This story is from February 24, 2003

Family ties can't be slashed: Tusshar

Urvashi Ashar / INDIATIMES MOVIES / Feb 24, 2003, 01:12 IST

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MUMBAI: Upcoming actor Tusshar Kapoor insists he doesn't want to get into sister Ektaa's well-settled shoes and jumps to her defence when criticised. Will someone give her a break? he pleads.

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: How different can it be working for your own production house rather than for an out-house project? There probably would be a little more pampering, and a little more of having it your own way. "Yeah right! What about the stress?" Tusshar Kapoor intrudes. "The only difficult part is that you are personally stressed about everything.If there''s anything bothering the production house then it bothers you too, for you become the producer by default. It''s a tough job out there." Kucch Toh Hai... is the first film in which the brother-sister duo of Tusshar and Ektaa came together with the aim of creating a quality film - a different film. So how different can this one get when it''s a re-make of I Know What You Did Last Summer? "Kucch Toh Hai... is not a take off on any film. It just falls into the same genre as some of the Hollywood flicks like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream, Urban Legend, Halloween - called Slasher films - a genre we are proud to introduce to Bollywood," he maintains. And thus the ''Hansel & Gretel'' of Bollywood enhanced professional ties instead of just limiting their association to the khoon ka rishta. But did the brother-sister relationship prevail on the sets too or did the actor-producer relationship become the more dominant liaison? And what about the trivial fist fights that often leads to big black eyes, which indeed would be of much help to the make-up man during an action sequence. The job''s half done that way. "Oh yes, my sister and I had our share of fights, but it helped iron out a few problems. It enhanced the ambience which otherwise would''ve been too cold and plastic. We had our tiffs, but I think we made a great working team," says Tusshar. Ask him what he likes about Ektaa, the producer, and he''s quick to reply, "I don''t like working with people who compromise and Ektaa''s one person who doesn''t compromise at all." Tusshar seems to have been all over the place with this production - from the edit room to dubbing studios, from solving date problems to quickening up shooting schedules. So does he intend to jump onto the actor-turned-producer bandwagon and get into Ektaa''s well-settled shoes? "I don''t know. After having worked on this film I know so much about editing, post-production, publicity, the works. Who knows five to ten years down the line I may even direct a film," says Tusshar. In the meantime, Ektaa is busy working on another script - a film to be directed by Vikram Bhatt - and Tusshar is confident of being a part of this one as well. "Obviously I''m there in it," he retorts. What''s so obvious? Is it the ''blood is thicker than water'' theory afloat out here? "Because she''s planned it after keeping me in mind, she wants to make a film for me," he says. Is it partiality? "Now, don''t tell me that you are going to criticise Ektaa for that too. She''s my sister and our family ties cannot be slashed. She''s criticised for her strictness, she''s criticised for being religious, and now she''s being criticised for being nice to me. Will someone give her a break?" Tusshar says in his sister''s defence. But whatever happened to Tusshar''s films after his first one. None of them managed to get the cash registers ringing. "I think the treatment was very outdated. Both the films had very tried and tested formulae. They lacked soul," he admits. So didn''t he ever opine to any of the authorities? "I did approach a certain someone once but they were so sure that what they were doing was right, I didn''t insist. This industry is full of egos and you never know which one you''re gonna hurt. These weren''t home productions, where I would''ve otherwise enjoyed so much more freedom. I don''t feel comfortable pointing out errors or being as frank and open with out-house production film directors and producers," he says. And what if Ektaa offered him a script he didn''t like? "I would tell her that it''s not for me. I know she would be upset at first but I know it''s better to do something that''s good for the film and for me rather than just do something for family''s sake and suffer later. If I feel that someone else suits the role more or if I feel that she should not work on the script I wouldn''t hesitate to tell her," Tusshar says. Ektaa today enjoys the status of being one of the more successful business women and has gone a long way in her area of specialisation while Tusshar is still on his way getting there. Someone once remarked that he''s known more for being his sister''s brother than an actor. "Well, I am extremely happy for Ektaa''s success, but the fact remains that my first film was neither my father''s nor my sister''s and neither of them moved as much as their toe to grant me my break. It was entirely on my own merit. The fact that that film was a hit and subsequent films came my way all on their own just goes to prove that I can do it, regardless of being anyone''s son or brother," the upcoming star says. "I don''t base my confidence on what people think and say. I base my confidence on my past experiences, from what I know about myself. At least I haven''t taken a launch from my father; at least my sister hasn''t directed or produced my first film. Nobody did anything to get me back from abroad and start a career in films," he adds. "It has always been my own decisions. If actors who are launched by their families don''t have such statements written and made about them, then I don''t know what to say about these statements that involve me - a person who has gotten a launch and a hit entirely on his own. I guess that some people don''t like to see others achieve success on their own accord, and that''s not my problem, it''s theirs," Tusshar concludes.</div> </div>

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