Rajkumar Santoshi, the director of films like *Ghayal* and *Andaz Apna Apna*, has helmed movies across various genres, including action, courtroom drama, and comedy.

He has now made the film *Batwara 1947* with Sunny Deol, set against the backdrop of the India-Pakistan Partition. While Santoshi is satisfied with the film itself—which had earned ₹31.03 crore by Wednesday—he is not content with its box-office collections. He spoke exclusively to *Dainik Jagran*.

**You wanted to make your debut film with Kamal Haasan, but it didn't happen. Did you never try to make a film with him again?**

I didn't find a subject where we could work together. At the time of *Ghayal* and *Ghatak*, I thought it would be right to make those films with him. However, they didn't materialize. After that, I didn't find the right subject to collaborate with him on.

**Films like *Andaz Apna Apna* and *Lajja* were considered ahead of their time. Did you never think about aligning with the right timing or current trends?**

It is true that I often did things that weren't in vogue at the time. Even today, I work against the grain of trends. *Gandhi vs Godse* and *Batwara 1947* stem from this same mindset. I decided from the very beginning never to repeat myself, which is why I never made any sequels. There was pressure to make sequels to *Ghayal*, *Ghatak*, and *Andaz Apna Apna*, but I never did.

**There were reports at one point about a sequel to *Andaz Apna Apna* being made...**

I am not making a sequel to that. I am making a different comedy film in a similar vein, titled *Ada Apna Apna*.

**What kind of films do you intend to make next?**

There is a plan for an action film with Sunny Deol. There is also a project with Aamir Khan; let's see which one comes first. Two stories have been finalized following discussions with Aamir. We might start the film with Sunny quite soon.

**What impact are the box-office records of ₹500 crore and ₹1,000 crore having on cinema?** This puts pressure on creative filmmakers. They struggle to come up with fresh subjects. Nowadays, rather than focusing on making a good film, their attention is fixed on which movie will secure big bookings and which won't, or which one will rake in more money over the weekend. They don't prioritize simply making a good film that resonates with the audience. The process has become driven more by statistics than by genuine passion.

Looking at the opening, the question arises: can a star's image overshadow the story?

I made this film for the masses. About 98 percent of the people coming out of the theater are praising it. Only two or three individuals are unhappy about Sunny playing the role of a Muslim. Observing the public's reaction to *Partition: 1947*, it does seem that an artist's image can indeed overshadow the story.

PC Social Media