From the timeless romance of ‘Dil’ (1990) to the blockbuster success of ‘Beta’ (1992) and ‘Raja’ (1995), filmmaker Indra Kumar carved a special place in Hindi cinema. As conversations about the industry’s current struggles continue to grow, Kumar, whose directorial debut ‘Dil’ marks its 36th anniversary today, looks back at the stories behind his greatest achievements, his early belief in Aamir Khan and: Madhuri Dixitand his belief that staying true to one’s instincts, rather than chasing trends, remains the most powerful tool in filmmaking.
Indra Kumar in casting Aamir Khan
In a conversation with Variety India, when asked about whether Aamir and Madhuri were always his top picks for ‘Dil’, Indra revealed that the casting started moving much earlier than most people knew. He said, “Aamir was the first choice. I signed him when “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” (1988) was released, but it took a few years to make the film. By the time it was released, his other films had come out but they didn’t work. But “Dil” works. Every actor goes through a difficult phase.”
Indra Kumar calls ‘Dil’ his first love
The filmmaker said, “We made the picture with complete honesty and love and that shows on screen. It’s my first love. After that, you become smart and somewhere along the way, that honesty fades. That’s just how it goes.”
Indra Kumar’s advice to filmmakers:
When asked if he feels the industry is now trying to emulate the success of ‘Dhurandhar’, Indra doesn’t mince his words and gives straightforward advice to filmmakers. He said, “Dhurandhar” is an example of himself. If you try to copy it, you will fall. Work on your subjects honestly. Believe in what you want to do and don’t try to please others.”
What is ‘Not’?
In ‘Dil’, Raja (Aamir) and Madhu (Madhuri) fall in love, but their stubborn fathers create trouble for them. Raja’s father Hazariprasad (Kher) is a small-time junk dealer, while Madhu’s father Mr. Mehra (Jaffrey) is a rich businessman. To impress Mehra, Hazariprasad pretends to be rich, but is exposed in the engagement and faces embarrassment. In the end, the couple’s strong love melts their fathers’ hearts and the two finally get married.