Bollywood lacks good scriptwriters: Vinod Khanna

By Shweta Thakur Jan 9, 2007, 9:47 GMT

New Delhi Jan 9 (IANS) Seasoned actor Vinod Khanna, who has chosen Vishram Sawant's 'Risk' as a comeback vehicle, feels Hindi films lag behind Hollywood because they lacks good scriptwriters.

'Our film industry's only lacuna is a lack of good scripts. Bollywood faces dearth of good stories and screenplays because writers from literature world do not foray in to film industry. They are shy and apprehensive of failure,' Vinod Khanna told IANS in an interview.

The actor-politician, however, adds that every problem has a solution and there is one for this too.

'We must encourage novelists to join the industry. Also screenplay-writing courses should be introduced in universities. After all, we are the largest filmmakers in the world. It is one of the biggest industries, providing employment to a remarkable number of people. Why not include it in the curriculum?'

Vinod Khanna is of the view that Hollywood has actually less talent than Bollywood.

'According to pundits, Bollywood films will very soon have a bigger market share. Hollywood has less talent than us. Our actors are complete actors. They do everything - acting, singing and dancing - on their own.'

The actor of hugely successful hits like 'Hera Pheri' and 'Amar Akbar Anthony', and one who still enjoys a huge female fan following, plays a stylised don in 'Risk' and says he loves his act.

'I play an underworld don Khalid who is based in Bangkok. He runs a gang and has connections with cops too. He is an uncouth, unruly, uneducated and unmarried person. He wears only white salwar-kameez with stylised collars and has a distinct dialect.

'I was very excited when I heard the role. At that time, I didn't even announce that I want to come back. I just thought that I want to start acting again and out of the blue Sawant came with this role and I loved the character.'

He is all praise for the director and his co-star Randeep Hooda.

'Sawant's personality is so unique. He is very unassuming and unconventional. I will say he is a rowdy kind of a guy with no background of direction. His individuality struck me. I loved the way he sketched the whole character and after that it didn't matter whether it is a negative role.

'Randeep has huge potential. He is a very intense actor. He is not a chocolate hero. He is intelligent and understands acting. Roles which suit his personality must come to him.'

Vinod Khanna says that getting the right look for the character was taxing.

'We tried various wigs and different styles of beards but nothing worked. Then I grew my beard. I also put on eight kilos without telling my director because I wanted to look huge. I didn't sleep for nights because I wanted my eyes to be puffed up to get the strained look.'

The actor, who was last seen in 'Leela', says facing the camera after a long gap was thrilling.

'The feeling to be in front of the camera and to get into a character after a long break was very exciting and exhilarating.'

In the future, he wants to direct as well.

'Direction is not alien to me but I would like to make my own film. I have already started working on a script. I am not writing it but it will have inputs from my side.'

Vinod Khanna, who has three-four films in his kitty including Subhash Ghai's untitled venture, wants to do challenging roles.

'I would like to do well edged roles now. And I think nobody will bring a bad role to me. I will choose the best out of the ones offered to me.'

In this era of media convergence, he is ready to work for television provided he gets substantial roles.

'Earlier also I appeared in the title role of a mega series 'Maharana Pratap'. Unfortunately, its producer ran into a huge loss and the series could not continue. But if I get a good role, I will definitely do it.'

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service