Narrated the script of biopic to Sanjay Dutt, says Rajkumar Hirani

Ques: ‘PK’ has crossed the Rs 300 crore mark in the international market. How do you see it?
Hirani: I think every film comes with its own destiny. If it finds an audience, it will travel all over the place and if it doesn’t it won’t.

Ques: Would you say ‘PK’ is your best work till date?
Hirani: I don’t think this is my best work. I think I will do better work than this.

Ques: Yet it made a lot of money?
Hirani: I feel blessed that commercial success happened but I feel I have made better films.

Ques: In the hindsight, do you think you could have done anything different?
Hirani: We gave it our best shot. But we struggled. Inception (Hollywood movie) happened post which we had to alter our script and then ‘Oh My God’ came which kept changing scripts time and again. Barriers kept on coming. However, there was no lack of effort. We tried our best but in my own mind my best was not enough. But I can’t complain because when I meet non-filmmakers they find a connect with the film.

Ques: How challenging will it be to direct a true life story of Sanjay Dutt as compared to a fictitious one?
Hirani: I am doing it for the first time. So, even I wouldn’t know much until I finish filming.

Ques: Sanjay was out on parole recently. Did you meet him to discuss the script?
Hirani: Yes. It is made only because Sanju (Sanjay) has shared his story and wants it to be made and we want to keep it as honest as possible. It’s not a brief on his entire life for two and a half hours. We have taken aspects of his life. We have worked the script with Sanjay and I narrated the script when Sanjay was here and he was happy with. And it will be a very honest film.

Ques: What do you mean by an honest film?
Hirani: When I say it is an honest film, I mean that you will see Sanjay Dutt as he is and for what he is. You are not going to sugarcoat the film or glorify him in any way.

Ques: Why Ranbir Kapoor to play the lead?
Hirani: Who else other than Ranbir.

Ques: What’s the status of Munnabhai 3?
Hirani: We have found a great script. As soon as it is ready, we will shoot that.

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Ques: You son, Vir is also interested in filmmaking we hear?
Hirani: He is still studying. Yes, he is fascinated by cinema. I will support him in whatever stuff he wants to do.

Ques: ‘Court’ is our official entry to the Oscars. What’s your take on the movie?
Hirani: Unfortunately, I haven’t seen ‘Court’. Aamir Khan loved it. I know lots of people who have liked the film. We don’t know what are the other films in the Foreign category of Oscars but it will be great if Court makes a dent.

Ques: Do you think India should be hankering around for Oscars?
Hirani: Nobody is hankering around it. We just send our films. Awards give you recognition and make you feel happy. It’s not that you are going to die if you don’t get it.