Hansal Mehta: From ‘Aligarh’ to ‘Faraj’, what did Hansal Mehta say on the problems faced by the release of films? – faraaz director hansal mehta exclusive interview talks about film controversies

National Award winner Hansal Mehta has made popular films like ‘Shahid’, ‘Omerta’, ‘Simran’ and ‘Aligarh’. However, there have been controversies regarding many of his films. Recently his film ‘Faraj’ was released. It stars Jatin Sareen, Aamir Ali and Juhi Babbar in lead roles. The film is written by Raghav Kakkar, Kashyap Kapoor and Ritesh Shah. Hansal, who came to Delhi, had a special conversation with Navbharat Times, let us know what he told.

There are often controversies surrounding your films, why is it so?
I have been making films since 1998 and in 25 years I have made about 16 films. To tell the truth, there is opposition in people’s mind about a film that maybe I will have some problem with this film. There was also a bit of controversy regarding Aligarh, when the mayor there stopped the screening of the film. I think I talk logically and sensitively through films. Because of this, I have not faced any such problem. I do not make films for sensation, but whatever I am saying is part of the story. The thoughts of the character may not be mine. Through those different characters, I try to understand the world. It is necessary to understand the world in which we are living and to record for the coming generations what the people of our country thought at that time. It is not just about those who were in government at that time or what will be written in the pages of history and probably many people will not be written about.

Where do you get the courage to make a film on such subjects even after facing controversies?
I always say and I feel that the best work can be done in such an environment. The worse the environment, the more good art is required. If everything goes well, Art will lean towards entertainment. There should also be entertainment. But a good art is made only in a bad environment.

What were the difficulties faced in the release of the film ‘Faraj’?
I have always understood that when you go out of your way to try to do something special, you are bound to face difficulties. We got out of that labor pen, but the baby is beautiful and healthy. After we signed the film, the pandemic phase started. The film could not start due to many lockdowns. When the film started, then there was a lockdown. We made a film in a biobubble. After making the film, when the edit was ready, allegations started pouring in. It went on for a year and now the court has given us a clean chit to release the film. During this, we have just remembered that for what reason you are making the film, it should be clear in your soul.

Nowadays there is confusion among the producers whether to release the film on OTT or on cinema. So on what basis did you decide to release the film in cinemas?
We didn’t choose cinema. Initially we made it for OTT. But market conditions keep changing. In those changing circumstances, we thought that the film will be released first on cinemas, then on OTT. After mixing the film afresh, when we saw it on the big screen, we felt that this film is too good for the big screen.

Last year was not good for the industry. Pathan has started the new year well but still the whole year is left. Why do you think this happened and how can we get out of it?
I think this happens all the time. This is not the first time it has happened, it has happened many times before. Similar situations had arisen even when there was a problem with Bharat Shah. At the time of Gulshan Kumar ji’s murder, similar situations prevailed. Even then people used to say that the industry is over, no one will go to the cinema. VHS came from video, then DVD came, so technology was good, people could watch movies at home. I think out of all this stuff comes a film that changes all that. This is the law of the market.

Hollywood was already a challenge to Bollywood, but now the South film industry has also joined. So how do you think it will affect the industry?
I believe that a film is a film, it has no language. Bollywood or South Cinema all these names have been given by the media. I object to the fact that nowadays the media tries to show small Hindi cinema or sometimes tries to show small South films. There are many languages ​​in the South as well. But the media starts counting all those films in South. There are 22 official languages ​​in our country, films are made in all of them. There is a whole universe that makes up our films. People say that South’s film did a lot. You talk about selected films from South’s industry, which have worked. Otherwise, Hindi films have also been released. Recently Shahrukh Khan’s Pathan has started, but till last year the media was showing something else about it.

Tell us something about your upcoming films?
I have a web show coming soon on Netflix. After that season 2 of ‘Scam’ will come, its editing is going on. After that ‘Lootere’ which is my son’s show, that too is going to come. The editing of the film I have made with Kareena Kapoor is also going on. At the end of the year, the shooting of ‘Gandhi’, which is my special project, will start.