Monday, 15 January 2024

TBT: Vinod Mehra on working with Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor in Gurudev


Three's Company

Even as an actor he was constantly into the technicalities of film-making--enquiring, suggesting. So turning director was a very natural sequel for Vinod Mehra. His first venture, Gurudev, is nearing completion and if rumours that he ghost directed Ghar are to be believed, the new film is bound to make waves. 

Right now it's as if he's on a runaway horse--there's no way he can get off it. And he's not complaining. His Gurudev is almost seventy per cent complete, but Vinod Mehra is still as obsessed with it as he was at the beginning. "The industry will soon know that VM Productions is a banner to reckon with," he grins. 

Just back from his European schedule, the actor turned producer director is full of praise for the people he encountered there and absolutely ecstatic about the locales in Holland and Belgium where he picturised two songs. "The amusement park was more beautiful than Disneyland and the gardens were a riot of colour," Vinod recalls. Besides a fun songs picturised on Rishi and Sridevi, they also shot a "nice moody outburst" featuring all 'four stars--Rishi, Anil and two Sridevis-yes, the lady once again plays a double role in Gurudev. "The people there were very accommodating, they let us do exactly what we wanted, they just requested us to take care that we didn't obstruct the flow of tourist traffic. to be so helpful when you have such a large tourist turnover is really something. The best part of it all was that we paid practically nothing for the shooting--only the entrance fees for the unit members!" And ot think that our won humble Esselworld has reported demanded Rs.1 lakh per day for film shootings! 

Vinod Mehra admits that the story of Gurdev--that of two friends --is not new. "The novelty lies in its focus. My film observes the turmoil in their relationship. it has the underworld as its backdrop. But then, I don't deal with the small-time street-fighters. I focus on the dons. The dramatic moments in teh film are based on emotions. it's a regular commercial entertainer and as Manmohan Desai says, it's more difficult to make this kind of film that a personalised one (where a person put fs forth his own views) or one with a  message. I believe that you can convey what you want to say even in a commercial film and Gurudev holds out the view that the law is corrupt but that we can't do without it.

"Gurudev isn't an out and out action film. It's a regular big-screen entertainer with music and humour though our jokes are not your usual contorting of faces--we have situational comedy between the main stars.

"The trend for musicals is strong right now, but I don't think a musical necessarily means a love story. if the music is good and fits into the situation, it's bound to click. If Dil is a musical hit this year, so was Tridev last year."

Gurudev, planned as a quickie, has been in the making for over two years. Speculation is rife about the causes. It was said that there were problems between Anil and Rishi and that Sridevi was acting difficult after her successive hits. "That's all nonsense. All three were signed much before their recent hits. Anil and Rishi are both sweethearts and have not given me any cause for worry, nor has Sridevi. What has gone against me is destiny. First my schedule was upset because Raj Kapoor passed away., then Anil went and fractured his leg and more recently Sridevi lost her father. One can't help these things and I'd say that my stars have gone out of their way to help where they can.

"There was just one problem with Sridevi's secretary about her dates. The secretary left in November 1989 after we'd fixed the scheudules. While he put down this year's April dates in the diary, he omitted the February and March schedule, so my climax had to be postponed." 

For Vinod Mehra, Gurudev is clearly an obsession right now. He's let the director in him overrule the producer, as a result the film is almost twenty per cent overbudget. "This hasn't been a wise decision but I want to see my dream come true. People will realise that the film has been made with a vision," says the director.

The thought of turning producer struck him about five years back when his career seemed to be heading nowhere and boredom set in. He decided to try out something that might provide more fun and give free play to his imagination. So he decided to produce a film. Striking out as director seemed to be the next stop. He honestly admits, "I don't think any director would have liked to work with me, I'd keep interfering with shots and angles. In fact, the latent director in ne was responsible for goading me into making a film." 

The industry seems to feel he's given up acting but the actor in Vinod Mehra still breathes and he's open to offers. "I'll never leave acting, if they want me to do, they'll have to throw me out and if they do so they'll be the losers, at my age (40) I can be pushed into any role!"

If he's so keen on acting why didn't he carve out a role for himself in Gurudev? "I'll never be able to act and direct simultaneously. There is a third hero in my film, but I preferred to cast Kader Khan in the role. I've give him a totally different image in the film." 

VM Productions, the actor-director says, is there to stay. He's already working on another story and plans to produce and direct the film. "I'll take on an outside director only if I'm convinced he can do more justice to the subject." meanwhile, as a special favour, he's helping out by directing a film that was to be made by Bhaskar Reddy who passed away. He has had many outside offers but has refused them all. "I'm not a professional director."

As a new director, the going hasn't been easy. He's had to learn through trial and error and admits that direction involves far too many headaches, acting is much more exciting. But, he feels, the film will prove it's been worth the trouble. "When I release the film in May next year, (all territories wee sold the day the film was announced) the industry will realise that a new showman has arrived." 

Meera Joshi
Filmfare, October 1990


Postscript:

- Sadly, Vinod Mehra passed away soon after this interview was published in Filmfare magazine on October 30, 1990 in Mumbai! 
- Director Raj Sippy completed the film and it was released years later in 1993.
- The film opened well and broke even, it just wasn't a blockbuster as anticipated. 


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