"I Gave My 6 Years" - Sanjay Puran Singh Was Hurt On Being Removed From 83
Filmmaker Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan admits he was hurt when he was removed as a director from the film "83" on which he worked for 6 years.
Transcript
00:00 83 was also your subject, right?
00:02 Yes.
00:03 Which just came out, with Kabir Khan making it.
00:08 I have heard that you were supposed to have made that film, that it was your idea, that
00:13 was your concept, you had approached Kapil Dev, the whole thing was yours.
00:18 How did it slip from your hands and go elsewhere?
00:21 When big filmmakers come, there is a surety with the producers, it is more profitable.
00:33 I think this is the biggest reason behind it.
00:39 When big directors meet big stars, the way of thinking is different.
00:44 It is possible that market value also matters in all this.
00:48 As a creator, we don't think about all these things.
00:51 But for producers and investors, it is very important because it is an expensive business.
00:58 Script is mine and I couldn't direct it.
01:04 It is a matter of the past now.
01:06 But did you get the credit for the script?
01:08 Yes, and I won the IFA for Best Story.
01:12 In your screenplay, did you have all that outpost of Pakistan, they are celebrating
01:21 and they are allowing the World Cup to be watched by the Indian audience.
01:25 Did you have all that in your script?
01:28 Every filmmaker, when a director works on a script, when the director is on board,
01:38 he has his own perspective.
01:42 He has his own way of doing it, because he is a co-writer in the material.
01:50 I haven't seen the film.
01:53 You haven't seen it?
01:55 No, I couldn't see it.
01:57 I was travelling and I didn't get a chance to see it.
02:02 In fact, whatever I do or write for my films, I can't read it back and it is very difficult for me to see it.
02:10 So, diplomatically you are saying that what you wrote is not what was shown in the film.
02:18 Ma'am, since I haven't seen the film, I don't have any questions.
02:24 You must have heard about it.
02:26 Ma'am, in fact, because many people haven't read the material that I wrote,
02:35 it evolved from that.
02:38 So, it is difficult for me to say it now.
02:44 But were you hurt when '83' went out of your hands?
02:49 Because you must have lived with it for a long time.
02:53 Ma'am, I had given six years to that film.
02:58 And a long time to work on it.
03:03 For me, a film is not just a film. I live it.
03:06 So, when you are not able to do anything,
03:10 and you are very passionate about it, that is very sad.
03:15 I don't know if you will find it strange,
03:19 but when I am so immersed in a script,
03:23 and when I am sleeping, my characters are around me.
03:26 I am watching them.
03:27 For me, it is not just a film.
03:29 To say it honestly is everything for me.
03:33 It becomes something else.
03:34 I watch films with this madness.
03:36 But gradually I am realizing that
03:38 maybe there is no need for so much passion in the Hindi film industry.
03:42 I understand that.
03:44 (Music)