Sajid Nadiadwala to take a break from filmmaking 
By Subhash K. Jha, August 17, 2007 - 11:05 IST
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If producing his last film Jaan-e-Mann wasn't exactly a cakewalk for Sajid Nadiadwala, neither was Heyy Babyy all fun and games. In fact, Sajid is so sapped he needs a break. "I haven't had time for my family. My father isn’t well. I'll start my film with Sabir Khan early 2008. Then I’m doing my next with Sajid Khan."
Sajid feels he could've avoided the ultra-strenuous situation of making Heyy Babyy. "At the age of 40 I didn't need all these stringent laws in Australia. In Mumbai one can shoot with a child with far less regulations. I'm aware of how taxing the shooting of a film with a child can be. I'm a father. And my little boy has worked in my film Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and in Farah Khan's film Main Hoon Na Just because Farah was family, we couldn't say no to her. I remember how traumatized he was…The baby in Heyy Babyy shot for 80 days. We all knew the mother's anguish—even Akshay Kumar is a father. But it was still a grueling experience for us. To my cast’s credit they handled the child well."
Sajid's earlier film was also a traumatic experience. "Yeah, but still Jaan-e-Mann was shot in just eight months. And that's pretty creditable considering the cast, and Salman's hair fall. I shouldn't complain. Every film can't be a cake walk. That little unpredictability is important for a producer. After what we've gone through doing Heyy Babyy we'd forget it all if it's appreciated."
The producer feels stars are essential to bring the audiences. "I'm one of the few individual producers in our industry who doesn't direct films. For me the challenge is to get the stars in new combinations. I was told Salman and Sunny didn't work together. We got them together in Jeet. Then I was told Salman and Akshay don't get along for 14 years. It was a big challenge for me to bring them together in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi."
To the Nadiadwala banner stars are important. "It's very difficult to create new stars for me. Maybe a Sanjay Leela Bhansali can do it in Saawariya. But there's no point in creating new stars when the established are as obedient as newcomers for me. Every big banner has its own distinct stamp, and we can't let the audience down. I won't have the creative abilities or guts to make Black. I've a huge staff to take care of. My dreams shouldn't become their disasters. My grandfather made our first film Inspector 55 years ago.We had our own theatres. As a child I watched our films like Parvarish (directed by Manmohan Desai) 40 times. So somewhere I continue to believe in larger-than-life entertainment. And being from a family of sportspersons winning is very important to me."
Speaking on his special bonding with Salman, Sajid smiles, "We go back a long way. I was the first to cast him in a double role in Judwaa. And though there were date problems during our latest collaboration Jaan-e-Mann, Salman is definitely doing another film for us next year. I'd love to call Salman my permanent hero, provided he calls me his permanent producer."
Then the parting shot. "When it comes to pampering stars and directors, the Nadiadwallas are next to none. Imagine spending 120 days with a star with his fragile ego! Creative people need to be handled with kid gloves. When people ask why I don't make experimental films I point to Heyy Babyy. Isn't making a 40-crore film with a new director with a baby at the center, experimental?"
What about the differences with his Jaan-e-Mann director? While Farah Khan's brother Sajid Khan has been signed for a 3-film deal, Shirish has moved on. Sajid laughs away the differences. What can I say? When I saw Jaan-e-Mann I was very happy. Maybe I wronged him with the publicity. Shirish is family. I can't fight with family."
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