In the eighties & the nineties, Producer-Director Rajiv Rai’s name and his banner Trimurti Films Pvt Ltd was a force to reckon with… with a spate of super hits & lavishly mounted films like TRIDEV, VISHWATMA, MOHRA, GUPT etc. under his belt.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances & some personal reasons, he migrated abroad. But then his love for his homeland, his unique creativity and passion for Hindi films compelled him to return to India.
And now after a long sabbatical, he is back as a film maker again, but with a difference, with his favourite genre – a fast paced suspense, murder thriller – titled ZORA, which is slated for release towards the end of this year.
“Yes, I am back”, says Rajiv with a smile, “I have finished shooting my new film ZORA and it’s now in its final post production stage which is also almost over. The basic difference in this film is that this time around my film’s cast doesn’t boast of any big names or stars. It features almost 40 new faces from all over the northern Hindi belt and has been made on a shoe string budget! I have challenged myself as a film maker to try execute a film on a modest budget yet make it my most interesting feature to date! Though the budget is low, I have not compromised on story telling nor the technical aspects! Furthermore, it is not a musical like my previous films, since there’s no scope for songs in the script. However there’s one song by the one & only Viju Shah, and a full bodied background score, without a seconds gap (he smiles again). I will confess I have made this film keeping the masses in mind, especially the single screen cinema type audiences, whom I consider are the core viewers of India.”
But why a small budget film from a producer – director of his stature, whose films have always been known for having big stars, lavish sets and at least 5 to 6 super hit songs?? “If you carefully look back I have never worked with top stars of that particular era (though they all became stars later),” says Rajiv, “All the stars with whom I have worked with, they were never in the league of a super star like Amitabh Bachchan. But, of course, they were fairly successful and well-known at that time. For example before TRIDEV a few films of Sunny Deol and Jacky Shroff were not top grossers at the Box-office, though I was very aware they were heading towards super stardom. Nasiruddin Shah had rarely worked in an out and out commercial cinema, but I realised recognition of his immense talent was far overdue. When I signed Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty for MOHRA, they were rising stars. I had signed Bobby Deol for GUPT, when his first film BARSAAT was yet in the making, but I had an intuition he would continue his family legacy. I had introduced stars like Sangeeta Bijlani & Divya Bharti, and discovered and created stars Sonam & Arjun Rampal, and many more actors who later entered the big league. New talent has always attracted me and I have never hesitated to work with newcomers who I feel have potential. So making my next film with an entire new star cast is not only interesting but very challenging for me. I have always made films keeping masses in my mind, and it will be difficult for me to ignore them. No doubt OTT is here to stay, and cinema is in grave danger.
Let me clarify that ZORA too is a pure commercial mass entertainer, yet written and executed intelligently. Though it is made on a modest budget, I have not compromised on my skill and its overall look. It is a rugged and yet stylish & engrossing film, where I suspect people will comment it has a Rajiv Rai stamp. I am very happy with the outcome and the end result , and like every film maker just keeping my fingers crossed. I hope as all directors do, that audiences like ZORA. All films are labour of love.” Rajiv concludes.
