From the timeless romance of ‘Dil’ (1990) to the blockbuster success of ‘Beta’ (1992) and ‘Raaja’ (1995), the filmmaker Indra Kumar has carved a niche in Hindi cinema. As the conversation around the industry’s current struggles grows, Kumar, whose directorial debut ‘Dil’ marks its 36th anniversary today, looks back at the stories behind his biggest successes, his first belief Aamir Khan And Madhuri DixitAnd his belief that staying true to one’s instincts rather than following trends is the most powerful tool in filmmaking.
Indra Kumar 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 much earlier than most knew. He said, “Aamir was the first choice. I signed him when “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” (1988) released, but then it took a couple of years to make the film. When it released, he had other films coming out but they didn’t work. But ‘Dil’ worked. Every actor goes through a tough phase.”
Indra Kumar called ‘Dil’ his first love
The maker added, “We made the film with complete honesty and love and it showed on screen. It’s my first love. After that, you get smart and somewhere along the line that honesty fades. That’s how it goes.”
Indra Kumar’s advice to filmmakers
When asked if the industry is now trying to replicate the success of ‘Dhurandhar’, Indra did not soften his words and offered a direct advice to the filmmakers. “Dhurandhar” itself is an example, he said. If you try to copy it, you’ll fall flat. Work on your subject with integrity. Believe in what you want to do and don’t try to please everyone else.”
What is the ‘deal’?
In ‘Dil’, Raja (Aamir) and Madhu (Madhuri) fall in love, but their stubborn father creates problems for them. Raja’s father Hazariprasad (Kher) is a small-time junk dealer, while Madhu’s father Mr. Mehra (Jafri) is a wealthy businessman. To impress Mehra, Hazariprasad pretends to be rich, but is exposed and embarrassed during the engagement. Ultimately, the couple’s strong love melts their father’s heart and the two eventually marry.
