Veteran filmmaker David Dhawan recently opened up about the significant influence that actors hold in Bollywood during a candid conversation with his son, actor Varun Dhawan. David expressed his belief that the industry has always been actor-driven. "It's run by the actors. It was the same before and it's the same now," he stated in an interview with Radio Nasha.
Varun's Counterpoint and David's Response
Varun, who is one of Bollywood's most bankable stars, pointed out that films like '12th Fail' succeeded despite starring Vikrant Massey, who was not considered a mainstream star before the film. However, David quickly countered this argument by highlighting filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's track record. "None of his films had been working. He was always a good maker, technically," David remarked.
Discussion on 'Dhurandhar'
The conversation then shifted to Aditya Dhar's upcoming film 'Dhurandhar'. Varun credited the film's buzz more to the filmmaker than to lead star Ranveer Singh. David agreed, saying, "Dhurandhar is the director's win." However, he clarified that in most cases, actors tend to play a larger role in a film's success.
Actors' Loyalty and Insecurity
David also shared insights into how actors often distance themselves from directors after a setback. "What happens with actors is, when they are working with a director and his film doesn't work, the actors change their tune and go another way. Actor ki jaat hai yeh. Actor kisi ka nahi hai (Actors are this. They are not loyal to anyone)," he said. Varun appeared slightly uncomfortable but admitted, "Actors are very insecure. I can't deny that."
Recalling Rishi Kapoor's Initial Resistance
The filmmaker revisited his early experience with late actor Rishi Kapoor while working on 'Bol Radha Bol' in 1992. According to David, Rishi initially rejected the idea of collaborating with him. "Yeh kisko le aaya? Main nahi karunga (Who have you brought? I won't do it)," Rishi reportedly said. At the time, David was directing 'Shola Aur Shabnam', featuring Govinda and Divya Bharti. Producer Nitin Manmohan, after watching portions of the film, decided David would direct his next project as well, a film for which Rishi Kapoor had already been signed. When Rishi resisted, Nitin reportedly stood firm and told him, "You might not do it but he (David) will do it." Eventually, Rishi came on board and the two developed a close friendship over time. "I became a favourite of Chintu ji's after that. But he is like that. He is a guy who rags. He used to rag his son also," David recalled fondly.
Struggles with Star-Driven Projects
Despite enjoying immense success with major stars in the 1990s and 2000s, David also experienced a phase when actors were reluctant to collaborate with him. That frustration eventually led him to direct 'Chashme Baddoor' in 2013, featuring Taapsee Pannu, Ali Zafar, Divyenndu, and Siddharth. David admitted that the film was born out of frustration. Rishi Kapoor had a small role in the movie and was reportedly unhappy about not having enough scenes. "I said, 'Karo yaar (Do it please).' He did it for me," David shared. Explaining why he moved away from star-driven projects at the time, the filmmaker added, "I wanted to get out of that rut of stars which is very difficult. When someone can write a good film, why not pick up newcomers and work with them? Stars interfere a lot."
Upcoming Project and Controversy
David Dhawan is now gearing up for the release of his next directorial venture, 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', starring Varun Dhawan alongside Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde. However, the film has landed in controversy after producer Vashu Bhagnani reportedly filed a Rs 400 crore lawsuit against David Dhawan and producer Ramesh Taurani over the alleged unauthorised use of songs from 'Biwi No 1' — a film originally produced by Vashu and directed by David.
