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What's Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi about? The lead characters have been together for 12 years. Then they get engaged. But she says she isn't ready emotionally to get married. He says he'll wait. |
Excerpts from an interview:
So how is Vivaah different from Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi?
Vivaah was a journey from engagement to marriage. Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi is of a man and a woman who are to get married, but because of circumstances, the marriage stops.
This is after 12 years of their togetherness because she isn't ready emotionally to get married. He says you don't have to nibhao a rasam because you're a girl. He says he'll wait. You don't have to be bound by rituals to prove your love.
Why does marriage fascinate you so?
You're allowed by society to stay together through the good and bad times. This fascinates me and I hope people respect it more.
When Karan Johar saw marriage, he saw the cracks in it that he showed in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. Do you see any cracks, the ego clashes, the adjustment problems?
(Clears throat) These are all issues which have to be overcome. Rather than showing how they crop up or how to deal with them, it's more important to show how you can avoid them.
How can you avoid them?
(Firmly) It's when you work at it. It's like I'm giving one year to this film. Can't I give one day to the relationship? No one from outside can help a marriage.
What about counseling?
Nothing, nothing, nothing. You see, the love remains. The one who says sorry first is more courageous. Before going to bed, you must resolve the fight.
There's criticism that your cinema is regressive...
(Firmly) I don't think so. It's progressive because I'm trying to show the world what should happen. We need to respect our values and believe that the world is good.
You put so much importance on family. Did you ever go through a rebellious phase?
(Laughs) Yes, we have our disagreements and debates... you see, it's about how you view life. I've always said Adi (Aditya Chopra), Karan and I have never seen the bad side of life. We've had the best support from our family. So in all our films, you'll see the dreams. We've never been hit by society for us to get back at it.
Like every teenager, I've rebelled but you know when you go home there's a mother, father, grandparents to solve your problems. That's a big boon. As you grow older if you see Maine Pyaar Kiya, there was a rebel somewhere. With Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Hum Saath Saath Hain, it became less and less. Life is a beautiful dream for us. And people come to see our films to be a part of that.
You've redefined weddings in India since HAHK, with all the functions. Did you have such a fairytale Barjatya wedding?
(Sidestepping) This is all part of my upbringing. What I've seen, I've put across. Being a Marwari from Rajasthan, brought up in Jaipur, we enjoy our festivals. Our weddings run for a minimum of three days.
Like other film families, are the Barjatya women involved in the business?
Women are as important. My sister Kavita is looking after the television wing. My wife Vineeta looks after the website and she's slowly getting into our marketing. One aunt looks after the accounts for the television, another is doing up our office. My brother is starting Rajshri dotcom, with web and mobile entertainment. We all sit together as a family. And no outsider can compare to a family member.
Are your children interested in the family business of films?
They are studying. They have to make up their mind but I'm trying to introduce them to good cinema. I want them to be proud of this profession. Then they can take their call. My eldest son Devansh is in his 12th, the younger one Avnish is giving his ICSE this year. My daughter Isha is still young, in the fifth.
In Om Shanti Om, you were spoofed as a young boy who took down the words 'Dosti mein, no thanks, no sorry' outside Om's tent. Did you see it?
Yes (laughs), I didn't know about it before, but it was such fun. Farah and Shah Rukh are such nice people and it was all so funny. The film was a movie on movies, so I didn't feel bad.
