Flop directors still on top

Showbiz is cruel, nobody has time for failures. But director Nikhil Advani seems to be lucky. Despite two back-to-back disasters, Hero and Katti Batti, (and many more earlier too), one wonders how he manages to get projects. Even Salman Khan, who had produced Hero, repented not being a “hands-on producer”.

“Instead, I left it to Nikhil. However, while trying to make the film look good, he lost the charm. Sometimes the visuals overtook emotions. Anyway, we will work together again,” the actor said in an interview, without blaming the director.

What is Nikhil’s USP that attracts producers and stars? Film critic Anupama Chopra says, “People believe that he’s talented. And that comes through as it did in his D-Day.” Nikhil is also known for the Karan Johar-type of glossy cinema, even a D-Day was lauded for its cinematic brilliance. “Nikhil’s films look rich. When a producer invests about '25 crore in his film, it can be seen. Plus, he’s smart. Now that his films have flopped, his next one won’t be a '50 crore film; but a '15 crore film which will bring him back into the game,” trade expert Joginder Tuteja says.

Whatever be the theme and treatment, ultimately, what counts is how much money it makes. “Nikhil makes a film that ensures money for the value chain. At the end of the day, his intent as a filmmaker has never been wrong. Produ-cers are scared of people who say, ‘I made this film for myself’ or ‘The audience hasn’t evolved yet’, Nikhil’s not like that,” exhibitor Akshay Rathi says.

While the industry has faith in Nikhil’s ability as a director, it’s unfortunate that his films haven’t always set the box-office on fire. A source from the industry says, “Nikhil is a phenomenal technician but not a good storyteller. His Kal Ho Na Ho worked because of the able guidance of Karan Johar.” 

Madhur Bhandarkar
As for Madhur Bhandarkar, after his last film Calendar Girls flopped, he is said to have lost his midas touch. “Madhur needs to reinvent himself. He can’t make another glamorous film after Heroine and Calendar Girls,” Joginder says.

But Madhur, in his next, Madamji, has Priyanka Chopra in the lead. “Actors have different agendas for doing films. Some do it for box office and some for critical acclaim. Madhur has three National Awards to his name; actors who want to win awards will choose him,” observes Akshay.

Director Raj Nidimoru agrees, saying, “It’s always good for a director that his full body of work is taken into account instead of just his last film’s success. There could be many factors as to why a film didn’t work, such as creative conflicts, time crunch, funding issues, external interferences, etc. It’s unfair to just blame the director.”