New Delhi: Bhushan Kumar's three films, Toolsidas Junior, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, and Saina, have all received accolades at the prestigious 68th National Film Awards! Toolsidas Junior took home the prize for ‘Best Hindi Feature Film’. Manoj Muntashir won the prize for Best Lyrics for ‘Saina’, while ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ was named the best popular film, honouring Ajay Devgn for Best Actor.


Tseries chairman and acclaimed producer Bhushan Kumar spoke exclusively to ABP Live about his next projects, business, views of a producer and many more.


Here is the excerpt from the interview:


Starting with Ek Villain, what are the challenges with sequels since viewers expect the same thrill especially if the first movie was a blockbuster?


The expectations are high because it is not a sequel, it's a franchise going forward which we did in Bhool Bhulaiyaa which was a big success for us. So we are hoping for the same in this kind of genre. That is Ek villain Returns. This is a suspense thriller with music, action, romance and everything. So we are expecting a similar kind of thing in that and let’s hope what the public is up to because things are very unpredictable these days comparing which film should come on OTT and which on theatre. So for those things the dilemma is there and let’s see how it goes. We are hoping for the best. 


Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 also marked a huge success at the box office. Were you expecting such a response?


After covid, all the films were not working, so people were not understanding what will happen. Definitely, we didn't expected this kind of business because there was no certainty in business. But it happened, so we came to know that this kind of cinema people want to see in theatre. 


So everybody is judging what kind of film people want to see in theatre and which kind of film they don't want to see in theatres. 


Recently, Tanhaji won National Film Awards and Toolsidas Junior also won the Best Hindi Film award. And these are very different genres, so how do you invest in such intriguing projects because it is clearly a risky bet?


See I know, but as a studio, our concept is that only. We are if you see we are an only studio who are not making one film two films. We are making 30, 40, 50 films. Right now that we are talking, I have 50 films in line which we are doing that has all kinds of films. 


Whether it is a social drama, it's a thriller like ‘Ek villain’, a comedy or a horror comedy like ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’. If it’s a romantic film, we are working on Aashiqui also. If it’s a comedy we are doing Luv Ranjan film with Ranbir Kapoor. If it’s a relationship drama or a crime drama that is ‘Animal’ with Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Sandeep Reddy Vanga. ‘Adipurush; which is a big canvas film, ‘Ramayana’ which is a 400-500 crore film, and we made ‘Toolsidas Junior’ also which was very big at heart film. When I heard the script, I love the script that it is big at heart I should make it. Not thinking of profit and loss in it. So as a studio, when you're making so many films, so everything is not made to make money. 


So even for Tanhaji, I wanted to go into that kind of world. When I was making a film, the budget was very high. But still, we do it, because Ajay (Ajay Devgn) sir was standing by us. He said, ‘If you can… you should come on as a producer and fund a film and we will take it to a different level.’ 


I have conviction in him, I have conviction in the director who is also working with me in Adipurush, Mr Om Raut and he delivered that. And today we got fame, name, money and now the final thing was national award. 


As a studio means you have to play on different things and in an overall profit, you can’t get profits on all the films. t's not possible at all. ut today I am very happy because Toolsidas Junior, the film where I didn't lose money. Also, it didn't do that great at the box office but it has given us such a great appreciation and today this recognition by the national award is very big.


How does it feel to work on so many intriguing projects at the same time?


I feel very happy and blessed because it was my father’s dream. Like as a music label, he was a big music label when I took over 33 years back and today he will be very happy to see us growing as a film studio also. So it gives us a great feeling and that's the only spirit. With those offerings, we work because it was his baby and company which we have taken over and taking to a different level. 


People can see the success of Tseries as it’s one of the leading labels. But people can’t see the journey of it. Especially after your father, how did you contribute to an already established production house?


Everybody knew about Tseries but nobody was taking us seriously initially on the filmmaking. Everybody was thinking we are a big music label, that was the only thing, but that I am very happy I have changed now. Today we are the music bearer, leading music labels and film studios also. So that’s the big achievement which we have transformed over a few years now. 


So you think that's your contribution?


Obviously, it's not only my contribution it's the whole team's contribution that has been with me for a long time. So it is everybody's contribution and obviously the blessing of my father which is always there. 


We always follow his thumb rule of doing business the way he used to. So all those things matter a lot, with that obviously, we have gone into the next zone of making all kinds of movies which during my father’s time was very limited. 


Tseries youtube channel is massive in terms of subscribers and views. So my question is, how do you maintain this status?


That is always with good content. We are leading in most of the places because of the good content, the quality of content and across all languages which we give. That is the main thumb rule and that is subjective to everybody. Someone who has that kind of knowledge of making content, he will do a good job, who doesn't have will not succeed in this kind of business. Plus, we have a very strong catalogue that plays a very important role. 


How do you cope with the pressure of being on the top? Or there’s no pressure as such?


I don't take pressure at all. I don't think also I am on top. I just believe in as my father used to do. He never used to think of any awards. Like today, many people were asking me whether you were expecting this award, I didn't even know that it was going to announce today. 


Are you not updated?


Neither I was aware of it nor I was following up. I mean I am updated about many things but this thing I don't think of. Meri humesha soch ye rehti hai ki we should work hard and whatever will get, we’ll get. Toh papa ki bhi yehi soch thi. You keep on working aur fal ki chinta mat karo, fal toh humesha acha hi milega if you work hard. So we follow that thought always. 


What is it like being a producer in today’s era? What are the good and bad that come with it?


See there are many things which come with it. Aap achi films banate ho toh aapki bhot tareef krte hain log, aap achi film nhi banate hain toh burai bhi krte hain. ( If you make good films, people appreciate them, if you don’t make good films, people will criticise ).


Now, people don't understand that we are not ‘God’. Hum har cheej sahi toh bana nhi skte. ( We cannot do everything right ) It's a  whole team which makes the films and its success and failure depend on the likeability and we can't heap on that. No one can tell accurate what people like and all the crores of people will like at the same time. So there are many ups and downs. But that's called business. 


Talking about the music label, many believe that the current trend of remakes has lost room for creation and people are expecting new music. Do you have anything to offer them from your music label?


Definitely, we are making new music always. Everybody wants to listen to new music and new talents are coming up but we are still missing that kind of talent, like how Bakshi Sahab and how all these people used to write. Still, we have good writers who are writing good and all these things but we still need more people who can concentrate and write great stuff. So, That thing is needed. 


But I am not totally on to it that people don't want to listen to recreational music, there are people.. Like our Bhool Bhulaiyaa song was super duper big hit, again after so many years. Because there’s a generation gap. People who heard the song 15 years ago, they want to listen to it again with a new sound which they are enjoying with today’s actors. So people are enjoying that also. 


Is Tseries open for new faces?


Absolutely, we are just launching Yohani who is a Sri Lankan singer who became very big on social media with the song, ‘Manike Mage Hithe’. We have signed her.


Who is your favourite actor that you love to work with over and over again?


I have worked with so many people. I can't give a name; that will be a very big problem for me. Many of them are my favourite. I can't tell you one name. I like Kartik Aryan, Ranbir Kapoor John Abraham and others. With Kartik Aryan, we are doing the 4th film. We are doing ‘Shehzada’ which will be coming in February.