Wednesday, February 11, 2026
ADVT 
Bollywood

Cinema has become commercial, riskier: Ajay Devgn

Darpan News Desk IANS, 12 Dec, 2014 01:05 PM
  • Cinema has become commercial, riskier: Ajay Devgn
Actor Ajay Devgn, who has been lauded equally for his intense dramatic roles as for his comical avatar, feels the reason why movies like "Zakhm" and "The Legend of Bhagat Singh" aren't made anymore is due to the commercial nature of cinema and risk involved with big budget movies.
 
Ajay, who has shown his comical as well as intense avatar in a bevy of films over his career, is now a film producer, and he is readying to direct his new film "Shivaay" too.
 
One thing he has noticed over the years is that filmmakers today are hesitant to take chances.
 
"I think filmmakers are not in the zone of writing such scripts (as 'Zakhm' and '...Bhagat Singh). They have talent, but they don't want to use it. Cinema has become commercial with big budget movies and risk (has increased). So, filmmakers don't want to take risks," the actor said at a session of Agenda Aaj Tak here Friday.
 
Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, "Zakhm" was released in 1998 and "The Legend Of Bhagat Singh", helmed by Rajkumar Santoshi hit the screens in 2002.
 
"I've not heard of any script like 'Zakhm’ and ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’ for over a decade now. In fact, I've not even seen movies like them on screen. It's sad that people don’t make such movies now.
 
“I've not heard of any script for which I have instantly said 'yes' without thinking of the profit or the business that film will garner. ‘Zakhm’ was one such film (it was an exception).
 
"I remember when Mahesh Bhatt called me for the role... I was taking a shower, but he narrated a portion of the story to me and I said 'yes'. It just took me five minutes," he recollected.
 
After his recent "Action Jackson" fared averagely at the box office, the actor is gearing up for "Shivaay".

MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

Big B sees cinema as an integrator

Big B sees cinema as an integrator
“Cinema in today's times is perhaps the only integrator left, in this fast disintegrating world ... Proud to be in its fraternity,” the 71-year-old tweeted Sunday....

Big B sees cinema as an integrator

Santoshi yet to finalise cast

Santoshi yet to finalise cast
Director Rajkumar Santoshi, whose last venture "Phata Poster Nikhla Hero" came out in 2013, is planning to direct again, but is yet to finalise the film's cast....

Santoshi yet to finalise cast

Small wonder 'Haider' rides on word of mouth

Small wonder 'Haider' rides on word of mouth
It's a small film made with a lot of heart. Vishal Bhardwaj's "Haider", his twist on William Shakespeare's tragic play "Hamlet", is climbing up the Bollywood box office ladder thanks to a positive word of mouth,

Small wonder 'Haider' rides on word of mouth

Shabana looks at Javed's 50-year journey with 'respect'

Shabana looks at Javed's 50-year journey with 'respect'
Respect is the only word and thought on veteran actress and social activist Shabana Azmi's mind when she thinks of her husband Javed Akhtar's journey in Mumbai since he first stepped into the city on this day 50 years ago.

Shabana looks at Javed's 50-year journey with 'respect'

Not surprised by Mary Kom's victory: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Not surprised by Mary Kom's victory: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who co-produced the film "Mary Kom", says M.C. Mary Kom's victory of India's first women's boxing gold in Asian Games in Incheon, is no surprise, given her "tenacity and passion".

Not surprised by Mary Kom's victory: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Katrina not choosy, calculative about script

Katrina not choosy, calculative about script
Katrina Kaif says that she neither thinks about the cast nor script while signing a film and adds that her decision is influenced by her thought process...

Katrina not choosy, calculative about script