At 51, superstar Hrithik Roshan turns director with Krrish 4, a film that was born out of the vision of his celebrated actor-turned-director dad, Rakesh Roshan—and him. The franchise began with Koi…Mil Gaya 22 years ago, and as the obvious (true) sequel was Krrish (2006), the next was named Krrish 3 as it was the third in the series.
Amidst Hrithik Roshan deciding to direct Krrish 4, here’s looking back at star actors who turned filmmakers
As Rakesh Roshan put it, his son was involved creatively right from the beginning, and knows best how to take the series forward, keeping in mind the present and upcoming generations. Rakesh himself, interestingly, had found a sparkling new ‘direction’ in life after a not-very-fulfilling journey as actor with his maiden film, Khudgarz, which he directed at the comparatively young age of 38, following an acting career that was just 16 years old then. Hrithik, who began as a child artiste at the age of six, began his innings as hero at the age of 26 and has a total screen experience of 45 years!!
But has age got to do with it all? As trade analyst Taran Adarsh puts it, “Stars can turn directors anytime! They have all been actively involved with their directors and have observed everything while working. And we have seen how Raj Kapoor and Manoj Kumar, like Rakesh, have become even more successful as directors. Hrithik has been assisting Rakesh Roshan in several of his directorials. Even Ranbir Kapoor started out assisting dad Rishi Kapoor on Aa Ab Laut Chalen besides Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Black. They thus become technically sound, and want to be storytellers when they feel the urge.”
Concurs trade analyst Komal Nahta, “Actors get involved in their films. And when they feel they are capable of going in a new direction and feel that creative spark, they go ahead! I think that Hrithik too is going to make a solid blockbuster with everything right going for him!”
“It’s all about what excites you!” Taran goes on. “When you feel that you can do a great job, you move to a new direction!”
Sunny Deol (who, however, has not given a hit) and Ajay Devgn are other recent stars who have liked to take charge. Ajay began with the almost-niche U Me Aur Hum and even directed the stylized actioner, Shivaay, in which he even coordinated the action and VFX. His next of two more, Runway, was received very well when it was released on OTT after a disappointing theatrical run.
Diverse motivations
Shashi Kapoor took over the direction of his production, Ajooba, as Raj Kapoor could not accept the film for health reasons. His brother Shammi Kapoor, on the other hand, wanted to turn director after he had gained excessive weight and had related health issues and saw an ebb in his career as hero. However, his films Manoranjan and Bundelbaaz were non-successes.
The eldest brother Raj Kapoor became an institution with his second directorial, Barsaat (1949), though his debut directorial, Aag (1948) was also born out of a passion for narrating a story on his own steam. He first had the idea for the semi-autobiographical film in Nagpur where he was performing a play for his father’s company, Prithvi Threatres, and came back to Mumbai and hired a professional writer, Inder Raj Anand.
Each of his sons followed in this ‘direction’. The eldest, Randhir Kapoor, even made a unique double-debut with Kal Aaj Aur Kal in 1971. Rishi Kapoor went on to direct the last film from the banner, Aa Ab Laut Chalen in 1999, while in-between, the youngest son directed Prem Granth. Of the three, it was Randhir who had a modicum of success with Dharam Karam and a mega-hit with Henna, a film that his father was to originally direct.
Each case, as we see, is thus different, time and age-wise, and more. Aamir Khan directed Taare Zameen Par brilliantly after signing Amole Gupte to write and direct his film. The actor sensed that his director did not have the sensibility he had hoped, and took over the reins within a week. Hema Malini had major creative differences with Mayur Puri, who was assigned Tell Me O Kkhuda to relaunch Esha Deol. She took over the directorial mantle, but could not succeed. Hema, until then, had already directed Dil Aashna Hai and the telefilm Mohini.
Female of the species
A female star-director, however, has yet to succeed in our cinema. Simi Garewal directed Rukhsat, and Revathy did Mitr-My Friend and Phir Milenge. Asha Parekh, who was originally offered Bhairavi (1996), left the film and directed only a couple of TV serials. Kajol’s grandmother, Shobhana Samarth, had directed two Hindi films between 1950 and 1960 that were also flops.
The discrepancy in quantity, feels Nahta, is because the director’s gender ratio is anyway lopsided. But Adarsh feels that there is no explanation really for this as the number of female star directors are disproportionately low anyway.
It is also known that the modestly successful Geetaa Mera Naam (1974) was ghost-directed by R.K. Nayyar though actress Sadhana was credited with its direction.
When the spark flew
The directorial urge hit stars at varied points of age and commercial status. Dev Anand’s Prem Pujari released in 1970, 24 years after his acting debut, but his only success as a director remains Des Pardes (1978). Manoj Kumar, on the other hand, hit gold with Upkar (1967) and was soon called the director with the Midas touch through cult follow-ups like Purab Aur Pachhim, Shor, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan and Kranti before losing form.
Sunil Dutt, nine years after his acting debut, wielded the megaphone for his experimental one-actor film, Yaadein (1964). He next took on Reshma Aur Shera only after differences cropped up with the original director, S. Sukhdev, who had directed his hit production, Mujhe Jeene Do.
Kishore Kumar, who made his lead debut in 1948 with Sati Vijay, decided on turning director with Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein, a passion project 16 years later.
Feroz Khan, ever stylish in personal life, gave his movies a polished, Western sheen with his first four directorials—Apradh, Dharmatma, Qurbani and Janbaaz. His brother, Sanjay Khan, directed Chandi Sona, a flop, and Abdullah and Kala Dhanda Goray Log (both successes) before switching to TV and making popular serials, earning a reputation for making historical and (Hindu) mythological serials.
Joy Mukerji also directed three films, starting out (eight years after his first film as a hero) with his double-role in Humsaya, but ironically succeeded only with the Rajesh Khanna starrer, Chhaila Babu in 1977 when he had quit acting!
Premnath (Prisoner of Golconda, Samundar), Biswajeet (Kehtey Hain Mujhko Raja), Dara Singh (eight movies beginning with the cult Punjabi movie, Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar), Vinod Mehra (his maiden attempt, Guru-Dev was completed by Raj N. Sippy after his death), Amol Palekar (21 films and serials in Hindi and Marathi beginning 7 years after his screen debut), Nana Patekar (Prahaar), Naseeruddin Shah (Yun Hota To Kya Hota…What If?) are the others who captained films.
But our character actors were no less. Bhagwan has directed 35 films! And Asrani, Mehmood, I.S. Johar, Johnny Walker, Amjad Khan and Danny Denzongpa have all taken up the challenge at least once.
The last word
Dilip Kumar, the actor with a reputation to ghost-direct or interfere in many films, was unlucky in his official directorial debut, Kalinga, which remains, as per buzz, incomplete. And not many are aware that Amitabh Bachchan was supposed to direct a film called Kaayar in the late 1970s, with Prakash Mehra as one of the producers, and (in those solo composer times!!) Kalyanji-Anandji and Bappi Lahiri jointly scoring the music!
Also Read: The Roshans: Hrithik Roshan recalls near-death experience on sets of Krrish 3; Rakesh Roshan says, “My heart just stopped”
More Pages: Krrish 4 Box Office Collection
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