Rajiv Rai 80s 90s superhit films director returns to filmmaking
Rajiv Rai 80s 90s superhit films director returns to filmmaking
Rajiv Rai, the celebrated producer-director of most iconic films of the ’80s and ’90s, returns to filmmaking. He is acknowledged for blockbuster hits Tridev, Vishwatma,
Mohra, and Gupt.
Once Rai’s banner, Trimurti Films Pvt. Ltd., run by his father Gulshan Rai, established film distributor exhibitor and producer, once ruled the box office with its high-octane action, suspense, and lavish productions.
However, following a prolonged absence due to personal reasons and unforeseen circumstances that led him to move abroad, Rai now returnds this time, with a fresh approach.
Rai’s return project, Zora, is a fast-paced suspense murder thriller, set for early elease towards the end of the year. Elaborating on his return, Rai shared, “Yes, he is back and just finished shooting his new film Zora, now in its final post-production stage, is almost complete. He explains that the basic difference this time around is that film doesn’t boast big names or stars. It features almost 40 new faces from across the northern Hindi belt and has been made on a shoestring budget. He has challenged himself as a filmmaker to execute a film on a modest budget, yet make it his most interesting feature to date.
Acknowledged for working with rising stars who later became household names, such as Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Akshay Kumar, and Bobby Deol, Raveena Tandon, Rajiv has always been drawn to new talent. He says that if you carefully look back, he has never worked with the top stars of that particular era, though they all became stars later. When he signed Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty for Mohra, they were rising stars. He signed Bobby Deol for Gupt while his debut film Barsaat was still in the making. New talent has always attracted him and he has never hesitated to work with newcomers who he feels. have potential.
In a bold depart from his earlier big-budget musical blockbusters, Zora will not feature multiple hit songs.
This time around there’s no scope for songs in the script,” however, there’s one song by the one and only Viju Shah, son of famed music composer Kalyanji of Kalyanji-Anandji and a full-bodied background score without a second’s gap,” he weht on to add with a smile.
Notwithstanding the modest budget, Rai is confident in the film’s appeal, particularly to single-screen cinema audiences and he has made this film keeping the masses in mind, especially the single-screen cinema-type audiences, whom he considers the core viewers of India.
Addressing the shift towards smaller budgets, Rai explained that he has always made films for the masses, and it will be difficult for him to ignore them. No doubt OTT is here to stay, and cinema is in grave danger. But Zora is a pure commercial mass entertainer yet written and executed intelligently. Though made on a modest budget, he has not compromised on his skill or the overall look. It’s a rugged yet stylish and engrossing film and he suspects people will say it has a “Rajiv Rai stamp.”
With Zora nearing completion, Rai remains hopeful over the film’s reception. He is very happy with the outcome and the end result. Like every filmmaker, he’s just keeping his fingers crossed and hopes, as all directors do, that audiences like Zora. All films are a labour of love,” he concluded.
With Zora, Rajiv Rai is set to make a thrilling return to the big screen, promising a gripping cinematic experience, much like the hits that made him a household name in Indian cinema.
News Edit KV Raman
