'I'm happier than before and it shows in my work'

Shilpa Bansal / TNN / Mar 16, 2008, 00:00 IST

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Working on a promo film for the Bangalore IPL team, director, producer, storywriter and lyricist Sanjay Gupta tells TOI about the thrill of being multi-faceted.

'I'm happier than before and it shows in my work'

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Sanjay Gupta (TOI Photo)I��m doing a short film for the Bangalore IPL team... Doing anything for Vijay Mallya is a privilege.
This film could be a plus for the team. High on adrenaline, it��s a mix of behind-the-scenes tension, on-field action and public involvement. It��ll be aired in early April. Vishal and Shekhar��s song for the SRK team is about aggression in the game; the film is another take on that.
IPL is a marriage between Bollywood and cricket...When the two biggest forms of entertainment in India come together, obviously the impact��s going to be huge. It��ll be beyond the scope of even the English Premier League.
My current work in Bollywood... I��ve deviated from the film noir genre. The shift began with Gubbare and Matrimony in Dus Kahaniyaan. Everyone goes through various phases in life and that gets reflected in your work. This is true of my earlier films. Now I��m feeling more positive, relaxed and happier than before, so I��m dwelling on art house cinema. I��m not ignoring my forte though. I��ll begin work on my next action film, Acid Factory, in May.

Alibaug is autobiographical... My friends are my family. This movie is a complete departure from my earlier works; it has no action, violence or dark hues. It��s a feel-good story about a reunion of friends.
The concept of Alibaug cropped up when I had gone to Rohit Roy��s house for dinner. My close friends were there, including some film stars and television actors. I thought, why not make a movie with the same people, keeping the same concept in mind?

Unlike my earlier films, you won��t find any megastars in this one.
Fallout with Sanjay Dutt... Neither he nor I have spoken about this and I prefer it that way. If he��s been with me from the start, I��ve been with him too. Dutt has opted out of Alibaug and we haven��t filled that role yet. Viswajeet Pradhan replacing him is a nasty, stupid story. How can he replace Dutt?
Woodstock Villa... The main drama in the movie takes place at one particular address. We were discussing the idea at my Mumbai bungalow, Woodstock Villa. At the time, we were also working on five other projects and were out of titles. So, we thought, why not Woodstock Villa as the title and went with that.
Sikander Kher is a born star... I knew Sikander was to do something with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but I wasn��t sure whether it was Saawariya. I guess things didn��t work and so we��ll be launching him in Woodstock Villa. Doesn��t feel like he��s a newcomer, he��s a born star.
If I copy, I won��t deny it... In my last five films, there has been no lifting of ideas. But if I do it, I��ll openly accept it. Everybody copies all the time, but I��m not a two-faced hypocrite and so I��m targeted.
Being a one-man package... Arre, karna padta hai. I love being multi-faceted, it��s part of my job. I write dialogues and stories because it��s my passion. I write songs because I still love my ex-wife. I get drunk and come up with poetry that music directors sometimes like and turn into songs for my films. I��ve composed a song for Alibaug as well.
I��m still wooing my ex-wife... I��ll patao her back. Abhi toh lifetime hai! As long as she��s single, I��ll wait and convince her that I��m a much better person.
My philosophy is Billy Wilder��s... Very few people master the art of enjoying their work; I have and therefore I spend my life enjoying myself.

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