Jaaved Jafferi says Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s passion ‘requires budgets’: ‘He can’t take a newcomer and put Rs 200 crores in the project’

Javed Jafferi’s son Meezaan Jafri, who was launched with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Malaal in 2019, has featured in Hungama 2 (2021) and Yaariyan 2 (2023) since then.

Javed acknowledges that star kids often face comparisons with their parents, which can lead to negativity. The actor says, “If they are actors, they start getting compared with their father. Dharam ji ka beta, Bachchan sahab ka beta hi dekh lo. For the kid, talentwise, he has big shoes to fill. If you are more talented, then good, but if you are less talented, then, ‘Vo baat nahi hai yaar jo baap mai thi.‘”

He continues, “Nepotism is everywhere, it’s in politics majorly. Film is running on producer’s money, it’s not public money. It’s a gamble; the producer is taking the risk.”

The veteran actor emphasises that his children are carving their own path in the industry. Javed says, “They are smart, they understand. We give them foundational values, about what is right and wrong. That’s what we can give them. Meezan actually has a better sense of business than me. He understands how the industry operates at this age. I was bothered only about my work. Earlier, films were made out of passion, now it’s only about a business.”

He adds, “There are very few people who are passionate. For example, Bhansali sahab, he is passionate. But, his passion requires budgets to put it into practicality. He has got that kind of a vision. He can’t take a newcomer and say, ‘Okay, I am going to put 200 crores.’ It doesn’t work that way. It can work in Hollywood, but not here. Vidhu Vinod Chopra made 12th Fail with a constrained budget. If it was made in Rs 50 crore, then profits wouldn’t have come.”

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Changing audience preferences

Sharing his thoughts on the change in audience preferences over the past few years, Javed says, “After COVID, things became tight with the economy. When people go out, they think that they have to spend so much. Even popcorn is so expensive; people think about these things. I might go for one movie a month and I will select which one.”

He adds, “Some, people think, ‘Yeh toh OTT par aayegi, tab dekhunga.’ People are going and watching but not just for the heck of it. They are selective now. If you are aiming for the big screen, you have to plan accordingly.”

OTT vs Theatre

Having said that, Jaaved Jafferi feels that OTT actors can never be as big as theatrical actors. He says, “For some reason, a movie star is always somebody who wants fame. An actor would be in for the craft, who doesn’t care about becoming a star. But, there are actors who would like to become a star. It’s about what you want. As of now, an OTT star cannot be as big as a movie star. There’s not one person on OTT who can compete with a Shah Rukh, Salman or anyone else.”

The actor adds, “Films are a big risk. When a film flops, people blame the actor ki ‘Iski film flop hogayi.’ But, with a series, what can you say? Because there are no numbers. The numbers are only with the platform. The renewal of season is a parameter, but it’s not an immediate slap on the actor. If the film is a hit, then also an actor gets the credit. Same goes for a flop. That’s not fair. There are so many stakeholders involved.”

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Dhamaal 4 update

Jaaved Jafferi is also a part of the successful Dhamaal franchise. When asked for an update on the next installment, he reveals, “Dhamaal 4’s shooting schedule is starting in March. We will wrap up in July. Hopefully, it should release by the end of this year. I am playing Manav of course, but can’t say anything beyond that.”

Oops Ab Kya?

Jaaved Jafferi will be seen next in Oops Ab Kya? Talking about the web series, he says, “It’s a dramedy, with some great light-hearted moments. I really liked the subject. As an actor, one is always looking for different territories to tread into. I am lucky that I am able to do different roles in all my web projects.”

Javed also lauds streaming platforms for fostering richer and more diverse storytelling. “This subject could have been a great film, just like Vicky Donor. But sometimes, there is so much more to tell. A film can’t contain everything in two hours. It’s great that the story can be spread out in episodic form. OTT is giving opportunities to makers and the audience to enjoy various subjects and domains, even to experiment so much,” the actor concludes.

Oops Ab Kya? will start streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar from February 20. The story is about a young girl whose life turns upside down after an accidental artificial insemination. It also features Shweta Basu Prasad and Ashim Gulati in pivotal roles.