COVER STORY: Bhushan Kumar on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Kartik Aaryan and more

Mogul, music maven, Midas, one-man-industry… T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar has many sobriquets going for him. He possesses the uncanny ability to rake in the money even at a time when the industry is going through a recession. Ask him his secret and he says like his father, Gulshan Kumar, he believes in hard work and team work. He claims he’s only following his father’s legacy, only more prudently. Like his father, he’s a deeply religious man. And more to the point, he’s a shrewd businessman who knows there are no permanent rivalries in Bollywood. Today’s rivals can become friends tomorrow and vice versa. His gamble on not shifting the release date of Kartik Aaryan starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 paid off handsomely. The film was pitted against Singham 3, which starred heavyweights iike Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tiger Shroff. And yet the combined star power wasn’t a deterrent to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’s success. Kartik Aaryan has become the apple of his eye and he sees great things for the actor. Bhushan Kumar waxes eloquent on his favourite star, the music industry’s future and the T-Series legacy in an engaging interview. Excerpts:

People tend to get bored of franchises and sequels so what do you think worked for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3?

The genres that are popular today include horror, comedy and horror-comedy. People enjoy a variety of films – comedy, real cinema, biopics and action movies. Each genre tends to rise in popularity at different times. Bhool Bhulaiyaa is an older franchise, first starring Akshay Kumar. We then made Part 2, which did well, and Part 3 has also been a success. Ultimately, it’s about timing and what works at the moment, as public tastes constantly change. There’s no set formula for a blockbuster today.

How did the collaboration between T-Series and Kartik Aaryan for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 come about?

I’ve known Kartik for a long time, since his debut in Pyaar Ka Punchnama. He did another film after that, and then we worked together on Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, which was a huge hit, crossing 100 crores. We were also working on Pati Patni Aur Woh when we thought about revamping our own franchise, Bhool Bhulaiyaa. We wondered who could pull it off like Akshay Kumar did in the first film. Since I was working with Kartik, I offered him the role, and he was thrilled to be part of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.

See Also: Is Aamir Khan-Led Gulshan Kumar’s Biopic Delayed?

Kartik is a brilliant actor and we have a great understanding between us. That’s why this is our fifth film together in such a short time. We’re already starting two-three more, including one with Anurag Basu. There are also a couple of other projects we’ll announce soon. It’s a relationship that has developed naturally.
Of course, it all depends on a successful partnership or jodi, as we call it in the industry. That’s what has happened between us, and it’s working. At the end of the day, both of us benefit from this collaboration, and we share a great relationship.

How do you handle ego clashes with stars?

That has never happened to me. If you’re talking about Kartik, I would sometimes scold him like an elder brother. At times, he can be stubborn and stand his ground, making me bend. There were many, but in the end, everything has turned out positive.

What’s your first memory of Kartik?

I first met him a long time ago and called him to my office. I had met him a few times with Luv Ranjan, but not in a proper way. At that time, he was the “boy next door” type, very simple and respectful. He met me several times and we offered him many films, though they didn’t work out.

What’s your advice for Kartik to survive in a competitive profession?

I always tell Kartik to keep working hard and stay grounded despite his success, which he does. I think of what my father taught me: always stay grounded and don’t let success get to your head. I remind him to always stay humble and success will continue to follow.

Singham Again released on the same day as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Couldn’t the clash have been avoided?

I’d announced the release date of my film two years ago and Singham with Ajay sir was set to release during Diwali because of the film’s theme and a commitment with the OTT platform to release on a specific day. We both had our own reasons, so we discussed whether we could shift our release dates to avoid a clash. However, due to our respective commitments, the clash couldn’t be avoided. I’m working on three-four films with Ajay sir. One film has already started shooting, and two more will begin soon. It’s important to avoid any bad blood. I never try to release my film on someone else’s release date. I didn’t do that this time either, as I had taken the date first. However, it was their compulsion that they couldn’t shift their film.

What strategies do you employ to stay engaged with your audience?

Although I’m not on social media, my company’s digital team stays in touch with the audience, gathering their viewpoints and feedback. My team is now focusing on what else can be done for the next part. For example, in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, we realised that the comedy was less, so we’ll definitely work on putting more comedy if we ever make another sequel.

What do you look for in your directors?

Obviously, a director should be passionate, which Anees (Bazmee) bhai certainly was. He knows everything about filmmaking. Being such an experienced director, he had my trust. But at the same time, you have to take chances with new directors too, so it’s important to give them an opportunity.

The music industry has changed since you took over T-Series. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities that you see in the current landscape?

Challenges exist in every business. Hard work is always crucial. The more you put in, the better the results. It’s not about wondering how to do things; we know what needs to be done but it must be done right. Some things don’t work out, while others do. Overall, our ratio of success is higher, whether in music or films. And that’s something we will continue to improve in the future.

How do you balance the need to stay relevant with the ever changing trends in music?

As I mentioned, it’s the hard work of the entire T-Series team and the way we keep providing content that ensures our relevance remains strong. Last year, Animal was released and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 came out the year before. If you have one big film each year, your relevance stays intact. Additionally, our music, which is evergreen and loved by everyone, keeps us relevant. My father created devotional catalogues and that music has remained timeless. People have been listening to it for 30-35 years and will continue to do so.

How do you identify that songs have the potential to become chartbusters?

In the past, it was easier. But now people’s tastes change so quickly that it’s harder to predict. However, we still have a strong grasp on melodies, which always work. Melodies that are catchy and easy to hum continue to succeed.

How has the rise of digital platforms impacted the music industry?

It has greatly benefitted the music industry. In the past, during the cassette and CD days, piracy was a major issue. When digital platforms emerged, there were many illegal sites for music. Today, people listen to music on platforms like Spotify. This ensures that the recovery goes to the music label, composer, lyricist and the singer.

Can you share some childhood memories related to your father?

My father and I had a great relationship. He wanted me to become an actor but I wasn’t interested at that time because I was young. I was fond of music. He would give me music cassettes before they were officially released. I would get so excited to have them before anyone else. That sense of exclusivity was thrilling for me as a kid. Those memories are still strong.

Which quality of your father have you inherited?

I mostly follow his principles. I don’t consider myself the owner of T-Series. For me, he was, is and will always be the owner of T-Series. That’s why you always see ‘Gulshan Kumar and T-Series presents’ on movie credits. As an owner, he did many things that I can’t do. He would make impromptu decisions without worrying about profit or loss, whereas I approach things more cautiously. When I took over the business, I faced many obstacles and competition. So I had to be a bit different in my approach. While I follow his ideology, I’m stricter in certain aspects where he wasn’t.

What were the obstacles you faced?

When I first started out, very few people trusted me. My father was a one-man show, so people would miss him and question why they should give me the music rights when he wasn’t around. We had to request a few people to let us take the music and we ended up producing it ourselves, just like my father did. The music we created became a blockbuster, which helped people realise I had a good sense for music, much like my father. From there, relationships started to build. And we gradually moved ahead of the competing companies.

What would be your advice to aspiring filmmakers or directors?

These aspiring new directors are bringing fresh concepts. They should continue focusing on good writing and ensuring it reaches us. As a studio, we are definitely here to support them, whether it’s for movies, web series, or theatrical films, all options are open.

Can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

We have several big projects lined up. Anurag Basu’s next with Kartik, followed by Ajay sir’s Dhamaal 4. Then we’ll start Spirit with Sandeep Vanga Reddy and Prabhas. We also have Border, a major project with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Sunny (Deol) sir. Additionally, we’re setting up the Yuvraj Singh biopic. All these are huge projects for us.

See Also: Yuvraj Singh’s biopic all set to be made by Bhushan KumarBhushan Kumar insists he’s just a simple businessman. Suman Sharma sounds him out. Continue reading …Read More