yash Chopra and or any of these classy directors. My films are very earthy -- they are breezy and feel-good.

Why did you make Sanjay Dutt sing Ai Shivani instead of a professional singer?

It was my idea. It's a scene where Sanju, along with some kids, teases Shivani (Urmila). The same could have been done with dialogues, but we thought that if we put it through as a song, the impact would be greater.

As for the lyrics of the song -- which I have penned -- they came up quite accidentally. My assistants and I were having a drink in Hyderabad and we just started improvising there. I just went 'Ai Shivani' and continued rhyming. There were some tourists in the hotel and when they heard me singing, they applauded spontaneously. The song may not have great lyrics, but it is catchy and fun.

Why did you get Gulzar to pen the lyrics for Khoobsurat?

Gulzar has always been my favourite. He gives meaning to songs. He was supposed to write all the songs in my film, but he got busy with Hu Tu Tu. So he has done only a couple of songs. But just the presence of Gulzar has added class to my film.

Even you have written a couple of songs -- so are you a poet too?

I wanted to be a lyricist initially, but no one gave me work. I met R D Burman, but nothing materialised. I met Anu Malik, but again nothing happened. In those days I had written Mera ek sapna and Ghoonghat mein chand. These songs suited Khoobsurat, so I used them in the film.

What other films are you doing?

I am writing for Aziz Mirza's Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani starring Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla. Then I am also doing Shyam Bajaj's Kahi Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye starring Jackie Shroff, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Rani Mukherjee and Pooja Batra. I am writing K Shashilal Nair's One Two Ka Four which has Shahrukh, Jackie and Juhi.

Are you happy with the response to Khoobsurat?

Yeah! I am very happy. The film is running to packed audiences. It is a family entertainer. People with vested interests are trying to run my film down. Contrary to what they say, Khoobsurat is a success.

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