Subhash Ghai feels inspired

His enviable talent has held many spellbound for a long time, and so has his ability to churn out one hit after another till a few years ago.
However, Subhash Ghai is treading a different path now ��� that of independent cinema. While his last film Yuvvraaj trod the traditional Ghai route, Black & White, which is being screened at PIFF, is his first attempt at socially relevant cinema.So, is the director stepping into the art film territory slowly? ���No, it���s an independent film made by a commercial director. I���m surely not an art filmmaker. People know me as commercial director. It doesn���t matter whether it is called an art film or a commercial film. What matters is I made a good, honest film,��� says he, dispelling any notions that he is venturing into parallel cinema.
Although Black & White bombed at the box office, it has brought him accolades from around the globe. ���I get feedback from people all over the world saying that they loved the film. The only people who didn���t like it were expecting a ���Subhash Ghai��� film. I wanted to give myself a break. I felt socially responsible to make movies on issues. I wanted to make a life-size film, I didn���t want to make a Khalnayak, a Karma or a Kisna: The Warrior Poet. This was very close to my heart,��� he says.
So is it for Anurag Sinha, the lead character in the film, who was present along with Subhash Ghai during the screening. ���When I passed out from FTII, we were never taught how to be launched. I was quite glad with the subject and the story. It inspired me. To work with Subhashji was more than enough for me as an actor. It was the perfect break I could have had,��� says a beaming Anurag.
Subhash tells us what inspires him to venture into the independent cinema territory. ���During my days in Pune, one thing I have learnt is that you have to enjoy every kind of cinema. You have to take inspiration from other artistes around the world. I took inspiration from Steven Spielberg, Bimal Roy and Manmohan Desai. You will always learn a bit from everybody.��� Anurag shares, ���When I was here in FTII, we were made to watch world cinema as part of our work. I saw movies made by Tarkovsky, Pasolini, and Jean-Luc Godard. At first, it was slightly difficult to understand. But, as I saw more films, I realised the kind of knowledge that world cinema offers you is great.���
But, that doesn���t mean we won���t be seeing the Subhash Ghai brand of cinema anymore. He already has Paying Guest Chpaik Gaye on hand, which stars Asrani, Jaaved Jaaferi, Aashish Chaudhary, Shreyas Talpade and Johnny Lever. ���It���s a pure comedy. The film, directed by Paritosh Painter, is based on the latter���s play Paying Guest. And, I���m happy to say, as a filmmaker, he has done the film very well.���
And, Subhash is very upbeat about the film. ���When I saw the film last week, I died laughing. Shreyas Talpade and Johnny Lever are excellent in the film. It takes a lot to deal with Johnny���s antics, and Shreyas has done a fine job acting with him. As a play, it ran for two years in UK, UAE, US and India. And, I���m sure Paying Guest... is definitely going to entertain audiences from the first frame to the last frame,��� says he, exuding confidence that the film will strike the right chord with the audiences. And, who knows the pulse of the people better than Subhash Ghai?