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It will take a long time for Bollywood to benchmark Hollywood: Varma
28th June 2005 13.10 IST
By Agencies

''Bollywood does not compare to the standards of Hollywood. It is a lie that we keep telling ourselves,'' says Ram Gopal Varma .

Talking to UTV's Ronnie Screwvala on BBC World’s acclaimed weekly business programme, India Business Report: Business Bites, featuring a discussion on the paradigm shift in the business of Bollywood, Varma said, ''Bollywood does not compare to the standards of Hollywood. It is a lie that we keep telling ourselves.''

'' Lagaan happens once in a blue moon. If we consider the quantity of films being made, the quality is low. I think it will take a long time for Bollywood to even benchmark Hollywood.''

Screwvala's other guest was Ashutosh Gowarikar and the trio discussed the evolving corporate structure of Bollywood, the advent of the multiplex revolution, and the new 90-minute format, creating an entirely new genre of films.

When asked to compare Hollywood and Bollywood, both the directors had very strong opinions to share.

Gowarikar, director of Lagaan and Swades , highlighted that Bollywood could learn from Hollywood. ''We should take Hollywood as a platform on which to distribute Indian films worldwide. We should use Hollywood for its expertise of having a worldview. We should not hide the fact that Hollywood is there''.

Discussing the business structure of Bollywood, Varma said ''Entertainment is a product now. I think the moment you supply in such large numbers - you need a science to it. So independent producers take time to set up a project. I think it’s very old fashioned.''
Pointing out the changes in the traditional Bollywood approach to corporates, Gowarikar commented, ''I also feel that with the new generation of professionals there is now a certain amount of maturity to understand corporate structure. Earlier when you talked about corporate structure it would be considered taboo because there were too many being asked about the completion of bonds and all sorts of things the creative people don’t want to get into. But they are willing to accept a structure now.''

Varma’s Sarkar is slated to hit the theatres this Friday.

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Ram Gopal Varma
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Ashutosh Gowarikar
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