Subhash Ghai opens up about Shatrughan Sinha’s problematic attitude on set, reveals Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor were ‘professionals’: ‘Discipline of actors is very important’

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As a seasoned observer of the dynamic world of Bollywood, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the rise and fall of many illustrious careers. The friendship between Shatrughan Sinha and Subhash Ghai, two stalwarts of the industry, is one such intriguing tale that has captivated me for years.

Friends for many years, both Actor Shatrughan Sinha and Director Subhash Ghai go way back to their struggling days. Despite this strong personal bond, their professional collaboration didn’t endure due to specific issues. In a recent conversation on The Invincibles Series with Arbaaz Khan, Ghai characterized Sinha as ‘self-assured’.

For those unfamiliar, Subhash’s first directorial film, Kalicharan, featured Shatrughan Sinha as the main character. In a different conversation, the actor allegedly said he was asleep during the script reading of this movie. Responding to this, Ghai told Arbaaz, “When we make mistakes, we often have reasons behind them.”

According to the director, when he pitched the story of Kalicharan to Shatrughan, Shatrughan responded with something like, “What is the topic you’ve written? I’m already playing an inspector in four films. Why would I do this one?” Subhash realized that Sinha intended to base the script on the character of Prabhakar, not Kalicharan (it was a dual role).

The director, as stated by Subhash, explained that an actor’s level of engagement in a story is significantly influenced by the director’s circumstances. This is because, subconsciously, the actor is evaluating whether he wishes to take on the film or if he feels capable of doing so. Moreover, he suggested that only around 35% of actors are genuinely interested in listening to the narration, and their decision is often swayed by a well-known director’s involvement.

Following the event, Ghai visited NN Sippy to inform him that Shatrughan wasn’t fond of the topic. Three days later, Sippy contacted Subhash, stating he had just left Shatrughan’s house. Shatrughan told them, “This will be a superhit film.” When Arbaaz inquired about Shatrughan Sinha’s actions, Ghai explained that Shatru did it to assist him, as they were friends. The duo have been companions since their days at FTII.

In response to being inquired about the short-lived collaboration, The Hero’s director responded by explaining that Shatrughan’s habitual tardiness was the primary issue. He would often arrive on set hours late, even if the scheduled start time was as early as 9 am or as late as 1 pm. This inconsistency caused significant problems in production, prompting him to address Shatrughan candidly: “Friend, we have worked together on three films and I value our friendship, but with this attitude, it’s difficult for us to continue working effectively.”

In a subsequent statement, Subhash referred to Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff as ‘seasoned’ performers, acknowledging his preference for such skilled individuals over those who may be talented but difficult to work with. He emphasized the importance of professionalism in the acting field before concluding his remarks.

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2024-08-06 14:07