Actor-filmmaker-singer Farhan Akhtar is all for women working in the showbiz industry.
Actresses such as Dia Mirza, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, Chitrangda Singh and Richa Chadha have worked as producers of movies so far, and when asked about the trend, Akhtar said: “That’s how it should be. Not just actresses, there are also a lot of female producers and women who are working in different companies and handling the creative aspect of those companies.”
“It is amazing to see that. The more influence that we have of women in any field, why just films... it can be sports or politics also, it’s good for everyone because they have a different perspective on things because they have experienced life in different ways from what we [men] have; so, it makes a difference,” added the brother of director Zoya Akhtar.
Akhtar’s latest co-production, Fukrey Returns, raked in Rs81 million (Dh4.6 million) on opening day, December 8. Are box-office collections more important when he produces a film?
“The reason you do a film is because you want to share it with the world and when a lot of people see your film, the most tangible recognition of it is the box-office collection, because you can aggregate a number through it,” he said.
But for him, success of a film also means “conceptually what is done to get people to think about things”.
“There are many films that were released in their time and not considered box-office hits, but what that film meant, the kind of storytelling, the work that went into that film have sustained and at times [they are] considered as landmark films and way ahead of their times.
“So, success of a film can be gauged on many fronts; but is [the] box office important? Of course it is, because people are putting money in a film. You don’t want anyone to lose money,” said the co-founder of Excel Entertainment, which has produced blockbusters such as Rock On!! and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
The first look of his next co-production 3 Storeys, starring Pulkit Samrat, Sharman Joshi, Richa Chadha and Renuka Shahane, was unveiled last week. is an A-list cast neccesary for the succes of a movie?
“I don’t think so. Eventually, a good story should be the formula for success... whether it is about one person in a room or 21 people in a colony like in 3 Storeys. Our emphasis is on trying to tell good stories.
“Arjun Mukerjee, who is the director and writer of this film, has truly put together something that we consider very special. Now we are excited to share it with others,” he said.
Akhtar is also passionate about fitness. The 43-year-old explained: “I got serious about it in 2003-2004. I was shooting for Lakshya in Ladakh. We were there for five months and I felt incredibly fit by the time I came back from there.
“When I returned to Mumbai, my energy levels were really high... it was a feeling that I didn’t want to lose. That’s when I started training with Sam [Samir Jaura], who is my trainer,” said the Bhaag Milkha Bhaag actor.
He believes fitness is not about “going to a gym and getting big biceps. It’s much more than that”.
