Saying a lot on celluloid

Director Satish Kaushik is a much satisfied man today. Despite his ``Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai'' getting harsh reviews from film critics, it has done well at the box office. The first week's collection as well as audience response from theatres all over the country have left him elated something he is unable to hide.

``Tusshar's character is working on the minds of people. The thrust is on a normal boy who cannot handle his love. He becomes like a problem child and is not able to convey it to the heroine (played by Kareena) till the end. He is a have-not in the film...'' says Satish, who seems to have found his form after a string of flops like ``Hum Aap Ke Dil Mein Rehte Hain'' and ``Hamara Dil Aap Ke Paas Hai'' last year.

In and out of Delhi recently, Satish asserts that Tusshar Kapoor, son of the seasoned film star Jeetendra, has his components right as an actor. ``When Vashuji and myself were finalising the cast, we did not want a hero who was very overpowering in terms of looks. Our story demanded a simple character and Tusshar just fitted the role perfectly. He just flows into the film,'' Satish says.

Claiming that the film industry has got a new hero, the director says none of the popular Bollywood heroes in the past had very attractive personalities when they entered the film industry. ``Look at Amitabh Bachchan or Ajay Devgan. They did not have very good looks when they started their careers. It is success that creates a screen personality over a period of time.''

With Vashu Bhagnani, producer of ``Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai'', Satish visited Liberty Cinema this past week where also he claims to have got a good response, especially for the song ``Rabba O' Rabba'' which made the audience go wild. ``It is not just Tusshar and Kareena. Amrish Puri, Dilip Tahil and Rinke Khanna too had just turned out to be perfect,'' he says, even as Vashu nods his head in approval.

The initial good response to ``Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai'' has once again boosted the sagging morale of Satish. ``In spite of my two big disasters -- ``Roop Ki Rani, Choron Ka Raja'' and `Prem' -- I am still in the business. Doesn't that speak volumes of my mettle?'' Satish asks, challenging critics to come and direct even five minutes of a full-length feature film.

Hastening to add that he has nothing against them personally and they were free to write what they wanted, Satish, who has a rich theatre background and is a graduate of Delhi's National School of Drama, quips: ``It is no child's play to go behind the camera and direct a film in the hot sun'' .

Talking about his next major venture -- ``Badhai Ho Badhai'' -- the shooting of which is almost 40 per cent complete, Satish informs that ``it is a very flowery film with happiness as its theme''. Anil Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Kirti Reddy and Amrish Puri are in the lead roles.``South Indian actor, K. Vishwanath, is also acting in this film,'' he informs.

While Satish would love to make a film for Vashu Bhagnani once more, he has also signed up with Subhash Ghai's Mukta Arts Combine for directing their next film. ``Mukta Arts will also be distributing `Badhai Ho Badhai','' Satish says, adding that the film is being made under the banner of a new production company which Anil Kapoor and he have together launched recently.

Hailing as he does from the Capital, Satish loves shooting here. While ``Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai'' is a Delhi-based film, he boasts that he will be visiting here with the cast and crew of his next film also. ``I was born and brought up in Delhi and I can relate to the characters that I make here,'' says Satish, disclosing that he loves Delhi visually also. ``Delhi is the heart of the country. As a director, I want to do many things here including setting up a film city with Vashuji.''

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