LoveYatri (earlier titled LoveRatri) has been mired in controversy for the last few days. Hindu groups have alleged that the earlier title was offensive to the festival of Navratri and that the trailer depicted it in a vulgar manner. Even the title change doesn’t seem to have gone down well with these groups saying that it’s still offensive. “No problem, we’ll change it again,” says Salman in his usual irreverent self.
I think there is nothing offensive about the title. We know the kind of film we are making, its a sweet, beautiful love story. Because the festival is an angle in the film, we called it Loveratri. Some people were offended, and I believe that if we are hurting even a few people let’s not do it. We are making a love story, so we don’t want anyone hating us.Salman Khan
“We went to the Censor Board as well. They agreed that we were only celebrating the nature of the festival and not diminishing it in anyway. So they said don’t change the title, add a tag line. I said if they have raised a concern, that means there is an issue” he added.
The films that we are making are so clean, it looks like we are making films for the Pope. No one is going to see these movies. Even in our promotions, they have been saying its a family film, a clean film. I said nobody wants to see clean films, stop saying that!
Salman is also launching his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma with the film, at a time when the debate on nepotism is at its peak.
Sohail had seen Aayush long back at a gym, so he had that star quality. If not for me, someone else would have launched him. I knew when I was launching him that this ‘nepotism’ debate will be back. He’s a politician’s son so I don’t think he can come under that category. The movies are the only place where nepotism cannot work, because if the audience rejects you, no one can help you.
He also said that someone could be extremely good looking, dance well and even be a good actor but still not succeed. Sometimes certain people endear themselves to an audience and have that X-factor which can make them successful. That seems to have been the case with Salman as well, because his audience has remained rock solid in spite of the ups and downs in his career and personal life.
Salman has mentored several aspiring actors over the years including Katrina Kaif, Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha and now Aayush Sharma. Some have gone on to have a great run while some have had middling careers. “Its really unpredictable this place, you never really know who can make it. Sohail and Arbaaz didn’t make it as actors, but of course they’re doing well in direction and production. But its really up to your destiny,” says Salman.
Ask him if there’s any advice he gives to the people he launches and he says, “Don’t play any games is all I tell them and be very patient. That’s all.”
I tell these newcomers that if there is no work, just wait it out but you need to do only good work. Working everyday and doing bad work will take you nowhere. And nowadays there are so many options with the web and television, so work will come.
Remembering the time when he made his debut, Salman had this to say,
I went to Minerva when my film Maine Pyaar Kiya released, and I remember post the interval some people began to recognize me. I ran down, and people followed me there. After I got out, I went to Satyam Shivam Sundaram, and met David Dhawan there. His film had also released, and I remember I had met him earlier for work but I was injured then so he thought I would not make it in the movies. I got the same reaction at the theater with people running towards me. On seeing that David got worried about the fate of his film!
LoveYatri has already generated a lot of buzz thanks to the controversy and also its foot-tapping music. The fate of the film however remains to be seen.
LoveYatri starring debutants Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain releases on 5th October.
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