For nationalism, sometimes we need a counter point or a villain. However, you don't need any such thing for patriotism. Patriotism is a pure love for your country and you don't need a counterpoint.Collection: Patriotism
Sometimes saying apolitical only reeks of your privilege, because what's happening in the country doesn't affect you, you all with money can live in a bubble.Collection: Money
I am so glad that I decided to do the course at MCRC because at that moment I was thinking of other courses like law or Masters in Economics. But from the first days in MCRC, I realised that this is what I am meant to do. I was doing a Master's in Communication, which was basically a filmmaking course.Collection: Communication
I am a Pathan.
I think authenticity is something you cannot compromise on. You always have to be authentic.
As a storyteller, I am always looking for magnificent human stories.
Kabul Express' is loosely based on the experiences my friend Rajan Kapoor and I shared in Kabul.
I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.
If you do anything high profile in Afghanistan, the threats are bound to come. And there is nothing more high profile there than shooting a Hindi feature film.
Of course, working with Salman is always something I will cherish.
83' is an emotional catharsis for people.
I personally believe that Bollywood definitely is one of the strongest elements that India has in a soft power.
The controversy unfortunately about 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' was all overblown.
When I announced 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' somehow people thought it was a story of a Muslim and a Pandit girl. I started getting hate mail.
There are certain battles that are worth fighting for and we should just keep making the films that are important and relevant.
I always try to put a strong political context, as a backdrop, in my films.
When I got the opportunity to start making films, I just decided that I would want to add strong context to my stories.
I feel audiences will really enjoy 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan.' They will enjoy watching Salman in a very different kind of role.
I don't look at things like success and failure too seriously.
Immediately after film school, I got an opportunity to work as a freelance cameraperson. I used to shoot a documentary film for the Discovery Channel called 'Beyond the Himalayas.' It was sponsored by Mahindra and Mahindra.
I think OTT platforms are open to taking bigger risks.
We have been saying that content is king for so many years now. Finally, OTT platforms are approving that.
My locations are almost like a character in my films.
What can you change about Deepika Padukone? It's perfection over there.
I came to know Colonel Lakshmi Sehgal when I was directing the documentary, 'The Forgotten Army,' retracing the Indian National Army's attempt to free India from British rule.
I would give my right arm to do a film with Salman again. My association with him has been really good for me. I've learnt a lot.
I can very honestly say that my position in the film industry today would not be what it is if it wasn't for my collaboration with Salman.
As human beings you cannot be apolitical, the way we frame a character is telling our politics.
I have often heard, and I get very worried when I hear this - people in the industry say we are apolitical.
In the first avatar of Taliban in 1996 -2001, forget films, they did not even allow photography. The only photographers that were allowed to operate were passport photographers.
Before me, the most famous person from the institute was of course Shah Rukh Khan. He didn't come to become a filmmaker, he came to become an actor. But he was my senior in MCRC. I used his notes to study in fact. I knew Shah Rukh before he joined the industry.
If you want to demonise the Mughals, please base it on some research and make us understand why; why they were the villains that you think they were. Because if you do some research and read history, it's very tough to understand why they have to be villainised.
I can understand when a filmmaker has researched something and a filmmaker wants to make a point... Of course, there can be different viewpoints.
It's the easiest thing today, demonising the Mughals and various other Muslim rulers that India had at different points in its history. Trying to fit them into preconceived stereotypes, it is distressing.
I have realised the toxicity or negative impact of social media is more than the positive impact.
New York' is based on part of the political canvas of 9/11, but it speaks of prejudices after the great human tragedy. It is a definite and very relevant subject about post-9/11 prejudices that have increased after the attacks.
Kabul Express' was very autobiographical but 'New York' is a wider and much larger journey. Though it has been drawn from my experiences that I've seen and observed during 9/11, as I was there when it happened, it is not autobiographical at all.
I've never compromised in the story of 'Ek Tha Tiger' just because Salman Khan is in it.
I will always want to mount my films with a strong real backdrop.
I can't write my films in La-La Land. I don't know how to write for my characters like that.
One of the greatest drawbacks of our industry is that we don't take back anything from our contemporary history or our past.
I don't think Salman is looking at what numbers Shah Rukh Khan's film did and vice versa. They all are superstars in their own space.
Some films may work sometimes and sometimes some films don't.
When I see the work of other directors, I feel inspired.
You make a film with a lot of love and conviction and if it doesn't do well the way it was expected to do, it's disheartening.
We can't expect every film to do the business like 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan.'
I am extremely proud of 'Tubelight.'
Every film of mine is put against 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and it is unfair.
I take the politics of my films very seriously.
I've often said that I can forgive a shoddy screenplay or bad acting, but I can never forgive bad politics.