The Chats were a study in contrasts -- Mahesh was true to his image: efferverscent, voluble, and full of Bhattian observations; Ismail, strangely, was subdued, nothing quite like his billing of charming bon vivant. Perhaps we caught him on a bad day.

Don't miss the transcripts.
jj (Thu Jan 9 19:23:08 1997 IST):

hello

Hi, Mahesh. Great to have you with us in the Rediff office. I hope you enjoy this experience!

Hi Mr Bhatt... what's with your luck of late.. seems to be running out. your films are flopping. losing your touch?

Is Mahesh Bhatt in?

Mr. Bhatt, Hai, its nice to have you with us.

Hi Is the world different wherever you are?

Whatever happened to the Mahesh Bhatt touch? When I left India, you were one of the best directors around. Now, I hear every film of you has bombed, and what is worse, there is nothing unusual about the stories.

Not really. How's it at your end?

Mahesh, Hi! I believe your early films did well because they came out of your gut, out of experience.

Your later films no longer have that authenticity. How come? Sold out to Mammon?

Yeah, what happened to the guy who made all those wonderful films like Saaransh and Kaash and my favourties - Dil Hai... and Hum Hain Raahi... Where did he get lost?

Hi Is the world different wherever you are?

Mr. Bhat, What are your future plans?. We are planning a commercial for our product. Its Denim Wear. will you be interested in doing it?

Why are you so pretentious? You remind me of Sharmila Tagore in the sixties. Lugging Sartre to the sets. Have you always been so pretentious?

Don't tell me the man who had the gift of the gab doesn't know what to say anymore!

What is the latest on the Tamanna controversy?

Hi Mr Bhatt... what's with your luck of late.. seems to be running out. your films are flopping. losing your touch?

Snap: A long and productive career in the world of films is bound to be checkered with success and failures , you cannot have one without the other , the only way not to make a flop is not to make a film . Do you know how the Japs define courage ---" Fall down ten times, get up eleven time"....C'mon gimme a hand! I thought the audience was more forgiving than the critics.

They are, but then, they don't like being taken for a ride either. And that, Mr Bhatt, is the impression you are giving them.

How can we forgive someone who gave us Arth and Saransh, and then produced all those lousy films? Have you lost your motivation to make good films on the way? Is making money your only prerogative now?

Mr Bhatt.. of course they are, but when you make films like Saaransh and Arth.. and then something like Chaahat or Papa Kehte hai.. what do you expect us to do but be upset..

Mr. Bhat, Pls tell me are you interested in doing a commercial for Fashion Product. Pls reply

Govind: I would rather be stupid than pretend to be intelligent . In any case whatever you think you think about me is only through those words that are written about me in the film magazines . If they have given you the reason to arrive at this opinion its your privilige .

why dont you make a movie with kamal hassan in the lead with poojabhatt in adiffrent subject for which kamal may help you

Mahesh, Hi! I believe your early films did well because they came out of your gut, out of experience. Your later films no longer have that authenticity. How come? Sold out to Mammon?

OUt of all the newcomers whom do you think has the greatest potential to makit it in the fim world?

OUt of all the newcomers whom do you think has the greatest potential to makit it in the film world?

Many of your films were 'inspired' - like Hum Hain... for instance. But they were good fun. None of your recent films, your attempts to copy other successful films, have been any good. Is this what we are to expect of you in the future too?

Killer: Yes of couse , pay me lots of money in any foriegn currency. And I'll be there*singing* Whats good of being famous if you cannot convert that fame into money.

why dont you make a movie with kamal hassan in the lead with poojabhatt in adiffrent subject for which kamal may help you,did you ever considered this optio

Hey, Mahesh, don't be so prickly! It amazes me that Bollywood has regressed into an infantile, almost cretinous mode, instead of evolving into something superior, with themes that are commercial, yet refines. Alas! that is not happening. As an insider, could you let us know why?

Which kind of brings us to the moot point? Is Tammana going to be your swan song?

Tanisha: The future will be a modified continuity of the past. My advice to you make sure you hear how the film is before you go see it.

Yes Mr. Bhat when I offered you a commercial certainly I intend to pay you but not in F currency. Why not our Indian Currency?

Mr Bhatt.. do we expect such mediocre stuff from in future or there is a chance that you might make films like you did before?

Whenever your impulses have been autobiographical, your cinema has been sensational. Why did you drift? How much of you is there in films like Chahat?

why did you try to project pooja

Hi Mahesh. It was fun rading your house. Why did you guys hide in the bedroom and jumped outta the window later on? For someone who comes across as a fearless character it was quite disappointing. Wanna say somethin about it buddy??

How can we forgive someone who gave us Arth and Saransh, and then produced all those lousy films? Have you lost your motivation to make good films on the way? Is making money your only prerogative now?

Tanisha: No certainly not. Shirin will. I hope to make this film by early 1998.

Govind: The question could be simpler could you kindly reframe it.

Dharma: Sorry, I'm not a great Kamal fan. I do not have the talent nor the inclination nor the time to prove a point to myself or to anybody out there.

As someone who has had several relationships, do you still subscribe to the insitution of marriage and monogamy?

Tell us more! What's Shirn going to be about? And what are you planning to do after that? I don't exactly see you sitting at home and twiddling your thumbs!

What I asked was: It amazes me that Bollywood has regressed into an infantile, almost cretinous mode, instead of evolving into something superior, with themes that are commercial, yet refined. Alas! that is not happening. As an insider, could you let us know why? What I want to know is why do we make such, excuse the language, make such shitty films?

Can you tell sometyhing more about Shirin, like soem idea of the plot?

Who are the most interesting performers you have worked with in the recent past and why?

why dont you make a movie with kamal hassan in the lead with poojabhatt in adiffrent subject for which kamal may help you,did you ever considered this optio

Who are the actors/technicians in India you would like to work with? Who are the people (Indian) who would form part of your ideal team for making films?

James Donald Topno: Money is the stuff of life ..by the way once upon a time I would unashamedly say I want your money not your praise . Today I don't even want that.

Killer: Okay how much. Call my secretary. Tel no : 9820055770

Ashok: Who the hell told you all movies that we make are great love affairs , most of them my dear are one night stands.

Dharma: Why not ?? She is my daughter she is intelligent , and she is pretty . Aren't fathers supposed to help their kids ?