It's very important to do films which are commercially viable: Anand Pandit

Producer Anand Pandit started his journey as a real estate developer; today, he owns Shri Anand Pandit Ji Motion Pictures, which is into production and distribution of feature films. He has produced many noted films with big personalities from different industries. His latest offering is ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’, which stars Randeep Hooda. In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Anand Pandit speaks about his film business, why he doesn’t wish to do a series on OTT, and more.

Why did you choose to back a film based on Savarkar?

This particular film was never about making a film or making money out of it. This was my conviction from childhood. I wanted to make a film, series or something about Savarkar ji. Because from my school and college days whatever I have heard and read about Savarkar ji, I always thought that he has not got his dues. There was a particular lobby who tried their best that Sarvarkar ji did not get that justice. I always thought of making some film on him so that his message can be spread far and wide, and can reach today as well as tomorrow’s generations.

I had thought that when I would make a film on Savarkar Ji, my first choice would be Randeep Hooda. So, when Randeep himself came up with this project, it was like icing on the cake for me!

Were you part of the film when the director was changed and why?

It came to me at a very early stage when it was in the planning stage, but nothing was done at the time. I started working on it, but there was no director at that time. After that we decided to do get Mahesh Manjrekar sahab to direct this, but unfortunately there was a clash of dates and our schedule did not match. After looking at Randeep’s conviction, we decided to give him a chance to direct the film.

Did you think of doing a Marathi version of the film with Marathi actors since Savarkar was a Maharashtrian?

No, I never thought that because then it becomes a very regional subject. I wanted to give that national glory to this subject. That is why we took more financial risk and made this film in Hindi. If you see the graph of the film, it is too big. Of course, we have dubbed this completely in Marathi as well, hopefully we will soon get our censor certificate for Marathi and then we will release it immediately.

What kind precautions one has to take while making a biopic?

You have to be very careful when you are making any film based on history, as a lot of things are in the public domain, particularly with Savarkar ji, whatever is in the public domain. A certain lobby has changed India’s history, they made it a crusade. In that aspect we wanted to make it straight, it was a bigger responsibility on us to work on the details and indicate each event.

You have been backing films in different languages, so what has been the criteria for selecting content?

This film is an exception like I said as I have not made it for the profit. But all other films when it comes to me, it is about the entertainment business. So, I want to make sure that every film is financially successful,it has to be commercially viable. Unless and until if it is not commercially viable then it has no meaning, you cannot continue. It is very important to do films which are commercially viable.

At times does it become difficult to say no to certain stories?

There are so many stories, actually if you see, when a story comes to us, we like it. But when we try to pitch it to various artists from our first choice to second or third, if all three of them say no .Then naturally we have to shelve the project .There are so many instances ,you have liked the project and the story,your hero or the character is not ready.So, you cannot go ahead with it.

Would you like to do OTT shows?

I am not much interested in OTT right now, I am just focusing on films. Because in OTT, I do not own my IP (Intellectual Property Rights).If I do a series for a platform then I become like a  labour contractor .I have to go along with them,their budget ,artists ,ideas and ultimately,they own and I get very less profit. Instead of doing that I want to do my films.

How do you deal with ups and downs in the business?

It is like part of life, sometimes you are really on a high. Life is like a roller coaster ride. Slowly and eventually that particular situation teaches you how to deal with it.

Is there any other ambitious project in the pipeling?

Savarkar was one of the ambitious projects as I wanted to bring that right story in front of everyone. But I can say all my projects are my ambitious projects only, if I don’t like them I don’t make it.