'Prakash Jha: Try and run porn films in multiplexes; people won't come

He has been making films for more than three decades now, but director Prakash Jha is taken aback when we ask him as to why he makes films. 'Oh God!' he exclaims and pauses for a while before answering the question, 'I need to share my stories which keep bubbling inside me as I observe things around me. Filmmaking is one of the most potent means to share stories and that is what I do.'
The director was in Noida for the promotion of his recently released action drama film, 'Jai GangaaJal' starring Priyanka Chopra in the lead.As a director, he has been behind the camera for years but it is the first ever time that he chose to be in front of it. Sharing the story behind his screen debut he says, 'It is an art to express myself. I needed a newer challenge. I have done writing, direction, planning, production and sound designing. I felt that I needed to cross the line and this happened. Fortunately, I felt very close to this character because I have met real life characters resembling that.'
Manav Kaul is hugely inspired by Prakash Jha
Given that he is a very formidable director (as Priyanka has often brought to our notice), we thought that he might continue to pose the same attitude as an actor too. But that was not the case, as Priyanka revealed in an interview how she used to bully him. Ask him about it and he amusedly says, 'Everyone did. All the time. Priyanka kept reminding me that she was the senior. She would tell me, 'Bas honge aap kahin aur ke director, lekin yahan actor toh aap junior hi ho' and I used to say 'Charan sparsh aapke'.'
Except for the comedy TV series, 'Mungerilal Ke Hasin Sapne,' Jha's nature of work has more often than not revolved around socio-political issues and he has always presented the system through his critical lens. The director has sparked up quite a controversy with his views on censorship of films in India. Throwing light on the issue, he says, 'There should be no censor at all. There should be no certification either. I believe in the wisdom of the society.' But wouldn't filmmakers misuse this freedom? What if we have porn films hitting the screens soon? To this, the director, in all seriousness, adds, 'There are porn films available and if people want to see them, they will. You try and run such films in multiplexes; people won't come. I feel only those who really want to watch porn films will watch anyway and you can't stop that. It is the wisdom of the society which eventually will prevail and which does prevail.'
The Censor Board had a problem with the word 'saala' in 'Jai GangaaJal' which came as a shocker to everyone including Jha. Ask him why he thinks CBFC is being too harsh on films and pat comes the reply, 'I think this is Pahlaj Nihalani's agenda. He has something in his mind that he wants to clean up the system, clean up the language. My film has been cleared by the tribunal. They only asked me to change one dialogue, not even delete it. Other than that, they wanted one shot to be cut off by a few seconds,' he says.
Jha counts 'Chak De! India' and 'Udaan' among his favourite Hindi films. The director also goes on to mention 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and 'Dabangg' on his list of favourites. 'I liked 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' minus the melodrama. I liked 'Dabangg' even more,' he asserts.
And lastly, at 63, how does he keep himself so fit? 'Because I am 36,' he winks with a smile.
WATCH: 'Jai Gangaajal' Official Trailer | Priyanka Chopra | Prakash Jha