‘I Managed To Make Some Successful Films’

Film-maker

Rajiv
Rai
has
a
rich
legacy
to
carry
forward.
His
father
Gulshan
Rai
was
the
legendary
producer
and
distributor
of
films
like

Johny
Mera
Naam,
Deewaar,
Trishul,
Dream
Girl,
Tridev,
Mohra
and

Gupt:
The
Hidden
Truth.

“He
was
a
brilliant
gentleman
and
father,
and
a
thorough
and
honest
businessman,”
Rajiv
Rai
tells

Subhash
K
Jha.

“I
think
he’s
under-rated
in
Bollywood.
People
don’t
really
know
who
he
was
unless
they
did
business
with
him.
But
I
think
a
lot
of
people
did
that
and
would
talk
very
highly
of
him.
He
was
very
successful,
and
ran
an
empire.
His
production
house
Trimurti
Pictures
spawned
blockbusters
like

Johny
Mera
Naam
and

Deewaar.

“He
knew
how
to
run
a
corporation.
He
had
that
sixth
sense,
and
that
is
very
important
in
the
entertainment
business.
He
had
no
money
when
he
started
his
career
but
he
nailed
everything.

“We
had
the
maximum
number
of
silver
jubilee
hits.
People
wanted
to
give
him
their
films
to
distribute
because
he
always
showed
the
accounts
and
gave
everybody
their
due.
We
never
kept
a
penny
of
anybody
else’s
profit.
If
there
was
a
loss,
that
loss
was
ours.
He
became
a
bit
ill
as
he
got
old.”

“He
had
the
pulse
of
the
audience.
He
came
from
a
meagre
upbringing,
so
he
knew
the
taste
of
the
common
man
and
what
the
common
man
wanted
to
see.
He
knew
exactly
what
to
make.
If
he
saw
the
first
five
minutes
or
the
end
of
a
film,
he
would
know
if
it
would
work
or
not.
And
he
would
be
right.

“I
used
to
ask
him
how
he
did
that.
He
would
say,
‘You
don’t
need
to
see
the
whole
film.
You
can
see
one
minute
and
know
where
it’s
going,
whether
it
is
going
to
work
or
not.
It’s
like
when
you
hold
grains
of
rice
in
your
hand,
you
know
its
quality.
You
don’t
have
to
cook
it
to
know.
I
think
I
inherited
some
of
that
quality
but
I
don’t
voice
my
opinion.”

Rajiv
was
married
to
his

Tridev
and

Vishwatma
actor
Sonam,
and
are
still
in
touch
over
the
parenting
their
son,
Gaurav.

“I
don’t
think
it’s
right
to
say
the
marriage
failed.
See,
failure
and
success
is
a
part
of
your
life.
My
marriage
didn’t
work
for
whatever
reason.

“It
lasted
28
years
and
let
me
tell
you,
we
never
fought.
There
was
never
any
disagreement.
But
for
some
odd
reason,
we
parted
ways.

“Sonam
is
a
beautiful
person.
I’m
very
fond
of
her.
I’m
best
friends
with
her.

“We
are
parenting
a
child
and
we
try
our
best
and
to
be
on
the
same
page
with
him.”

Rajiv
celebrated
his
69th
birthday
on
July
18,
and
he
reflects
on
his
life:
“Everybody
goes
through
tumultuous
times.
I’ve
been
lucky
and
my
journey
has
been
excellent.
I
can’t
complain
because
I’ve
had
everything
and
God
has
been
kind.

“My
parents
were
my
pillars
and
gave
me
everything
I
wanted.
I
couldn’t
have
asked
for
more.

“The
most
important
thing
my
father
taught
me
was
never
lose
your
head.
Never
let
ego
come
in
the
way.”

“I
managed
to
make
some
successful
films.
I
have
managed
to
give
some
enduring
songs.
There
are
lakhs
of
people
in
every
field
within
Bollywood.
To
make
a
mark
is
not
easy.
But
let
me
tell
you,
it’s
not
difficult
either
because
thousands
have
made
a
mark
in
their
own
way.

“I
have
my
own
stamp.”

Speaking
of
the
slew
of
hits
he
has
directed,
Rajiv
says,
“It’s
difficult
to
pick
a
favourite.
But

Yudh
is
very
close
to
my
heart.
I
went
through
a
tough
time
making
it
but
it
was
a
good
experience.
I
learned
a
lot
from
my
first
film
and
it
will
always
be
the
closest
to
me
because
it
was
my
first
success.

“Vishwatma
also
has
a
unique
place
in
my
heart
because
I
got
the
songs
right
and
introduced
some
nice
people.
Also,
it
was
an
interesting
experience
to
go
to
Africa
and
foreign
lands
to
shoot
it.

“Mohra
was,
of
course,
totally
different
from

Yudh
and

Tridev
and
I
had
a
kind
of
a
newish
star
cast
at
that
time.
Suneil
Shetty
was
always
by
my
side.
If
the
film
faced
a
problem,
he
took
it
as
his
own
problem.
He’s
been
one
of
the
most
wonderful
persons
I’ve
worked
with.
He
is
so
hard-working,
professional,
always
on
time
and
so
devoted
to
the
project
he’s
doing.
He
deserves
everything
he’s
got.”

“Gupt
is
my
favourite
film
now
because
I
could
do
some
different
music
with
Viju
Shah.
It
was
commercial
music
but
I
wanted
a
twist
in
the
tale.

“I
hadn’t
really
done
love
stories.
I
hadn’t
really
worked
too
much
with
female
characterisations.
Bobby
Deol
is
also
a
dear
friend
like
Suniel,
and
he
was
wonderful
to
work
with.
His
passion
and
way
of
working
was
very
different.
He’s
a
very
simple
and
sort
of
innocent
person,
very
gullible.
He’s
not
a
complicated
guy,
not
conniving.
He
will
not
manipulate
you.

“Sunny
Deol
has
been
in
two
of
my
most
successful
films
(Tridev
and
Vishwatma).
He’s
a
quiet
person,
very
nice,
humble,
shy
and
affectionate.
Not
everybody
can
understand
him
but
he’s
a
fabulous
human
being.”

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